Betty(e) Lavette

Date: 19 Jul 2003 08:28:56 -0700
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.blues-l
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There have been some posts recently about Betty (aka
Bettye) Lavette - one of the greatest (although
largely unheralded) female soul singers around --
someone who's been keeping the soul music tradition
alive for about four decades now . . . .
As a result of these posts, I've so far gotten two
Betty(e) Lavette CDs -- her latest "Woman Like Me,"
which I highly recommend -- and since this is a
Blues list not a Soul list, I'd add that there a
very bluesy feel to much of the material, including
bluesy guitar licks by Bobby Murray & Alan
Mirikitani.
I've also gotten a CD compiling her various
Atlantic/Atco singles and a complete NEVER RELEASED
album from the early 70s (the singles are from the
early 70s and a few from the 60s). This CD
"Souvenirs" is IMO one of THE GREATEST SOUL MUSIC
RECORDS I've ever heard. If you have any taste for
deep soul music (or if you're wondering if you do),
order this CD today . ... If the first cut doesn't
grab you than either (1) I'm crazy or (2) you, my
friend, don't like soul music!!
The tracks on "Souvenirs" were recorded in Muscle
Shoals with what sound like some of Muscle Shoals'
finest in peak form -- the earlier tracks are from
Detroit. There's lot of the usual soul music
themes -- bittersweet ballads and mid-tempo funk
tunes about the serious ups and downs of
relationships between men and women -- but actually
to me the true test of a GREAT soul singer is when
they do a cover version of some pop, rock, country,
or other 'non-soul' tune and get deep inside the
tune and transform it into a soul tune. This,
Lavette does to devastating effect with John Prine's
"Souvenirs" and Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" (don't
laugh folks, personally I'm not much of a Neil Young
fan but this rendition of the song will slay
you.) Just listen how she gets so deep inside
that John Prine song. (Not to pick another fight
about that recent, award-winning Solomon Burke CD,
but one thing that I didn't like so much about it is
that it doesn't sound to me like he's gotten really
deep inside those new songs that were presented to
him.)
For those not familiar with her, a reference point
for what she sounds like might be a "cross between
Etta James and Aretha Franklin." Also brings to
mind Ann Peebles. But what she seems to have in
spades that really stands out is her intelligence --
you can just hear her THINKING about what she's
singing, and you get the sense that she's thought a
lot about life. Yet she does this while maintaining
a completely fluid, from-the-heart soul style -- and
while also focusing on COMMUNICATING with the
audience.
I live in the Washington DC area but am going to
make a special trip to NYC Friday August 1 to see
Ms. Lavette at Joe's Pub (a cabaret at the Public
Theatre on Lafayette St). I can't wait to see --
and hear -- this woman. (Any other NYC 'zellers
going? BTW, she's going to be written up in the
next issue of Time Out and when that comes up, the
remaining seats at Joe's Pub will sell out very
quickly - so get your tix now.)
Folks, I have thousands and thousands of records and
CDs -- probably too many. But what justifies my
keepin' on buyin' more is when I come across music
of this quality . . . that enriches my life.
Thank you, those of you who previously posted about
Betty (Bettye) Lavette.
Steve Hoffman
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