Clydie King began her singing career in the mid 50s as
Little Cyldie, later becoming one of Ray Charles' Raelettes. In the
60s she was an in-demand session singer, working with Venetta Fields
and Sherlie Matthews as one of The Blackberries who backed many
household names such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, B.B. King,
Steely Dan, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Joe Cocker
and Crosby Stills & Nash amongst so many others. The sleevenotes
on her debut album states that her voice has been heard on well over
500 albums!
Her debut solo album "Direct Me" on Lizard from 1970 has been reissued. Musicians on the album
included label mate and drummer Paul Humphries (who released Cool-Aid
on the label and later released his NS instrumental "Cochise"), Billy
Preston on piano an organ, guitarist David T. Walker, Sandra Crouch
percussion and The Blackberries.
Two singles were taken from album, the second, "'Bout Love", became her first of only two solo hits reaching #45 R&B. Her
other hit was in 1973 "Loneliness (Will Bring Us Together Again)" as Brown Sugar.
The album is a mixed back with several cover songs, MOR style
ballads and funky tracks which don't really stand the test of
time. However, "'Bout Love" picked up minor spins on the
Northern Soul scene (never really becoming 'massive') and there is a version of The Mirettes' "Ain't My Stuff Good Enough". Venetta Fields was a member of The Mirettes (who were a trio who had all been members of The Ikettes) and
Sherlie Matthews wrote the song.
It reminded us that one of the original members of The Mirettes,
Robbie Montgomery, re-recorded a
different take
on it only two years ago. We posted it along with The Mirettes
original and a version by Martha & The Vandellas.
Clydie King died in Jan 2019 aged 75.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
| Rating: | 7.6 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | 70s Soul / Northern Soul / Reissue |
| Format: | Single |
| Media: | Digital |
| Label: | Almanac Records |
| Cat No: | None |
| Date: | 28/07/2023 |
| Price: | £7.99 |
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1 comment:
Beautiful singer. Also note the superb duet with Jimmy Holiday "Ready, Willing And Able / We Got A Good Thing Goin'" on Minit 32021.
Yves
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