Search - Bettye Lavette :: Souvenirs

A classic singer in a classic setting

Randall E. Adams | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Betty Lavette is one of the unheralded greats. She is impassioned, subtle and fluid. Her version of "Let Me Down Easy" is a career classic. Like the very best singers, Betty frequently tackled unlikely material and completely converted it to her purposes. Her interpretations of Kenny Rogers' "What Condition My Condition Is In" and Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" amply demonstrate her prowess in this field. I'm a pretty jaded guy and yet I had to listen to this superb CD THREE TIMES on the first day it arrived. The bulk of the program consists of Betty's shelved 1972 album recorded for Atco in Muscle Shoals. It's quite a shockingly great accomplishment, with the material, arrangements and performances collaborating to produce a truly classic southern soul record. The backing is classic Muscle Shoals, in this case rather guitar-based (Mr. Cropper himself perhaps?). Additional arrangements such as strings are applied tastefully. This is a truly fine album made for grownups, with very little filler. For me, the ballads "Our Own Love Song," "All the Black & White Children," "Your Turn to Cry" and "Souvenirs" are the most rewarding selections. Rounding out the CD is her afore-mentioned version of the Neil Young song, also from 1972 and both sides of her first two singles (from 1962). Obviously, these last four tracks represent a major shift in mood but are welcome nonetheless.The only gripe I have for the release is the lack of information. For example, the songwriters are not identified and neither are the musicians. But to criticize anything about this inspired belated issue seems churlish. God bless the French for putting it out. Now, maybe they can be interested in reissuing her 1982 Motown album "Tell Me A Lie.""

Absolutely Fabulous!

acshore | Seattle, WA USA | 11/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those of you who are avid R&B/Soul fans, and have enjoyed such artists as i.e. Aretha Franklin or Mary Wells - over the years - get this CD.



Bettye LaVette - in my opinion - exceeds any female soul singers ever; and yes... even including Aretha. Aretha's vocal styles are terrific; don't get me wrong, now. But she has too much of a blured vocal style that is limiting in being able to decipher exactly what the lyrics to her songs are. Bettye, however, has the same amount of rasp, even such as Janis Joplin, but you are able to hear precisely what the lyrics are to her fantastic-rhythmed songs.



Apparently, when LaVette resigned to the Atlantic company in mid-1973, they put her on their subsidiary branch-off label, Atco, and with the failure of 4 singles; the last including her most recognized song 'Your Turn To Cry,' her entire album was shelved. Wasn't until a few years ago when Bettye was going through boxes in her basement that she found cassette copies she had personally made of her unreleased album from years back. Record researcher David Godin, found out that her work was the only fully-intact material not distroyed by the famous 70s fire; for it was in the New York vault at the time.



I highly recommend 4 songs on this CD especially:



1) 'It Ain't Easy' - a song that has been done and done numerous amounts of times over the past 4 decades, that which Bettye does the best version of. It is very bluesy and emotional.



2) 'Your Turn To Cry' - Apparently, after the failure of this song, Atlantic - via Atco - vaulted her album. Coincidentally, despite this song not even charting, it has been regarded as LaVette's signature song, and was even played on the radio in the 70s when it came out.



3) 'Ain't Nothing Gonna Change Made' - This is 'the best' song on the album; in my opinion. The way she belts out 'ain't nothing gonna change me' at the beginning and especially at the end of the song, is something that I highly doubt Aretha could do that gustly and rasp-powerfully.



4) 'The Stealer' - A great cover of the rock group Free's song. Another belter, but not as good as the 3) song."

Wow!!

Lawyer Man | Ohio | 12/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Really can't say enough about this cd. I bought this based on "Your Turn to Cry," a song I'd known and loved for some time. I'm happy to say, this is a truly tremendous recording. The singing is great throughout, and with only one or two exceptions, so are the arrangements. A perfect cd for lovers of late sixties/early seventies southern soul, Muscle Shoals style."