after reading the allmusic bio, i wonder if anyone's heard the "aborted 1979 session" recordings?
― el sabor de gene (yournullfame), Sunday, 6 November 2005 14:04 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 6 November 2005 14:24 (eighteen years ago) link
http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2FCY7BBKG003C2K2NVNRJNDH2F
The track Crashin' From Passion's good too, actually, in a manic kind of way.
― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 6 November 2005 14:34 (eighteen years ago) link
― Nathalie, the Queen of Frock 'n' Fall (stevie nixed), Sunday, 6 November 2005 15:08 (eighteen years ago) link
― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 6 November 2005 15:13 (eighteen years ago) link
― gear (gear), Sunday, 6 November 2005 19:16 (eighteen years ago) link
― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Sunday, 6 November 2005 20:07 (eighteen years ago) link
― mike bott, Sunday, 6 November 2005 23:19 (eighteen years ago) link
― snotty moore, Monday, 7 November 2005 00:49 (eighteen years ago) link
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:01 (eighteen years ago) link
― gear (gear), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:05 (eighteen years ago) link
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:06 (eighteen years ago) link
― gear (gear), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:06 (eighteen years ago) link
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:07 (eighteen years ago) link
― gear (gear), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:08 (eighteen years ago) link
― gear (gear), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:09 (eighteen years ago) link
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:11 (eighteen years ago) link
― gear (gear), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:12 (eighteen years ago) link
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:14 (eighteen years ago) link
― moley (moley), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:44 (eighteen years ago) link
second time I heard it at a party with a roomful of people screaming along and it was unfuckwithable
― milton parker (Jon L), Monday, 7 November 2005 01:51 (eighteen years ago) link
― gear (gear), Monday, 7 November 2005 02:26 (eighteen years ago) link
― moley (moley), Monday, 7 November 2005 02:28 (eighteen years ago) link
― moley (moley), Monday, 7 November 2005 02:29 (eighteen years ago) link
haha maybe this was my problem! I will play it again, gear.
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 7 November 2005 02:52 (eighteen years ago) link
― JayBabcock (jabbercocky), Monday, 7 November 2005 06:35 (eighteen years ago) link
― moley, Monday, 7 November 2005 07:58 (eighteen years ago) link
― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 7 November 2005 08:08 (eighteen years ago) link
When I edited Mean magazine for 9 months in '99-00 (or whenever it was), I managed to track her down via her lawyer but she wouldn't talk. The Mojo piece was... Well, she talked but she didn't say anything, either because she can't remember or she thinks it improper to talk about some stuff. (or, giving her the benefit of the doubt, there really is nothing to say...) My feeling is there's a lot more there than she's letting on, and any woman who was at/near the nexus point between Hendrix and Miles Davis, when they were at (or nearing) creative peaks, who apparently singlehandedly moved Miles into fusion/rock/what-have-you, has got to have something insightful to relay. Add that she made three pretty amazing, pretty hardcore records in a row, well.... Ay yi yi!
― JayBabcock (jabbercocky), Monday, 7 November 2005 19:17 (eighteen years ago) link
I'm In Love With Betty Davis
Two interesting tidbits:
"While Miles was working on Bitches Brew, Davis cut an album with a dream-team band consisting of Wayne Shorter and Tony Williams from Miles' band with Miles producing, and Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell. Afraid of Betty's success, Miles insisted the album be shelved."
Who knows if that will ever see the light of day.
Also, Talkin' Trash: The Definitive Betty Davis was supposed to come out a long time ago on Aztec Music, but I haven't seen anything.
― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Monday, 7 November 2005 20:05 (eighteen years ago) link
― Dominique, Friday, 23 February 2007 18:54 (seventeen years ago) link
― sexyDancer, Friday, 23 February 2007 18:59 (seventeen years ago) link
― xhuxk, Saturday, 24 February 2007 13:43 (seventeen years ago) link
― GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ, Saturday, 24 February 2007 14:07 (seventeen years ago) link
― xhuxk, Saturday, 24 February 2007 14:09 (seventeen years ago) link
― scott seward, Saturday, 24 February 2007 15:56 (seventeen years ago) link
― Dominique, Saturday, 24 February 2007 17:49 (seventeen years ago) link
― Bimble, Monday, 7 May 2007 02:01 (seventeen years ago) link
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 7 May 2007 02:25 (seventeen years ago) link
― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Monday, 7 May 2007 02:31 (seventeen years ago) link
― abanana, Monday, 7 May 2007 02:38 (seventeen years ago) link
― The Reverend, Monday, 7 May 2007 03:40 (seventeen years ago) link
― Capitaine Jay Vee, Monday, 7 May 2007 06:01 (seventeen years ago) link
― m coleman, Monday, 7 May 2007 09:57 (seventeen years ago) link
― Geir Hongro, Monday, 7 May 2007 10:49 (seventeen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 7 May 2007 17:43 (seventeen years ago) link
― I eat cannibals, Monday, 7 May 2007 19:00 (seventeen years ago) link
― Andy K, Monday, 7 May 2007 19:09 (seventeen years ago) link
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 05:17 (seventeen years ago) link
Strange that his wife would be praised for just the opposite, but then consider the source of the "critique".
We're talking about a woman who sings amelodically about kinky sex, right?
― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:02 (fourteen years ago) link
Well, fine, but I don't find it "racist."
in general, a white guy telling a black person they are an excellent example of an offensive stereotype is kinda racist FYI
― the sound of a norwegian guy being wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:04 (fourteen years ago) link
Er, if you actually listen to Betty Davis' lyrics, they're certainly more complex than that stupid caricature. Yeah, she sings about "kinky sex", but do many other artists. I think she manages to make her subject matter interesting in a way that goes beyond any caricature; and on the second album you have tunes like "Don't Call Her No Tramp" or "70's Blues", which certainly put things in a wider context than just "kinky sex".
― Tuomas, Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:20 (fourteen years ago) link
I don't hear the complexity, sorry; and her voice doesn't make me want to peer beneath their surfaces.
― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:22 (fourteen years ago) link
And yet you are willing to make grand statements what she's all about.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:24 (fourteen years ago) link
Yes, because I own both albums and listened to them several times.
― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:26 (fourteen years ago) link
Betty Davis' lyrics are about taking control of your sexuality, IIRC that Robert Crumb cartoon is about a racist cartoon nympho who has no problem getting raped and abused - even if you don't see the complexity, there's still a big difference between the two.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Fair enough. I'll give'em another shot tonight.
― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:31 (fourteen years ago) link
I'm not saying you have to like Betty Davis or find her lyrics compelling in any way... I just wanted to point out that the caricature she is compared to is really quite different from her lyrics, even if they're both about black women who enjoy sex, so you shouldn't be defending that comparison.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:35 (fourteen years ago) link
Like I said, I'll give'em another shot, but from what I remember the results don't support her intentions. I can't separate lyrics from voice, no matter how pithy the sentiments.
― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:41 (fourteen years ago) link
I realized the other day that if an artist puts any kind of dirty/kinky/sexually over-the-top lyrics over really any type of music, I will 99% likely enjoy that song.
― This is four-dimensional art; the 4th dimension is incredibly powerful. (Abbott), Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:49 (fourteen years ago) link
not to esp defend r crumb, but angelfood mcspade is a little complicated than just being a racist caricature imho... she's, maybe, a quasi-racist caricature of a racist caricature, one that riffs on the hidden and not so hidden racism of american popular culture like cartoons and comic strips. i'm not sure how that helps lazy old xgau, tho
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:50 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah I know, it's the same with his infamous "nigger hearts" strip - wasn't sure if I wanted to muddy the waters with the issue (is it a parody, or is it an homage? or just more R. Crumb masturbatory material? or all three?) Crumb is tricky. but Xgau's namedrop ref is terrible nonetheless.
― the sound of a norwegian guy being wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 6 May 2010 22:52 (fourteen years ago) link
http://soundcloud.com/lightintheatticrecords/iggy-pop-zig-zags-if-im-in
Great concept, great vocal performance by Iggy, but man, the backing band sucks.
― look at this quarterstaff (Hurting 2), Monday, 10 September 2012 16:14 (eleven years ago) link
https://light-in-the-attic.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/release_image/18787/image/large_550_tmp_2F1466791093063-xfnvfdm13h68nxrz-35bf92699ab44f47edb0f8a88686f322_2FLITA135_AlbumCover.jpghttp://lightintheattic.net/releases/2429-the-columbia-years-1968-1969
― tylerw, Tuesday, 28 June 2016 16:55 (seven years ago) link
YES
― chr1sb3singer, Tuesday, 28 June 2016 16:59 (seven years ago) link
listening to the clips now, seems more hard R&B than funk, but still interesting
― Dominique, Tuesday, 28 June 2016 17:03 (seven years ago) link
yeah from the clips, i dunno if it really supports the idea that betty was the inspiration behind the bitches brew sound, everything here is pretty straight ahead (though maybe some of it gets more wigged out as the songs progress). but it sounds cool anyway!
― tylerw, Tuesday, 28 June 2016 17:09 (seven years ago) link
this just strikes me as a bit of a stretch: "The concepts explored on these previously unheard sessions fueled concepts that wouldn’t be fully realized until years later with Miles’ seminal On The Corner."
― tylerw, Tuesday, 28 June 2016 17:14 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, hard to tell what just what might eventually happen in these tracks---for 30" excerpts especially, might have been better not to make 'em all the intros. The voice does sound kinda thin, but not tuneless, as some have said upthread. The band sounds stronger right off and all through. Suspect it's not nearly as wild or raunchy as the finished albums may be ---still haven't heard 'em, but I wanna, and this too.
― dow, Tuesday, 28 June 2016 17:30 (seven years ago) link
Don't think this page lists release date, but press sheet says July 1.
― dow, Tuesday, 28 June 2016 17:31 (seven years ago) link
estimated ship date is 7/11
― tylerw, Tuesday, 28 June 2016 17:32 (seven years ago) link
Heard it yesterday. It's not a lost album - it's demos. And if the personnel listed are really present, you coulda fooled me. The music is semi-generic late '60s soul/funk, so if Herbie Hancock and Larry Young are playing keyboards, they're not given enough room to stretch out; it's impossible to tell it's them. I didn't hear a note of saxophone, either, so where was Wayne, exactly? McLaughlin, though, is in full Jack Johnson mode, which is great, and the rhythm section (Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell) are as "tightly loose" as they were behind Jimi. Davis's lyrics (on the three songs she wrote) are sketches at best. The cover of Cream's "Politician" is good, the cover of Creedence's "Born On The Bayou" isn't - too Tina Turner-ish by half. And the last three tracks, the ones done with Hugh Masekela in 1968, are just OK in a showbizzy, Vegas-pop kind of way (think Tom Jones). It's good-not-great; there's some studio dialogue from Miles which is intermittently hilarious (he tells her to keep her gum in her mouth when she sings); Betty fans (of which I am not really one, honestly) will almost certainly love it. But the stuff she did later was much more exciting.
― Don Van Gorp, midwest regional VP, marketing (誤訳侮辱), Thursday, 30 June 2016 11:25 (seven years ago) link
Somebody elsewhere said that this was supposed to be the sleeve for the original lp release. Or at least put forward the section that was used by the last poets for their cd releasehttp://www.matiklarweinart.com/images/gallery/zonked-1971.jpgI looked it up in the book of Mati Klarwein paintings I have and the book has it dated as 1971 anyway.
Good painting though.
& if it is only demoes anyway I don't know what the story is.
― Stevolende, Thursday, 30 June 2016 11:53 (seven years ago) link
ha, that is a good painting!yeah, i've heard this whole columbia years thing, and it is not a lost masterpiece, though it's a fun listen -- mclaughlin on "politician" is a total treat.
― tylerw, Thursday, 30 June 2016 16:13 (seven years ago) link
I still want to hear it and will buy it. Sorry!
― chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 30 June 2016 16:15 (seven years ago) link
oh yeah, definitely worth hearing!
― tylerw, Thursday, 30 June 2016 16:18 (seven years ago) link
Betty fans (of which I am not really one, honestly) will almost certainly love it. But the stuff she did later was much more exciting.
I am a Betty fan and I agree, tbh.
― Oh baby, if only you knew / Gabnebb hit a hundred-and-two (stevie), Friday, 1 July 2016 09:45 (seven years ago) link
Posted on tylerw's tumblr: Betty & band live in France, '76, vivid sound, rough & clear enough, strong playing, singing so far (extended intro, good crisp build-up). "Dedicated to Miles Davis"--seems right.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFq69--fb1E
Bunch of her albums on this page too, maybe all.
― dow, Thursday, 21 July 2016 18:34 (seven years ago) link
"Sing it just like that, with the gum in your mouth and all, bitch."
― velko, Thursday, 21 July 2016 18:41 (seven years ago) link
THere was a 76 Betty Davis up on Dime a couple of weeks back. THink it was somewhere in Europe but not sure if it's that France.ah right it's le Castellet 25/7/76
― Stevolende, Thursday, 21 July 2016 19:54 (seven years ago) link
Absolute classic
― In a slipshod style (Ross), Wednesday, 22 November 2017 06:29 (six years ago) link
Reports on twitter that she has passed away :(
― Pfunkboy AKA (Oor Neechy), Wednesday, 9 February 2022 16:37 (two years ago) link
Betty Grey Mabry Davis July 26, 1945-February 9, 2022RIP Betty Davis, a multi-talented music influencer, pioneer rock star, singer, songwriter, arranger, model, and fashion icon. From Pittsburgh (Homestead) https://t.co/HwqGXZk3DN— MF MOCK (@brentinmock) February 9, 2022
― Pfunkboy AKA (Oor Neechy), Wednesday, 9 February 2022 16:38 (two years ago) link
RIP
― peace, man, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 20:48 (two years ago) link
:( RIP for no apparent reason the phrase "'cause I'm a piece of sugar cane" popped into my head earlier today
― rob, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 21:33 (two years ago) link
The documentary on her - Betty: They Say I'm Different - is streaming on Amazon Prime, btw.
― peace, man, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 22:33 (two years ago) link
rest well. respect.☮️
― get shrunk by this funk. (Austin), Wednesday, 9 February 2022 22:42 (two years ago) link
Belated RIP to Betty Davis the singer.
― am.curious.sometimes, Thursday, 10 February 2022 16:44 (two years ago) link
I think the first I ever heard of her was through New Kingdom sampling her on their second album
― calzino, Thursday, 10 February 2022 20:50 (two years ago) link
RIP LEGEND
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 10 February 2022 21:10 (two years ago) link
I had no idea. I liked her song F-U-N-K.
RIP.
― No Anal Staircase For You, Gotcha (I M Losted), Saturday, 12 February 2022 00:29 (two years ago) link
Light In The Attic Announce Four Career-Spanning Betty Davis ReissuesIn Celebration of Betty Davis’ 50-Year Reign As The Queen Of FunkOut August 25th Titles Include Davis’ 1973 Self-Titled Debut,They Say I’m Different, Is It Love Or Desire?,& First-Ever Davis-Approved Release of Crashin’ From PassionListen To Unearthed Single, “Crashin’ From Passion,” Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1CIsGum6Pw
― dow, Thursday, 29 June 2023 23:49 (ten months ago) link
“When I created the music, I just did it from my heart and from my soul. I didn’t really think about, ‘Well, who’s gonna like this, who isn’t gonna like it?’ I just created the music.” — Betty Davis This year marks the 50th anniversary of Betty Davis’ self-titled debut — an electrifying artistic statement that launched one of modern music’s most revolutionary figures. To celebrate the visionary singer, songwriter, producer, and fashion icon’s broadly influential career, acclaimed reissue label Light in the Attic is revisiting four essential titles from The Queen of Funk’s catalog: Betty Davis (1973), They Say I’m Different (1974), Is It Love Or Desire? (recorded in 1976, released in 2009), as well as the first-ever vinyl release of Crashin’ From Passion, which captures Davis’ final 1979 sessions. All four tiles were produced in close collaboration with Davis, who sadly passed away in 2022. Betty Davis, They Say I’m Different, and Crashin’ From Passion were remastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters and pressed on vinyl at Record Technology, Inc. (RTI). For the aforementioned three titles, the accompanying booklets include a treasure trove of rare photos from the era, plus lyrics, and new liner notes by writer, ethnomusicologist, and Davis’ close friend, Danielle Maggio, who integrates interviews that she conducted with Davis, marking her last-ever interviews. They Say I’m Different also includes a fold-out 24x36 poster. Is It Love Or Desire? was remastered by GRAMMY®-nominated engineer John Baldwin and pressed on vinyl at Record Technology, Inc. (RTI). The album includes liner notes from journalist, DJ, and professor Oliver Wang. Each album will be available on CD, black wax, and in a variety of exclusive color variants. All titles will be released on August 25th. Read below for more information on Davis and the individual albums. Pre-order Betty Davis Reissues Listen To Unearthed Single, “Crashin’ From Passion” (from 1979’s Crashin’ From Passion) Watch Trailer Far ahead of her time, Queen of Funk Betty Davis (1944 – 2022) defied the limits of gender, race, and genre during her all-too-short career. She innovated with her space-age blend of funk, R&B, and blues and enraptured audiences with her raw and powerful vocals – then shocked (and awed) them with her provocative, sexually liberated lyrics. Unapologetic and independent, Davis smashed glass ceilings with gusto. To count a few, she was among the first Black models to grace the covers of Seventeen and Glamour, while later, she became the first Black woman to write, produce, and arrange her own albums. When Davis released her self-titled debut in 1973, she was already a force in New York, London, and Los Angeles. She had opened one of NYC’s most vibrant private nightclubs, penned songs for The Chambers Brothers and The Commodores, collaborated with Hugh Masekela, and inspired her then-husband Miles Davis to create the roots for jazz fusion on Bitches Brew. While she received numerous offers from record labels in those early years, Davis also recognized the power of retaining control over her music. Fiercely DIY, she eventually signed a contract with Woodstock organizer Michael Lang’s Just Sunshine imprint, under which she released Betty Davis (1973) and They Say I’m Different (1974). In 1975, she made her major label debut under Island Records with Nasty Gal. Davis would go on to record two more albums—Is It Love Or Desire? and Crashin’ From Passion—both of which remained unreleased for decades. Often relegated to cult figure status and frequently misunderstood, Davis’ album recording career spanned less than a decade. While her music earned critical acclaim and respect from peers, it was regularly banned or disregarded, due to its sexual nature. As a Black woman in an industry controlled by white men, Davis found herself in a constant battle for creative control, often to the detriment of her career. Never given the chance to succeed commercially, a disillusioned Davis retired from the spotlight in 1980. From a modern lens, the path that Davis forged can be traced clearly throughout the decades, traversed by those who pushed the needle farther and fought for equality in the industry. Many of music’s brightest stars have counted Davis as an influence, including Prince, Erykah Badu, and Janelle Monae, while rappers like Ice Cube, Method Man, and Talib Kweli have all sampled her work. In recent years, Davis has captured a new generation of fans, thanks to the use of her songs in such series as Mixed-ish, Girlboss, Pistol, and Orange Is the New Black. In 2017, she was the subject of the acclaimed documentary, Betty: They Say I'm Different. *** Betty Davis (LP, CD, Digital) Released in 1973, Betty Davis’ self-titled debut served as a bold introduction to the artist, showcasing her futuristic funk, her provocative lyricism, and her utterly unique vocal abilities. Produced by Sly and the Family Stone drummer Greg Errico and recorded in the Bay Area, the album featured a who’s who of local talent, including guitarist Neal Schon (Santana, Journey), keyboardist Merl Saunders, bassist Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone), and horn players from Tower of Power. Backing Davis on vocals were the likes of The Pointer Sisters, future disco star Sylvester, and singer-songwriter Kathi McDonald. “[Davis] screams, squeezes, and stretches her voice in ways that…had never [been] heard before,” writes Maggio, who calls the artist’s vocals “the most shockingly innovative aspect” of the album. Also ahead of its time was Davis’ songwriting, in which her sexuality was front and center. “If I’m In Luck, I Might Get Picked Up” was banned by radio stations for its references to sex work, while “Your Man My Man” extolls the virtues of non-monogamous relationships. Other highlights include the supremely groovy “Game Is My Middle Name,” as well as the empowering and refreshing “Anti-Love Song,” which flips romantic balladry on its head. Pitchfork praised Betty Davis as “a groundbreaking slab of funk…fus[ing] soul, sex, and hard rock like the best Sly or Funkadelic disc, albeit from a female perspective. But if George Clinton waved his freak flag proudly, Betty Davis wore it as underwear then rubbed your face in it.” Betty Davis Tracklist:1. If I’m In Luck I Might Get Picked Up2. Walkin’ Up The Road3. Anti Love Song4. Your Man My Man5. Ooh Yeah6. Steppin’ In Her I. Miller Shoes7. Game Is My Middle Name8. In the Meantime9. Come Take Me *10. You Won’t See Me In The Morning *11. I Will Take That Ride * *CD and Digital-Only Bonus Track Pre-order Betty Davis They Say I’m Different (LP, CD, Digital) Giving Ziggy Stardust a run for his money, Betty Davis is transformed into an Afrofuturist superhero on the cover of They Say I’m Different, her 1974 follow-up to Betty Davis. A hero she certainly was, as the album established Davis as the first Black woman to have sole credits as producer, writer, and arranger on her own LP. Recorded in the Bay Area, They Say I’m Different found the North Carolina-born artist exploring her blues roots and assembling nearly an entirely new collection of musicians, including guitarist Buddy Miles (Band of Gypsys), percussionist Pete Escovedo, drummer Mike Clark (Herbie Hancock), and Betty’s cousin, bassist Larry Johnson. Davis also enlisted a fresh line-up of backing vocalists (Trudy Perkins, Elaine Clark, and Debbie Burrell), whom she lovingly christened “The Ladies.” While They Say I’m Different certainly has plenty of brash, tantalizing moments (“Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him” and the S&M-themed “He Was a Big Freak,” among them), the album also finds Davis getting more personal with her writing. In the title track, the artist recalls her youth, her family, and such musical heroes as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Bessie Smith, and Muddy Waters. In the moody “70s Blues,” she employs a classic blues song structure, while revealing her vulnerable side, while she channels James Brown in the joyful “Git In There.” Another standout track is “Don’t Call Her No Tramp,” which, Maggio explains, “is directed towards Betty’s ‘haters.’ Instead of shaming women with derogatory labels like ‘tramp’ or ‘dirty,’ Betty argues for terms like ‘elegant hustler.’” In 2007, The Guardian praised the album as “undoubtedly [Davis’] finest work,” declaring “They Say I’m Different was so far ahead of its time, it’s taken the world 33 years to get ready for it.” They Say I’m Different Tracklist1. Shoo-B-Doop And Cop Him2. He Was a Big Freak3. Your Mama Wants Ya Back4. Don’t Call Her No Tramp5. Git In There6. They Say I’m Different7. 70’s Blues8. Special People9. He Was A Big Freak (Record Plant Rough Mix) *10. Don’t Call Her No Tramp (Record Plant Rough Mix) *11. Git In There (Record Plant Rough Mix) *12. 70’s Blues (Record Plant Rough Mix) * *CD and Digital-Only Bonus Track Pre-order They Say I’m Different Is It Love Or Desire? (LP, CD, Digital) Following the release of They Say I’m Different, Davis assembled a touring band comprised of her cousins (drummer Nicky Neal and bassist Larry Johnson) and old friends from North Carolina (guitarist Carlos Morales and keyboardist Fred Mills). Funk House, as they were called, became a fixture in Davis’ life – not only joining her on the road for her thrilling live performances, but also becoming the studio band on her major label debut, Nasty Gal, which Island Records released in 1975. After touring concluded, the band spent a month at Bogalusa, Louisiana’s Studio in the Country to record their follow-up. Bringing in local talent, including the celebrated blues artist Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Davis recorded some of the most expressive songs of her career. As Neal recalls, it was “the best [album] she ever put together.” Throughout the record, complex arrangements and inventive production techniques keep listeners on their toes, while Davis frequently takes a softer, more soulful approach to her vocals. Among the highlights is the stripped-down “When Romance Says Goodbye” (featuring the artist at a near whisper) and the bluesy “Let’s Get Personal,” in which Davis’ vocals are panned to one side, creating a sense of intimacy with her listeners. Other standout tracks include “Whorey Angel,” a duet between Davis and Mills, the danceable title track, and “Stars Starve, You Know,” an autobiographical number, in which Davis rips into her critics – delivering equal parts sass and vitriol. Amid creative differences with the label, Davis’ masterpiece was shelved, where it remained unreleased for more than 30 years. First issued by LITA in 2009, the album drew broad praise. PopMatters hailed the LP as Davis’ “career high watermark,” while AllMusic called it “a revelation…Is It Love or Desire? is so forward and so complete, it moves the entire genre toward a new margin.” Is It Love Or Desire? Tracklist1. Is It Love Or Desire?2. It’s So Good3. Whorey Angel4. Crashin’ From Passion5. When Romance Says Goodbye6. Bottom Of The Barrel7. Stars Starve, You Know8. Let’s Get Personal9. Bar Hoppin’10. For My Man Pre-order Is it Love Or Desire? Crashin’ From Passion (LP, CD) In 1979, when Betty Davis entered an LA studio to record her fifth and final album, she was reeling from a series of setbacks. Three years earlier, after recording her fourth album, Is It Love Or Desire?, Davis was dropped from her label and the LP was subsequently shelved. In 1978, her beloved band Funk House went their separate ways. Looking for a fresh start, Davis relocated to Hollywood to focus on songwriting. Before long, British manager Simon Lait (Toni Basil), offered to fund her next project. With renewed vigor, Davis reunited with former Funk House guitarist Carlos Morales and brought together industry veterans like fusion drummer Alphonse Mouzon and session bassist Chuck Rainey. Old friends Anita and Bonnie Pointer (The Pointer Sisters) and Patryce “Choc’let” Banks joined Davis on vocals, as did Motown legend Martha Reeves. The resulting album, Crashin’ From Passion, was her most musically diverse, blending elements of reggae and calypso (“I’ve Danced Before”), jazz (“Hangin’ Out in Hollywood,” “Tell Me a Few Things”), dark synth-pop (“She’s a Woman”), and even disco (“All I Do Is Think of You”). Equally exploratory are Davis’ vocals, as she trades in her signature sass and snarls for more nuanced stylings. Among the album’s few funk tracks is “Quintessence of Hip,” in which Davis hails musicians like Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, and John Coltrane, while deftly integrating elements of their work. The song also offers a moment of stark vulnerability, as she sings, “Isn’t rich? Isn’t it queer? Losing my timing so late in my career.” It would prove to be a prophetic line in the months to follow. The mixing process was mired by artistic differences and then cut short, amid the death of Davis’ beloved father. Bereft and exasperated, Davis returned home for the funeral, setting into motion her retirement from the music industry. Crashin’ From Passion, meanwhile, would be shelved for 15 years and licensed for a CD-only release, without Davis’ consent, in the ‘90s. This 2023 edition of the album, made with Davis’ full approval and cooperation, marks its first official release and first time ever on vinyl. The package was designed by GRAMMY®-winning artist, Masaki Koike, while the album cover features an incredible shot of Betty captured in London in the mid-1970s by renowned photographer Kate Simon. Crashin’ From Passion Tracklist1. Quintessence Of Hip2. She’s A Woman3. No Good At Falling In Love4. Tell Me A Few Things5. I’ve Danced Before6. You Make Me Feel So Good7. I Need A Whole Lot Of Love8. Hangin’ Out In Hollywood9. All I Do Is Think of You10. Crashin’ From Passion11. You Take Me For Granted Pre-order Crashin’ From Passion About BettyDavisBold Scholarship Fund:Established in 2022 in remembrance of the bold talent and infectious spirit of Betty Davis, BettyDavisBold Scholarship is open to youth around the world pursuing careers in entertainment and fine arts fields. The selection process will include the submission of essays, music, and art. Grants will also be awarded to greater Pittsburgh area agencies/organizations that promote and support the arts. About Light in the Attic:Since rising to worldwide prominence off the grassroots success with reclusive singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, whose unlikely story of personal triumph received long-overdue worldwide acclaim in the 2012 Academy Award®-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, Light in the Attic (LITA) has gone onto earn GRAMMY®-nominations in multiple categories, including Best Historical Album for Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, and Country 1966–1985 in 2014 and Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980–1990 in 2019. Their exuberance and dedication to spreading joy through music has propelled LITA through the release of 200+ titles worldwide (from Nancy Sinatra to Donnie & Joe Emerson, Betty Davis to Haruomi Hosono, Karen Dalton to Serge Gainsbourg, and so many more), setting the pace for reissue labels and the archival process. LITA is co-owned and operated by high school friends Matt Sullivan and Josh Wright. In addition to the label’s acclaimed output, the company also distributes 100+ record labels. In 2010, LITA expanded from their native Seattle, opening an office in Los Angeles, which includes a successful music house focused on licensing for film, television, and advertisements, along with music supervision. LITA also operates a thriving brick-and-mortar record store, Light in the Attic Record Shop, located in Seattle at KEXP’s Gathering Space. For more info, visit LightInTheAttic.net and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.
For more information, contact:Sam McAllister | Pitch Perfect PR – sam at pitchperfectpr.com
― dow, Thursday, 29 June 2023 23:52 (ten months ago) link
oops, here's trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVmq0dWRKoY
― dow, Thursday, 29 June 2023 23:54 (ten months ago) link