Following
the 1972 release of her groundbreaking From A Whisper To A Scream album, Esther
Phillips—who had enjoyed hits as a child star (Little Esther) in the ‘50s and
as a R&B/jazz stylist in the ‘60s— was experiencing a career rejuvenation
with Creed Taylor’s Kudu label after kicking a long-time drug addiction and a
spell in rehab. Keeping with the same
basic formula of surrounding the distinctive soulful vocalist with redoubtable
arranger Don Sebesky, top class label mates Hank Crawford, George Benson, Eric
Gale and Ron Carter and all-star players (James Brown alumni Maceo Parker and
rhythm arranger Pee Wee Ellis, Billy Cobham, Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Ralph
MacDonald and Gordon Edwards), producer Taylor provided the perfect setting for
Esther’s interpretative skills. The
result was the best-selling Alone Again Naturally, a Top 20 jazz and Top 30
R&B album in 1973.
The song
choices were stellar: two songs from Bill Withers, “Use Me” and “Let Me In Your
Life”; “I Don’t Want To Do Wrong” (a
1972 hit for Gladys Knight & The Pips), “Let’s Move & Groove Together”
(a 1965 R&B charted single for Johnny Nash), Eddie Floyd’s re-gendered
“I’ve Never Found A Man,” an Aretha Franklin cover, “Do Right Woman, Do Right
Man,” and two powerful reinterpretations—of Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again
Naturally” and “Georgia Rose” (previously recorded by Tony Bennett) with a
special intro penned by poet/artist Gil Scott-Heron (whose “Home Is Where The
Hatred Is” had given Esther a 1972 hit).
A
blistering blues, “Cherry Red,” originally cut by Joe Turner, was the perfect
showcase for Esther’s emotive approach; this 2014 reissue from Real Gone Music
in association with SoulMusic Records also includes a rare live 1972 recording
of the song that Esther performed at a CTI All-Stars concert at the Hollywood
Bowl in July 1972 as well as her superlative reading of Billie Holiday’s “God
Bless The Child” from the same show, with accompaniment by Hubert Laws, Freddie
Hubbard, Grover Washington Jr., Milt Jackson, Deodato, Airto, Bob James and
Jack DeJohnette among others. Liner
notes are by renowned U.S. writer A. Scott Galloway from his original essay for
the out-of-print (and jaw-droppingly expensive) reissue of the original album.
Intense and soulful stuff.
SONGS:
1. Use
Me
2. I Don’t Want To Do Wrong
3. Let’s Move And Groove
4. Let Me In Your Life
2. I Don’t Want To Do Wrong
3. Let’s Move And Groove
4. Let Me In Your Life
5. Cherry Red
6. I’ve Never Found A Man (To Love Me Like You Do)
7. Alone Again (Naturally)
8. Do Right Woman-Do Right Man
9. You And Me Together Forever /
6. I’ve Never Found A Man (To Love Me Like You Do)
7. Alone Again (Naturally)
8. Do Right Woman-Do Right Man
9. You And Me Together Forever /
10. Monologue /Georgia Rose
Bonus Tracks:
11. Cherry Red (Live)
12. God Bless The Child (Live)
Bonus Tracks:
11. Cherry Red (Live)
12. God Bless The Child (Live)
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