Martha Carmen Josephine Hernandez Rosario de Velez, born 1945 in New York, has to be the most highly educated blues singer that ever hit the market. Apart from being a schooled mezzo-soprano she also holds a masters degree in Clinical Psychology and PHD:s in Cultural Mythology and Depth Psychology. You should think all that cultivation to some degree would hamper any true blues expression, but absolutely not on this solo debute. She sings like a tainted angel - raw yet sweet with lots of emotion carried out and instrumental backing is probably one of the most impressive you could get in Britain back then. Among others including Eric Clapton, Paul Kossoff and Stan Webb on guitar, Jack Bruce on bass, Mitch Mitchell and Jim Capaldi on drums, Christine McVie on keyboards, Brian Auger on organ, Duster Bennet on harmonica plus Johnny Almond and Chris Mercer on saxophone. Then handeled by UK:s formost blues producer Mike Vernon. And every one deliver to make it one of the better white blues efforts of its time. Blending heavy and tender to an organic whole, all through supported by excellent guitars. Hard to say exactly who twangs what, but you do recognize some typical Clapton licks. So apart from appealing to fans of female vocals it could also do it for lovers of tophole blues guitars and why not die-hard collectors of the bands the backing belonged to - Cream, Traffic, Chicken Shack and Free. Issued on vinyl in US (Sire SES 97008), all over Europe and Downunder on London and in Japan on Epic (EPIA 53013). UK 1970 reissue on Blue Horizon (S7-63867). US 2008 CD on Wounded Bird Records (WOU 8395). Premiere UK (also as mono HA-K 8395) had label as shown here in a laminated cover with die-cut hole on rear and blue or red rim inner. (FÄV*)
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