Artist: Bettye Swann | Album: The Complete Atlantic Recordings | Released: 2014 | Label: Real Gone Music | Catalog #: RGM-0213 | Genre: Funk, Soul, Jazz | Country: USA | Duration: 01:18:20

Bettye Swann
Soul siren Bettye Swann had been making records for labels big (Capitol Records) and small (Money Records) since 1965 when she connected with Atlantic Records, arguably America’s most prestigious soul label, via a production deal with Rick Hall and his Fame Studio in 1972. Over the next four years, Atlantic issued seven singles by Swann with little commercial success, despite collaborating with a variety of fine producers and songwriters, but this collection makes it clear that quality was not the issue that kept Swann from hitting the upper reaches of the charts. The Complete Atlantic Recordings features both sides of those seven Atlantic singles, a 1976 duet single with Sam Dees, and seven tunes that either popped up on compilations or went unreleased, and while the approach of the production and arrangements shifts throughout the set, Swann’s vocals are superb from front to back. Swann’s style was a canny blend of the smooth sophistication of Chicago and Philly sounds and the emotional power of Southern soul, and she had a real knack for turning classic country tunes into soul workouts. Swann’s versions of Tammy Wynette’s “Till I Get It Right” and Merle Haggard’s “Today I Started Loving You Again” are excellent, “Suspicious Minds” takes the Elvis Presley standard and gives it a tough, funky edge, and “All the Way in or All the Way Out” sounds like it should have found a place on both the C&W and R&B charts. Swann was also a sure hand with more traditional soul and R&B material, as her performances of “I’d Rather Go Blind,” “This Old Heart of Mine,” and “The Jealous Kind” confirm. The first few tracks, produced by Hall, sound like Memphis soul with a Motown accent in the arrangements, while four tunes arranged by Thom Bell and produced by the Philadelphia-based production team the Young Professionals play like classic Philly International outtakes, and the remaining tracks, produced by Brad Shapiro (best known for his work with Millie Jackson), lack the same force of personality but still provide a great showcase for Swann’s talents. After Swann’s contract with Atlantic ran out, she retired from music, and stayed out of the public eye until playing a show in England in 2013; The Complete Atlantic Recordings makes it clear she was a great underutilized talent, and fans of vintage soul will find this to be an unexpected delight.

Tracklisting:

01. Victum of a Foolish Heart
02. Cold Day in Hell
03. I’d Rather Go Blind
04. Today I Started Loving You Again
05. Yours Until Tomorrow
06. I’m Not That Easy to Lose
07. Till I Get It Right
08. The Boy Next Door
09. Kiss My Love Goodbye
10. Time to Say Goodbye
11. When the Game Is Played on You
12. All the Way in or All the Way Out
13. Doin’ for the One I Love
14. I Feel the Feeling
15. Either You Love Me or You Leave Me
16. This Old Heart of Mine
17. Suspicious Minds
18. I Want Sunday Back Again
19. The Jealous Kind
20. Heading in the Wrong Direction
21. Be Strong Enough to Hold On
22. Storybook Children
23. Just as Sure

Single download
Bettye Swann – Over the next four years, Atlantic issued seven singles by Swann with little commercial success, despite collaborating with a variety of fine producers and songwriters, but this collection makes it clear that quality was not the issue that kept Swann from hitting the upper reaches of the charts. The Complete Atlantic Recordings features both sides of those seven Atlantic singles, a 1976 duet single with Sam Dees, and seven tunes that either popped up on compilations or went unreleased, and while the approach of the production and arrangements shifts throughout the set, Swann’s vocals are superb from front to back. Swann’s style was a canny blend of the smooth sophistication of Chicago and Philly sounds and the emotional power of Southern soul, and she had a real knack for turning classic country tunes into soul workouts. Swann’s versions of Tammy Wynette’s “Till I Get It Right” and Merle Haggard’s “Today I Started Loving You Again” are excellent, “Suspicious Minds” takes the Elvis Presley standard and gives it a tough, funky edge, and “All the Way in or All the Way Out” sounds like it should have found a place on both the C&W and R&B charts. Swann was also a sure hand with more traditional soul and R&B material, as her performances of “I’d Rather Go Blind,” “This Old Heart of Mine,” and “The Jealous Kind” confirm. The first few tracks, produced by Hall, sound like Memphis soul with a Motown accent in the arrangements, while four tunes arranged by Thom Bell and produced by the Philadelphia-based production team the Young Professionals play like classic Philly International outtakes, and the remaining tracks, produced by Brad Shapiro best known for his work with Millie Jackson
Bettye Swann – Victum of a Foolish Heart
Bettye Swann – Cold Day in Hell
Bettye Swann – I’d Rather Go Blind
Bettye Swann – Today I Started Loving You Again
Bettye Swann – Yours Until Tomorrow
Bettye Swann – I’m Not That Easy to Lose
Bettye Swann – Till I Get It Right
Bettye Swann – The Boy Next Door
Bettye Swann – Kiss My Love Goodbye
Bettye Swann – Time to Say Goodbye
Bettye Swann – When the Game Is Played on You
Bettye Swann – All the Way in or All the Way Out
Bettye Swann – Doin’ for the One I Love
Bettye Swann – I Feel the Feeling
Bettye Swann – Either You Love Me or You Leave Me
Bettye Swann – This Old Heart of Mine
Bettye Swann – Suspicious Minds
Bettye Swann – I Want Sunday Back Again
Bettye Swann – The Jealous Kind
Bettye Swann – Heading in the Wrong Direction
Bettye Swann – Be Strong Enough to Hold On
Bettye Swann – Storybook Children

Category:Jazz
Main catalog

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