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Showing posts with label Betty Wright. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Betty Wright. Show all posts

Thursday, 23 May 2024

Betty Wright [1981] - Make Me Love The Rain [Epic #14-02602]


A topical one... no NOT the just announced General Election on 4 Jul, the other thing Brits talk about incessantly, and with good reason recently, the weather and more specifically the RAIN!

Betty Wright from her self-titled 1981 album on Epic and nice 2-stepper, "Make Me Love The Rain", not available for download, although it was reissued on CD in 2016.

The album's not expensive and well worth seeking out for the deep soul killer "One Bad Habit (And That's Loving You!)" (which we will also include, why not?)

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Details
Rating: 8.6
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Modern Soul
Format: Single
Media: 7" Vinyl
Label: Epic
Cat No: 14-02602
Date: 10/1981
Key/BPM: N/A
Price: £10-£25
Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Wednesday, 21 December 2022

Betty Wright - A Profile - Part 1/3: The Playlist


Betty Wright (Bessie Regina Norris 21 Dec 1953 - 10 May 2020) would have been 69 today. She was born in Miami, FL, one of seven children and sang in the family gospel group Echoes Of Joy aged two in 1956 until 1965.  Her siblings include Milton Wright, Phillip 'Leno' Wright (aka Leno Phillips), Jeanette Wright-Black (aka Holloway aka Williams), and Charles A. Wright.
Story has it that Betty sang "Summertime" in a record store owned by Johnny Pearsall, who also owned a fledgling label Deep City with Willie Clarke, and signed her when she was just 12 years old. He released her first single "Good Lovin'" / "Paralyzed" in July 1967 on Deep City. Numero Group released a four track EP, "Deep City Recordings", in Jun '22 with both sides along with another single "Mr. Lucky" and "Thank You Baby" released on Solid Soul and the only release for the label which presumably was related to Deep City.

Her first album, "My First Time Around", was recorded in 1968 on Atco which produced her first hit single "Girls Can't Do What The Guys Do" on Alston (presumably Alston leased the album for release by Atco?). After a few more minor hits she hit the big time in 1971 with "Clean Up Woman" which would prove to be the biggest hit of her career reaching #1 R&B and #6 hot 100 at the tender age of just 17. That song didn't register across the pond and she had to wait until 1975 when two songs entered the UK Top 40 pop chart with "Shoorah Shooorah" (#27) and "Where Is The Love" (#25) co-written with Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch (KC & The Sunshine Band) for which she won a Grammy for Best R&B Song. It was a period where the proto-disco 'Miami Sound" was crossing over driven, in the main, by KC & The Sunshine Band.

Betty recorded 19 studio albums between 1968 and 2014. She died from cancer in 2020 aged 66 and a short tribute was done at the time which included her singles discography but not her albums so it's well overdue rectifying that.

As well as recording her own material she featured and sang backing vocals on many other artists recordings, far too many to list them all, which included: Gwen McCrae, Timmy Thomas ("You're The Song") , Milton Wright, Latimore, Stevie Wonder ("All I Do"), Gloria Estefan,  Richard Dimples Fields,("She's Got Papers") Angie Stone, Joss Stone (she produced "Mind Body & Soul" which was nominated for a Grammy) and many more.

A single post would be too unwieldy, therefore two separate parts have been created, with this section giving some background and a playlist below.

Check out parts 2 & 3 here:

A full discography of her singles including links to YouTube for those that are available.

A full discography of her studio albums. All but three of her albums are available to buy digitally and are on Spotify. This post contains links to Spotify to listen and Amazon/Apple to buy.

Albums Discography

1968 - My First Time Around [Atco #SD-33-260]
1972 - I Love The Way You Love [Alston #DS-33-388]
1973 - Hard To Stop [Alston #SD 7026]
1974 - Danger High Voltage [Alston #4400]
1976 - Explosion! [Alston #4402]
1977 - This Time For Real [Alston #4406]
1978 - Betty Wright Live [Alston #4408]
1979 - Betty Travelin' In The Wright Circle [Alston #4410]
1981 - Betty Wright [Epic #JE 36879]
1983 - Wright Back At You [Epic #FE 38558]
1986 - Sevens [First String Records #F-9644]
1988 - Mother Wit [Ms.B Records #Ms.B-3301]
1989 - 4u2njoy [Ms.B Records #Ms.B-3308]
1990 - Passion & ComPassion [Ms.B Records #Ms.B-3318]
1992 - All The Way Live [Permanent Records #PERM LP/CD 0007] 
1994 - B-Attitudes [Ms.B Records #72588-2]
2001 - Fit for A King [Ms.B Records #MSBCD 2112]
2011 - Betty Wright: The Movie – with the Roots [Ms.B Records #0731519012]
2014 - Living...Love...Lies [Ms.B Records]

Betty Wright has recorded just so much good music it was very difficult narrowing it down so I've tried to limit the playlist to a maximum of two/three tracks per album. Some of her later and more recent material, which may have gone overlooked (especially "Fit For A King" album), is too good to omit.

There are three of her albums that are not available on Spotify (or currently available digitally) which contain tracks that would have been considered. At least four great tracks on Betty Wright (1981)  "I Like Your Lovin'", "Give A Smile", "Make Me Love The Rain" and the killer "One Bad Habit" and another couple from "Wright Back At You" (1983) "I Promise You" and "Show Me" but most of the remainder of the album suffered from that horrible 80s production. 

The other album not available digitally is a live album released in 1992 "All The Way Live" which is her performance at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, in Oct. 1989.


Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Betty Wright - A Profile - Part 2/3: The Singles


Part 2 on the Betty Wright Profile which lists her full singles Discography with links to sound files for as many as can be found.

Other parts here:

Singles Discography

# Recommended
* NOT recommended

The 60s

Betty Wright
1967 - Mr. Lucky / Thank You Baby [Solid Soul 3030]
1967 - Good Lovin' / Paralyzed [Deep City 2378]
1968 - He's Bad, Bad, Bad / #Watch Out, Love [Alston 4571]

1969 - The Wrong Girl [1] / The Joy Of Becoming A Woman [Alston 4575]

1969 - I'm Not Free Hearted / A Woman Was Made For One Man [Alston 4580]
1969 - Soldier Boy / A Woman Was Made For One Man [Alston 4581]

Steve Alaimo And Betty Wright    
1969 - After The Smoke Is Gone / I'm Thankful [Atco 6659]

The 70s

Betty Wright 
1970 - Pure Love / If You Ain't Got It [Alston 4587]
1971 - #I Found That Guy [2] / If You Love Me Like I Love You [Alston 4589]

1971 - I Love The Way You Love / When We Get Together Again [Alston 4594]
1971 - Clean Up Woman [3] / I'll Love You Forever [Alston 4601] 
1972 - Is It You Girl [4] / Cryin' In My Sleep [Alston 4611] 
1972 - Baby Sitter / Outside Woman [Alston 4614]
1973 - Let Me Be Your Lovemaker / Jealous Man [Alston 4619]
1974 - Secretary / Value Your Love [5] [Alston 4622]
1974 - Shoorah! Shoorah! / Tonight Is The Night [Alston 3711]

Timmy Thomas / Timmy Thomas & Betty Wright  
1975 - It's What They Can't See / Ebony Affair [Glades 1730]

Betty Wright
1975 - Ooola La / To Love And Be Loved [Alston 3715]
1975 - #Slip And Do It / #I Think I Better Think About It [Alston 3718]
1976 - Everybody Was Rockin' / Show Your Girl [Alston 3719]
1976 - #If I Ever Do Wrong / Rock On Baby, Rock On [Alston 3722]
1976 - #Life / #If I Was A Kid [Alston 3725] - 1976
1977 - #Man Of Mine / Sweet [Alston 3736]

Alice Cooper / Alice Cooper & Betty Wright
1978 - How You Gonna See Me Now / No Tricks [Warner Bros. 9695]

Peter Brown Feat. Betty Wright (Uncredited)
1978 – Dance With Me / For Your Love [Drive 6269]
1978 - You Should Do It / Without Love [Drive 6272]

Betty Wright
1979 - #Lovin' Is Really My Game (4:48) / Lovin' Is Really My Game (Live) [T. K. Disco 125] (12" Release)
1979 - Lovin' Is Really My Game / #A Song For You [Alston 3745]
1979 - My Love Is / I Believe It's Love [Alston 3747]

Freddy Henry featuring Betty Wright / Freddy Henry
1979 - Tell Her [6] / Elayne [Clouds CLX-19] / Trying To Live My Life Without You

The 80s

1981 - Tell Her [6] / Trying To Live My Life Without You [T.K. 1045]

Richard Dimples Fields Feat. Betty Wright (Uncredited)
1981 - #She's Got Papers On Me / I've Got To Learn To Say No! [Epic EPC A 13 1918]

Betty Wright
1981 - #I Like Your Loving / Body Slang [Epic 02143]
1981 - #Goodbye Him Hello You [8] / #Make Me Love The Rain [Epic 02602]
1983 - Be Your Friend / Show Me [Epic 03403]
1983 - She's Older Now / Special Love [Epic 03523]
1983 - *Burning Desire / Show Me [Epic 03954]
1984 - *One Step Up, Two Steps Back (9:52) / One Step Up, Two Steps Back (Dub) (7:57) [Jamaica Jr-9002] (12" Release)
1984 - One Step Up, Two Steps Back / One Step Up, Two Steps Back (Instrumental) [Jamaica 3]
1985 - *Sinderella (Vocal) / Sinderella (Instrumental) [Jamaica 5]
1985 - #Pain / Pain (The Rap) [First String D-965]
1986 - The Sun Don't Shine / Music Street [First String 968]
1986 - *I Can / *Music Street [First String D- 268] (12" Release)

Hugh Grayson & Betty Wright / Hugh Grayson
1988 - How 'Bout Us [7] / Finally Found A Friend [RCA 9163-7-R]

Betty Wright 
1988 - No Pain, No Gain / (Instrumental) [Ms. B. 4501]
1988 - No Pain, No Gain / No Pain, No Gain (Without Rap) / Project Mix) [Ms. B. 1206] (12” Single) 
1988 - After The Pain (6:56) / After The Pain (Project Mix) [Vision/ Ms. B 7005]
1988 - After The Pain / Love Days [Ms. B. 4503]
1988 - A Christmas To Remember / 2nd Chapter Of The Book Of Matthew [Ms. B. 4504]
1989 - We Down (5 Versions) [Ms. B. 1230] (12" Release)
1989 - Keep Love New / We Down [Sure Delight SD 11]
1989 - Help Is On The Way (Radio Mix With Rap) (4:46) / (Instrumental) (4:46) / Project Mix (To My Girlfriends) (5:00) / Project Mix (5:00) [Ms. B. 1241] (12" Release)
1989 - Quiet Storm / We Down [Ms. B. 4508]

The 90s

1990 - #I Miss Ya / Valley Of Lonely [Ms.B MSB-1248]
1991 Tonight Is The Night [9] / Won't Be Long Now [Ms. B. MSB-1255]
1992 - It's Crucial  Extended Version / Project Mix / Street Mix / Accapella [Ms.B MSB-4592]
1993 - For Love Alone (7:48) / For Love Alone (4:45)  [Ms. B 4453]
1993 - Distant Lover (Radio Edit /LP Version) [10] / Help Is On The Way (LP Version / Girlfriends Version) [Ms. B 4490]
1997 - Every Breath You Take [11] / Pain (Live) [ARK 21 7243 8 84643 2 1]

The Noughties

2001 - U R A Ho And U Don't Know (Radio Mix) / Project Mix / Monologue / Fats Ho [Ms. B. 9912]

Angie Stone Feat. Betty Wright
2007 - #Baby [Stax (Promo only)]

Betty Wright
2001 - #Keep Feelin' [13] / Freedom - Get Up And Dance[Expansion (UK) EXPAND 85]

Lil Wayne Feat. Betty Wright
2008 - Playing With Fire [12]               

Betty Wright & Roots

Betty Wright
2015 - #Man Of Mine / Smother Me With Your Love [14] [Soul Brother SB7017D]

DJ Khaled Feat. Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean & Betty Wright
2016 - Holy Key [Epic digital only]

Betty Wright
2019 - Clean Up Woman (J.Rocc Edit) / Clean Up Woman [15] [Alston/Octave ‎– OTS-167]
2019 - I Love The Way You Love (J.Rocc Dub) / I Love The Way You Love [16] [Alston/Octave ‎– OTS-168]

Footnotes
[1] Available on Golden Classics comp COL-5118
[2] Recorded by Jackson 5 a few months earlier in 1970 as B side to The Love You Save with Jermaine on lead.
[3] Jimmie 'Bo' Horne released an answer song in 1971 - Clean Up Man [Alston 4606]
Willie Beaver Hale on guitar
[4] Soul/Funk similar in style to Clean Up Woman 7.7
[5] Value Your Love uses same backing as Girls Can't Do What The Guys Do
[6] Cover of Patti Drew
[7] Cover of Champaign hit. The B side is Blue-Eyed Soul with hints of Timmy Thomas Why Can't We Live Together
[8] Also recorded by Richard 'Dimples' Fields in 1982 on Give Everybody Some!
[9] Unable to find this extended mix but here are some alternative (bootleg?) mixes
[10] Cover of Marvin Gaye
[11] Reggae cover of Sting from A Reggae Tribute To The Police
[12] From Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III album 2008 on Motown.
[13] Previously unreleased on 45 album only 1976 Explosions!.
[14] A UK reissue of That Man Of Mine from This Time For Real and Smother Me With Love from Explosion! not previously released on 45.
[15] 2019 remix
[16] 2019 remix

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Betty Wright - A Profile - Part 3/3: The Albums


Part 3 of a profile on Betty Wright. These are all her 19 albums.

Previous parts here:


NB: Links to Spotify on album title (where available), links to Amazon/Apple on images (where available) and links to Discogs on Cat. No.



Girls Can't Do What The Guys Do (2:04)
Funny How Love Grows Cold (2:51)
I'm Gonna Hate Myself In The Morning (2:11)
Circle Of Heartbreak (2:58)
Sweet Lovin' Daddy (2:25)
Cry Like A Baby (2:34)
Watch Out Love (2:41)
He's Bad, Bad, Bad (2:22)
I Can't Stop My Heart (3:24)
I'm Thankful (2:03)
The Best Girls Don't Always Win (3:08)
Just You (3:06)



I Love The Way You Love (3:20)
I'll Love You Forever Heart And Soul (3:40)
I Found That Guy (3:35)
All Your Kissin' Sho' Don't Make True Lovin' (2:35)
If You Love Me Like You Say You Love Me (3:10)
Clean Up Woman (2:40)
I'm Gettin' Tired Baby (2:40)
Pure Love (2:20)
Ain't No Sunshine (3:20)
Don't Let It End This Way (2:50)
Let's Not Rush Down The Road Of Love (2:54)

1973 - Hard To Stop [Alston #SD 7026]


I Am Woman (4:20)
Sweet Wonder (2:26)
The Experts (3:02)
We The Two Of Us (3:00)
Let Me Go Down (2:57)
Gimme Back My Man (3:28)
Who'll Be The Fool (3:17)
The Babysitter (3:02)
If You Think You've Got Soul (2:15)
It's Hard To Stop (Doing Something When It's Good To You) (3:14)

1974 - Danger High Voltage [Alston #4400]


Everybody Was Rockin' (3:48)
Love Don't Grow On A Love Tree (3:01)
Show Your Girl (2:38)
Come On Up (2:59)
Shoorah! Shoorah! (2:55)
Where Is The Love (4:55)
That's When I'll Stop Loving You (3:23)
Don't Thank Me Baby, Thank Yourself (2:54)
Tonight Is The Night (4:00)

1976 - Explosion! [Alston #4402]


Open The Door To Your Heart (4:35)
Do Right Girl (4:20)
I Think I'd Better Think About It (3:10)
Smother Me With Your Love (2:50)
Don't Forget To Say I Love You Today (4:45)
Keep Feelin' (4:50)
Rock On Baby, Rock On (3:08)
If I Ever Do Wrong (4:32)
Bluesville (2:35)
Life (4:25)

1977 - This Time For Real [Alston #4406]


That Man Of Mine (3:25)
Wonderful Baby (3:46)
If You Abuse My Love (You'll Lose My Love) (4:48)
You Can't See For Lookin' (5:06)
A Sometime Kind Of Thing (3:28)
Brick Grits (4:05)
Sweet (3:13)
Give Me More, More, More (4:01)
Room At The Top (3:50)

1978 - Betty Wright Live [Alston #4408]


Lovin' Is Really My Game (5:18)
Tonight Is The Night (8:07)
A Song For You (7:25)
Clean Up Woman (11:37)
Clean Up Woman Medley:
 Medley: Pillow Talk
 You Got The Love
 Mr. Melody
 Midnight At The Oasis
 Me And Mrs. Jones
 You Are My Sunshine
 Let's Get Married Today
You Can't See For Lookin' (5:54)
Where Is The Love (4:07)



I'm Telling You Now (4:44)
Child Of The Man (4:24)
You're Just What I Need (4:05)
My Love Is (5:48)
Open The Door To Your Heart / Love Train (5:18)
I Believe It's Love (4:04)
Thank You For The Many Things You've Done (5:52)
Listen To The Music (Dance) (5:10)

1981 - Betty Wright [Epic #JE 36879]

Unavailable


What Are You Going To Do With It (4:30)
I Like Your Loving (3:42)
Indivisible (4:25)
Body Slang (4:17)
Dancin' On The One (4:16)
Give A Smile (4:07)
I Come To You (3:25)
Make Me Love The Rain (4:09)
One Bad Habit (And That's Loving You!) (7:41)

1983 - Wright Back At You [Epic #FE 38558]

Unavailable


Burning Desire (3:56)
She’s Older Now (6:23)
Be Your Friend (4:20)
I Promise You (4:52)
Live, Love, Rejoice (4:09)
Special Love (5:09)
Show Me (3:30)
Reggae The Night Away (3:52)
Gimme Just Another Try (4:16)

1986 - Sevens [First String Records #F-9644]


I Can (4:05)
In Time You'll See (5:40)
Tropical Island (4:17)
The Sun Don't Shine (5:36)
Share My Love (3:40)
Music Street (3:46)
Are You Gonna Stand By Me (Or Fall For Her)? (4:15)
Pain (6:56)

1988 - Mother Wit [Ms.B Records #Ms. B-3301]


After The Pain (6:56)
No Pain, (No Gain) (5:12)
Ms. Time (4:21)
Love Days (4:44)
Miami Groove (4:45)
Unsolicited Advise (4:10)
Shoot It From The Hip (4:15)
Fakin' Moves (5:12)
Say It Again (4:08)

1989 - 4u2njoy [Ms.B Records #Ms. B-3308]


4U2NJOY (4:40)
It's Been Real (4:17)
Quiet Storm (6:05)
Keep Love New (4:35)
From Pain To Joy (4:42)
Valley Of Lonely (6:20)
Lightin' (4:37)
We "Down" (4:23)
Won't Be Long Now (5:12)

1990 - Passion & ComPassion [Ms.B Records #Ms.B-3318]


Help Is On The Way (4:46)
Search 4 Love Is Over (5:23)
Passion And Compassion (3:53)
No Good But So Good (4:41)
Deep Water (4:04)
Nighttime Can Catch Ya (4:23)
Get Biz-E (4:10)
I Miss Ya (6:21)
Nobody Loves U Like I Do (3:53)
Rhythms Getting Stronger (5:07)
Got My Life Back (5:36)
Help Is On The Way (Girlfriends) (4:46)

1992 - All The Way Live [Permanent Records #PERM LP/CD 0007] 

NB: UK Only recorded at Hammersmith Odeon Oct 1989

Unavailable


We Down
Won't Be Long Now / Tonight Is The Night
Shoorah Shoorah
Medley:
 Clean Up Woman
 I'm On My Own
 What's Love Got To Do With It?
 Yes I'm Ready
 You Are My Sunshine
 Lets Get Married
Pain
Valley Of Lonely
No Pain (No Gain)
Miami Groove
Keep Love New
Pain (Mr Al Mix)

1994 - B-Attitudes [Ms. B Records #72588-2]


It's The Little Things (4:35)
Love Is Too Deep (4:31)
I Don't Know (4:51)
Feels Good (4:39)
I Know Too Much About You (4:39)
Kiss Me, Hold Me (5:00)
Don't Hurt Me (5:26)
For Love Alone (7:48)
Love Of My Life (4:29)
Only You (5:07)
Distant Lover (5:20)
Makin' Lover (5:04)
I Found Love (4:34)
Please Tell Me Yes (4:39)

2001 - Fit for A King [Ms.B Records #MSBCD 2112]


Why We Do (What We Do) (4:45)
Tribute To My Girls (4:40)
U-R-A-Ho (And You Don't Know) (5:32)
Fit For A King (4:05)
Second Time In Love (5:30)
You Still Depend On Me (5:01)
Just Say The Word (4:24)
Somebody's Only Love (5:34)
How Could You Just Walk Away? (4:11)
It Was Love When It Was Love (4:50)
Milk And Honey (5:57)
Church Is Out (5:42)
Something's Going On (4:43)
Tight Ta' Death (3:44)
Pull Your Pants Up!!! (4:09)
Thoughts (1:07)



Old Songs (5:38)
Real Woman (5:34)
In The Middle Of The Game (Don't Change The Play) (3:55)
Surrender (5:06)
Grapes On A Vine (5:15)
Look Around (Be A Man) (5:06)
Tonight Again (5:23)
Hollywould (6:39)
Whisper In The Wind (5:25)
Baby Come Back (4:37)
So Long, So Wrong (3:37)
You And Me, Leroy (5:35)
Bonus Tracks
The One (6:04)
Go! (Live) (9:39)

2014 - Living...Love...Lies [Ms.B Records]

Love Lies (5:54)
Swan Song (4:28)
The Train (5:01)
Not Like Me (4:34)
If They Knew Better (They'd Do Better) (feat. DJ Khaled) (4:31)
Trust Issues (3:54)
Tired (4:10)
Tired (Classic Betty Wright Monlogue) (4:47)
Bodyguard (feat. Rick Ross) (5:20)
Optimystic (4:51)
Pirate's Chest (4:37)
Invisible Woman (3:26)
Get My Praise On (4:35)
Blue Shag Carpet (A Mother's Love) (6:04)
Dry Well (Patrick's Song) (6:40)

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved