Earlier this month we posted a promo for the new single by Patrice Isley, a cover of Deniece Williams' "Free", which is officially released today (29 Mar) by Expansion Records. It's delivered with the full unexpurgated 8:35 version (which we posted) along with a shorter radio edit of 4:16.
Williams' original topped the UK pop chart for two weeks of it's ten
week run in the Top 40 in May 1977, spending six in total in the Top
10. It peaked at #25 on the Hot 100 and #2 R&B in the states.
Patrice shares, "I loved this song as a little girl. I loved Deniece's voice. It was
easy to sing along with. The chorus was beautifully 'catchy,' and
the message was strong, 'I want to be Free!'" As an adult, she now appreciates the message of love and freedom
coexisting in a relationship, making this cover particularly
meaningful to her.
She goes on to tell us: “What I thought would be different in this recording, I found out
Deniece did in the original!. I used male background singers. Turns
out Deniece used Maurice White (EWF) and Sidney Barnes as background
vocalists! The other difference was my idea to reach a higher vocal
register than she did in the original. This was not easy to
achieve!! I did it, however (modestly stated). One of my backing
singers is Ron Stansfield who announced at the end of the recording
session he is, indeed, Deniece Williams’ cousin!”
Ms Isley possesses a five-octave vocal range and is known for her
renditions of timeless classics (last Oct she covered The Isley's "Harvest For The World"). She slows down the tempo on "Free" and immerses her own style
into the song. To clarify, she is not related (directly) to The Isley
Brothers.
Born in Houston, TX, she began singing from an early age, although not
in the church as with so many soul singers. She relocated to L.A.
where she joined a group that included Nina Simone's daughter, Lisa
Simone, and not long afterwards found herself in the studio with Teddy
Pendergrass singing BGVs.
After touring with an array of A list artists (including Barry White,
Gladys Knight, Teddy Pendergrass, Ashford & Simpson, Andre Crouch,
Phillip Bailey Chante Moore and Glenn Jones to name but a few) she
recorded her debut solo album "Believe In Love" in 2016, the title track, "Just Believe In Love" featured on Expansion's Luxury Soul 2019.
The new single will be her fourth single since then and first since
"Harvest For The World".
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
Click icons below for further information or to connect with the
artist.
| Rating: | 8.4 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | New Soul / Cover Version |
| Format: | Single |
| Media: | Digital |
| Label: | Self Released |
| Cat No: | None |
| Date: | 29/03/2024 |
| Key/BPM: | 3B/87 |
| Price: | £1 |
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