New To Me, Thanks To You! May 4, 2008
Posted by littlebangtheory in music.Tags: Bettye Lavette
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This place blows my mind. You all are so full of interesting thoughts and perceptions, and each one of you brings to the ‘Sphere your unique perspectives and predilections.
And from your various compass points, you bring your music, which is frequently stuff I’ve enjoyed over the years and haven’t thought about recently. I thank you for that, for keeping me in touch with things which might otherwise slip away from me. The Pagan Sphinx does that really well, as we have quite a few years of history in common, and she’s done a better job of archiving those memories than I have. And Phydeaux and I have disturbingly similar favorites, and I fear playlists in our heads - that’s part of how we became Siamese Cousins!
But there’s a particular pleasure which I value, and that’s being turned on to something new, and that happens here with a gleeful frequency.
Today’s “Oh-Yeaah!” moment came at konagod’s place, where he had a YouTube clip up on his sidebar of Bettye Lavette, whose name didn’t ring a bell.
Well, it was good enough to get me cruising her YouTube catalog, which netted me this soulful and passionate rendition of Sleep To Dream:
I hope that worked, ’cause this woman is channeling the love child of Tina Turner and Sarah Vaughan.
Thanks, kona.
P.S. - If the little “play arrow” doesn’t work, click on the picture itself - that always works for me, and brings one directly to the YouTube page, which provides a bit more information about what you’re watching.
Saw Betty [as she was known then] back in ‘65 on SHINDIG.
Been a fan ever since.
Her recent re-discovery is such a buzz in that I have been included on each and every step of the past ten years by this gracious lady who is now, along with Kevin her husband, a good friend.
First heard “Sleep To Dream” three years ago sitting on the floor of Bettye’s hotel room in Palmerston North, N.Z. while B. explained the recording of her first ANTI recording “I’ve Got My Own Hell To Raise” & Kevin played the tracks on his i-pod speakers. Totally blew me away!
If you want to explore her back issue c.ds can I suggest you start with
“A Woman Like Me”. [2003]. Produced by Dennis Walker it is the perfect segue into her current sound and has some of her finest moments vocally in forty years.
“Scene Of The Crime” [Grammy nominated this year] is of course ESSENTIAL listening.
Glad to have another convert on board.
ian
Wow. What a passionate performance. She’s amazing.
Ian, thanks for the primer. I can imagine an intimate hotel-room performance would be pretty mind blowing!
And PS, yeah, I was pretty jazzed on first hearing this clip.
good!
Hello again master runt …………..Had fun yesterday , hope this link works this time around .
Shawn - you’ve landed. The link works great!