Sarah Vaughan - A House Is Not A Home (Mainstream Records 1974)

The voice that comes along once in a lifetime, no several lifetimes, as a famous critic put it. Sustained vibrato and pinpoint accuracy. Sadly we mourn the death of one of the composers of this song, Mr Burt Bacharach, who partnered Hal David as a writer of some of the most memorable songs of modern times.

Bettye LaVette - I Heard it Through the Grapevine

Bettye with another Motown classic. I still can't understand why she never got a whole lot more attention back in the 70's.

If I Were Your Woman - Bettye Lavette

Bettye LaVette. Someone I've posted several times before with a great version of a big hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips. Some wonderful pictures of her too. Nice one with Barack Obama!

Darlene Love - A Fine, Fine Boy (Official Audio)

Darlene Love again with a Phil Spector Wall of Sound backing. Again as an RnB / Pop backing I've never heard anyone else top his Wall of Sound. And it's been said that Darlene was his secret weapon.

The Crystals - Da Doo Ron Ron (Audio)

The Crystals with Phil Spector's Wall of Sound backing. One of Pop music's most unforgetable sounds! There is no doubt that Phil was a music genius of the first order, it's just so sad that he was so flawed in other ways. Some hits by the Crystals actually had Darlene Love's voice inserted, like He's A Rebel. Crystals were in Bew York and Spector in L.A. He needed a strong voice as he was in a hurry to get the song out. Darlene has power in Megawatts!

Darlene Love "(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" My Extended Version!

Darlene Love was born Darlene Wright in 1941 in LA and was lead singer of The Blossoms. In 1962 she began a collaboration with Phil Spector and became the main voice on his famous Wall of Sound which featured multiple instruments playing the same part as well as multiple mikes to pick up the same instrument which provided very solid backing which I have never heard anyone equal. Darlene worked with many famous people including Sam Cooke, Dionne Warwick, Bill Medley, The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, and Sonny and Cher.She is ranked 84 in Rolling Stone's Top 100 singers.She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 with Bette Midler saying Love had changed her point of view of the world and music. Darlene thanked Phil Spector for making her the main singer in his Wall of Sound. She is also an accomplished actress, playing the role of Danny Glover's wife in all his films. She received a Grammy for music in films in 2015. She is still active today. Some nice pictures of Darlene and Phil on this track. And what is so nice about early 60s music is that it so gloriously and unashamedly romantic! Today I Met The Boy I'm Going to Marry! Wow!

I Got You Babe ~ Etta James

Etta's version of a big Sonny and Cher hit. Faster and more driving background . I like Etta's version better.

Etta James - Stormy Weather

There are so many sides to Etta's vocal ability! Here is a Blues/Jazz side with a standard that has been done by artists like Viola Wills, Mary Wilson and Nancy Wilson, all different styles.

Imagine - Etta James

Etta James was one of the most influential singers born in the 20th century. Her range spanned Gospel, Pop. Blues, Jazz and Rock and Roll. She had a difficult start in life, born to a 14 year old mother who abandonned her to be brought up by an abusive couple. Her father would wake her up when he came home drunk and force her to sing for his friends. leaving her with some difficulty in later life when called on to sing. At the age of 5 she had an abusive music teacher who wou… See more

Why? (The King Of Love Is Dead) (Unedited version from original live con...

February is Black History Month in America. Here's one of the greatest proponents of equal rights singing a great song about Martin Luther King, the King of Love.

Bettye LaVette "Blackbird" song by John Lennon/Paul McCartney (Nashville...

Bettye LaVette is not a singer to go to for some smooth soothing background music in a restaurant. She is someone you need to give your full attention to. So it is always great to get a live and close up clip like this one of Blackbird by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

BARBARA LEWIS-stand by me

Another number by a young Barbra Lewis with iconic label Atlantic Which did so much to show that it was OK for white kids to listen to black music , as said by Phil Collins when he hosted Atlantic's 40th anniversary celebration. An RnB/Soul classic from an age when music was so much more innocent than it has become today.

Barbara Lewis -- Hello Stranger

Another early Hit from Barbara. Penned by herself before she was old enough to vote, as someone says below! Beautifully clear voice with minimum backing on the Hammond organ so popular back then. No shouting or overstatement.

Barbara Lewis -- Baby, Im Yours

Perhaps her biggest hit, Barbara Lewis at 18 years of age in 1961 with her own composition. Born in 1943 she gained popularity in the Detroit area and then went on to record in New York City with producers Bert Berns and Jerry Wexler .. This resulted in her most successful work. A follow up at STAX did not achieve the same commercial success but nevertheless was critically acclaimed as being "grittier"! She withdrew from music as a performer but her songs continued to be cove… See more

Thankful for What I've Got

Barbara Lewis with something from one of Atlantic's famous Complete Singles series. ( I have several of those of a number of Atlantic's best Soul stars. All very good compilations. Jerry Wexler a partner at Atlantic's motto was " Always answer your phone. You never know when it might be a hit calling"!)

Jessica Williams (They Call Me) Queen of Fools (84 Remix)

Jessica Williams - Gamblin' on your love

Hurt so Good