One of the most renowned and appreciated background singers in modern music history. Started her recording carrer 1962 at age fourteen. Early trials - solo or as member of girl group Raelettes - didn't lead to any success and eventully she wafted into a position as supporting vocalist behind acts as Ray Charles, Tom Jones and Burt Bacharach. Through the sixties and seventies her voice appeared on a number of prominent albums with aritsts like Carol King, Neil Young, Leon Russell, Joe Cocker and Rolling Stones and can be heard on big hits as "Sweet Home Alabama", "Feeling Alright" and "Gimmie Shelter". That "Gimmie Shelter" duet with Mick Jagger has to be the best vocals from any supporting vocalist ever. Even if slightly in the background she dominates the track and turns it from just another Stones number to a rock'n'roll icon. It's a fair guess that perfomance gave her the opportunity to record this solo debute on friend Lou Adler's Ode label. Adler himself produced and legend Gene Page (1939-98) did the arrangements. Most of the cuts are covers of known songs. You may think the primary recordings of numbers like "Country Road" or "Bridge Over Troubled Water" are so final there's nothing new to add, but this totally does with lots of soul power. Title track lacks the perfect nerve of the original, but still a very emotional version. I was very surprised when I first heard the album a while ago and realized it was almost forgotten. The backing is superb and her voice beautiful - comfortably moving between wild and tender yet in total control. It has every sign of a blockbuster but didn't sell much at the time. Title track reached #73 on Billboard while the album stayed away from the lists. Today one of those forgotten gems, but if you like soul music it's highly recommended. First US on Ode (SP-77001). 2010 CD issue on Repertoire (REP 5176). I can't place this particular copy exactly in place and time. It has the UK laminated MacNeill cover and matrixes. Label is brown, but with ridge and lacking the "ode70" logo. Probably some kind of mixed breed with Swedish issue using UK parts, in this case for some reason without the regular "NCB" lettering on label. (FÄV*) (CCÖ*)
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