Listening to this I can't help thinking about the "Diana Ross & The Supremes Sing and Perform Funny Girl" album (see earlier post). Both having superb black soul vocalists placed in a not so soulful environment, making them struggle against instead of with the backing to reach their full potential. In this case Lady Soul herself doing more or less jazzy covers of well known hits. On paper it's impeccable - backing, arrangements and production superb, stereo mix and audio tophole and her voice as good as ever. Still I get the impression she's uncomfortable. A couple of the numbers - like "Sweet Bitter Love", "Until You Were Gone" and "Take A Look" - are saved by sheer vocal skill. But the swing version of "Ol' Man River" or the big-band "You Made Me Love You" to me sound like misfits. Too posh and elegant, creating a distance to the heart on her sleeve. Nothing including Aretha Franklin could be bad and this is still enjoyable, but to my ears she came out a lot better in the Atlantic soul department. Originally issued on vinyl in US on Columbia (CS 9321/CL 2521), UK, Germany and Israel. To my knowledge never issued like this on CD, though some of the tracks have surfaced on later digital compilations. First UK had structured "33" label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (FÄV*)
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