The classic, pre-"Elvis years" Sweet Inspirations recording line-up of Cissy Houston, Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith, and Estelle Brown evolved from the Drinkard Singers/Gospelaires families that also famously included Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick (Houston's nieces) and Atlantic vocalist Judy Clay (Shemwell's sister). Let It Be Me: The Atlantic Recordings (1967-1970) brings together 66 recordings, encompassing five albums ( The Sweet Inspirations Songs of Faith and Inspiration What the World Needs Now Is Love Sweets for My Sweet and Sweet, Sweet Soul), non-LP singles, and outtakes. The Sweet Inspirations' journey with the label has just been collected on a new 3-CD anthology from Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records imprint. But Atlantic rightfully believed that these talented singers didn't have to remain ten feet from stardom. Today, the vocal quartet might be best-remembered as Elvis Presley's preferred onstage backup group, but The King was just one of a staggering number of artists they supported - including the aforementioned artists and even Jimi Hendrix. Lesser-known but no less significant were The Sweet Inspirations. Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Solomon Burke, and Wilson Pickett were just a handful of the artists there who defined the sound of soul music. In its 1960s heyday, Atlantic Records was the destination for deeply-felt soul.
0 kommentar(er)
