The Ladies of Soul 

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Ladies of Soul (American Made Music)
by David Freeland

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:


American soul music of the 1960s is one of the most creative and influential musical forms of the twentieth century. With its merging of gospel, R&B, country, and blues, soul music succeeded in crossing over from African American culture into the general pop culture. Soul became the byword for the styles, attitudes, and dreams of an entire era.

Female performers were responsible for some of the most enduring and powerful contributions to the genre. All too frequently overlooked by the star-making critics, seven of these women are profiled in this book — Maxine Brown, Ruby Johnson, Denise LaSalle, Bettye LaVette, Barbara Mason, Carla Thomas, and Timi Yuro

Getting started during the heyday of soul each of these talented women had recording contracts and gave live performances to appreciative audiences. Their careers can be tracked through the popularity of soul during the 1960s and its decline in the 1970s. With humor, candor, pride, and honest recognition that their careers did not surge into the mainstream and gain superstardom, they recount individual stories of how they struggled for success.

Their oral histories as told to David Freeland address compelling issues, including racism and sexism within the music industry. They discuss their grueling hardships on the road, their conflicts with male managers, and the cutthroat competition in the recording business. As each singer examines her career with the author, she reveals the dreams, hopes, and desires on which she has built her professional life. All seven face up to the career swings, from the highs of releasing the first hit to the frustrating lows when the momentum stops.

Although the obstacles to stardom areheartbreaking, these singers are committed to their art. With determination and style these seven have pressed onward with club appearances and recordings. They survive through their savvy mix of talent, hubris, and honesty about their lives and their music.

Synopsis:

A collection of the oral histories of some of the most enduring and powerful contributors to American soul music of the twentieth century discusses their hardships on the road, conflicts with male managers, and the competition of the industry, as well as addressing issues of racism and sexism. Simul

Synopsis:

Heartfelt profiles that chart the ups and downs of seven female soul singers of the 1960s

Product Details

ISBN:
9781578063314
Author:
Freeland, David
Publisher:
University Press of Mississippi
Location:
Jackson
Subject:
History & Criticism *
Subject:
Soul
Subject:
Women's Studies - History
Subject:
Soul musicians
Subject:
Women singers
Subject:
History & Criticism - General
Subject:
Genres & Styles - Soul & R&B
Subject:
Soul musicians - United States
Subject:
Women singers -- United States.
Edition Description:
Paperback
Series:
American made music series
Series Volume:
106-117
Publication Date:
March 2001
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English


Illustrations:
Yes
Pages:
232
Dimensions:
8.95x5.93x.77 in. .83 lbs.



Book Review 'Ladies of Soul ' - by David Freeland.



By: Ralph McKnight,


How many times have I gone to a club and watched incredible singers give astounding performances and ended up asking myself, "why isn't she/he a star?" Many of these entertainers are professionals, but for some reason, have not achieved the heights that many other, equally talented people have.
My record collection is filled with such artists: Howard Tate, Loleatta Holloway, Syl Johnson, Vanetta Fields, Otis Clay, Anna King, Shirley Brown, Johnny Bristol, Peggy Scott-Adams and many others.

Author, David Freeland, obviously felt the same way, as he set out to showcase seven unheralded female soul singers from '60s, by giving them some overdue recognition in his new book, "Ladies of Soul" (University Press of Mississippi) . Among them are some of my personal favorites, starting with the incomparable, Bettye LaVette ("Let Me Down Easy", "He Made A Woman Out of Me"), who knocked me out when I first heard her demanding voice on the radio singing "You Killed the Love". I had no idea that this singer was only 16 years old, for she emoted like an experienced woman of 40. That voice was coarse, even nasty at times, pleading and fraught with the harsh experiences of life, affects of cigarettes, booze and too many men. Many feel she has a "churchy" sound, but LaVette swears that she is a child of the blues. Wherever it came from, that voice affected me deeply. Since, I have seen her bear witness, "live" in performance, giving 110% of herself and working harder than Tina Turner during her torrid times with Ike. Bettye hits the stage with a vengeance so strong that it make one wonder "what's behind the real woman, off-stage". Tina, by the way, covered Bettye's first hit record, "My Man (He's a Lovin' Man)".

Maxine Brown is gifted singer who has had many hits and deserves the spotlight in this book. Her immense talent has grown with experience and she is one of the best soul singers around. One of her big hits, "Oh No Not My Baby" was later recorded by Aretha Franklin. Today, she sounds better than she did when she was on Scepter with label-mates, Chuck Jackson and Dionne Warwick. Maxine is also famous for "Funny" and "It's All in My Mind".

The misunderstood, Timi Yuro, who's career and voice puzzled many (some thought she was a man, others were convinced she was African-American). She's Italian and has a soul as deep as the rivers. As a young girl, not only did she sing opera to appease her father, she sang in black churches (thanks to a religious black nanny) and toured later, as a professional, with the icons of soul like Little Richard and Etta James on the chitlin' circuit. On the recently released CD, "Timi Yuro 'Live' @ PJ's", Timi sounds more like Mavis Staples than Mavis Staples! Miss Yuro was asked by Frank Sinatra to tour Australia with him in the late 60s and her records were produced by such giants as Quincy Jones and Clyde Otis. Timi's first hit, "Hurt", was covered by Elvis Presley. Timi's other hits include, "What's the Matter, Baby?" and "Smile" which are especially effective.

David Freeland has done a remarkable job with his hands on research and wasted not a second, quoting what others had written on this subject. He traveled the USA and found these women and interviewed them, in person, in depth. It seems that he quickly became the vehicle they could utilize to voice their anger, frustration, exhilaration and hope.

Also fascinating, were Freeland's conversations with Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, whose candid insights into achieving success in the record business (then and now) and the unpredictable tastes of the record buying public were truly telling. Frank perceptions into the lives of many soul performers were punctuated by Juggy Murray, founder of Sue Records.

David interviewed DJ's, engineers...numerous people who make their living in the recording industry. This gives his book its distinctive authenticity.

I was not familiar with the personal life of Denise LaSalle ("Trapped, By this Thing Called Love"), before reading this book. Over the years I have purchased her albums and enjoyed her brassy brand of r & b. After reading her story, I conclude that she is substantive, opinionated and also a savvy, smart business woman. Carla Thomas ("Gee Whiz") turns out to be an interesting character. Her career sizzled just below the boiling point and she never achieved the stardom she deserved. It was also interesting to read about Barbara Mason ("Yes, I'm Ready"), whose records I've enjoyed over the years, and to get to know the one singer I wasn't familiar with, Ruby Johnson.

The book is not just "I made this record and sang with this person", it covers the morose as well, not only in the music industry, but societal injustice, as well. Travels through the south, having to deal with the America's ugliest demon, racism, brushes with the Ku Klux Klan, all are undeniably apart of these scenarios.

Very revealing are the observations by Bettye LaVette regarding the city of Detroit, during the heyday of Motown. Hers is a much darker portrayal of the same occurrences that were described in other books like Mary Wilson's, the Temptations' or Martha Reeves' biographies.

The important accomplishment here, is that this book stimulates one's appetite to hear these grand ladies sing! Enter their names on any Internet search engine and you'll find more information on each of them. Thankfully, they have CDs in the large record stores or can be ordered online.

--Ralph McKnight - New York City