Esther Phillips - Home is where the hatred is

This is an album ordered about three months back. It arrived this week. This is the leading track.The story here is that Esther was up against Aretha Franklin for a Grammy award ( Soul). Aretha won but she walked over to Esther and handed her the gold plated grammophone saying Esther should have won. The song is about Esther's early drug addiction problem, which she eventually conquered after a year in one of America's toughest rehabs, but which would eventually cause her early death at 48 due to kidney failure which was started by the drug addiction. This is the saddest song I've ever heard.

Marilyn McCoo "I Dreamed a Dream"

Marilyn McCoo was born in 1943 to parents who were both physicians.She earned a degree in business from UCLA and started singing in the early 60s.She met her future husband Billy Davis Jnr in 1966 and they married in 1969. Shortly after they formed the group Fifth Dimension and she was female lead there. They went to the top of the charts with a number of hits before leaving for a career as a duo. in 1980 they both started solo careers and these were highly successful. Marily… See more

Marilyn McCoo Aquarius on Solid Gold 1981

Marilyn McCoo again going solo with a number that was at the top of the charts for The Fifth Dimension. Of course she had been a major part of that version.

Ruby Turner - Blue Monday (The Tube 7.2.1986)

This is wonderful Ruby Turner ( later to become Dame Ruby, MBE) on an ITV program called The Tube.The musicians are really great and the lady in the white blouse provides some spirited backing!

Never, Never, Never

This lady hails from Cape Town.She was brought to my attention by an FB friend from the UK. Lovely voice singing Dame Shirley Bassey's big hit song. And what a great smile she has too.

LaVern Baker: Hey Memphis

Lavern Baker is one of my favourite singers, active with Atlantic from 1949 to 1962. During the Vietnam war she went to entertain US troops but caught pneumonia. She was sent to the US naval base at Subic Bay Phillipines to recover. When she had done so she was offered the post of entertainments organiser and resident singer on the base. She accepted and only left 22 years later when the base closed down.She's taking off Elvis here. Memphis was what she called him!

Erma Franklin "By The Time I Get To Phoenix"

Just received Erma Franklin's album Soul Sisters+5. She's Aretha's older sister. ( Carolyn was the younger sister) Of the three Franklin sisters Erma is my favourite. This is the leading track. Enjoy.

Time After Time

Erma again with a classic Jazz number. Her well controlled vibrato is very evident.

Esther̲ P̲h̲i̲l̲l̲i̲p̲s – ̲A̲l̲o̲n̲e̲ A̲g̲a̲i̲n, N̲a̲t̲u̲r̲a̲l̲ly (̲1̲9̲...

Here's another Esther Phillips album that's come my way . I'll store it here while I wait for a hard copy cd to be delivered! Enjoy this if you appreciate her unique style as much as I do!

Esther̲ P̲h̲i̲l̲l̲i̲p̲s̲ – ̲B̲u̲r̲n̲i̲n̲' / C̲o̲n̲f̲e̲s̲s̲i̲n' ̲T̲h̲e̲ B...

This is a one and one quarter hour segment of my six hour 5 disc boxed set. I:'m parking it here so I can transfer it to my blog. The wonderful and unique Esther Phillips!