Aaron Neville, Hercules | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 70^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Hercules” by versatile soul musician, Aaron Neville.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 70^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Hercules”, performed by 🎙 Aaron Neville. 

Sometimes, songs don’t end up finding a home on an album.  That is the case today in the 2020s when artists will release singles that are at best, bonus cuts, not intended for an album. Also, back in the day, singles were released without a parent album.  Perhaps that’s why the 🎙 Aaron Neville song, 🎵 “Hercules”, from 1973, is a lesser known classic.  Sure,  🎵 “Tell It Like It Is” gets most of the attention as far as the distinct voiced New Orleans musician’s early discography is concerned but “Hercules” deserves the hero treatment to.  I mean, obviously, “Bless my soul / Herc was on a roll!”

Even if you have NEVER heard “Hercules,” it’ll hook you from the first time you hear it.  The groove is electrifying – infectious to the nth degree. To say that the rhythm section is in the pocket is an understatement. Among the most prominent features of this 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Allen Toussaint penned and produced song is the fat bass line 💪. Of course, it is the chill but potent vocals of Aaron Neville that brings Toussaint’s sharp lyrics to life.  Those lyrics are focused on a difficult place to live with its fair share of issues. Among the lyrical gems Neville delivers are “Wanna know, what’s going down / When the pimp on the corner looks like the sharpest cat in town?” (verse one), “Jungle rule, can’t be no fool” (verse two), and “Beg, steal, or borrow / Somehow I’ve got to make it till tomorrow” (verse five).  Of course, it is the chorus that sums up “Hercules”: “Hercules / I must be Hercules.” 💪

🎙 Aaron Neville • 💿 The Very Best Of The Neville Brothers • 🏷 Charly • 🗓 2006

Aaron Neville, “Hercules”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 70 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Charly; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]