Doris Troy placed only one song on the US Hot 100, but what a song!
‘Just One Look’ has endured as a much-covered standard, heard in
countless movies and commercials. If that one wonderful hit is all you
know of singer/songwriter/producer/arranger/session vocalist/actress
Doris Troy, then here’s chance to catch up with what you missed. I’ll
give you a hint – you’ve missed a lot. Doris Troy earned every hyphen.
This great album collects for the
first time ever, songs from every phase of a most illustrious career,
ranging from her very first recording to her last.
Affectionately dubbed "Mama Soul", Doris
Troy cut her teeth singing in church and worked as a teenaged usherette
at New York’s legendary Apollo Theater before joining Cissy Houston,
Dionne and Dee Warwick and Judy Clay in forming the premier New York
studio backup group (two Chuck Jackson classics that feature cameos by
Doris are included herein). She released two singles in 1960 as Doris
Payne and a 1961 duet under the name Jay & Dee (all three make their
digital debut here) before striking gold with her self-penned superhit. 10 sterling examples of her tenure with Atlantic Records
comprise the heart of this set, including the irresistibly catchy
ska tinged ‘What’cha Gonna Do About It’ and ‘Please Little Angel’,
co-written with a then-fledgling writing team named Ashford and Simpson.
Incidentally, Doris co-wrote the song that gives this anthology its
title, ‘I’ll Do Anything’, with another duo you may
have heard of named Gamble and Huff.... Both sides of the
ultra rare 1967 Capitol single ‘He’s Qualified’ and ‘Face Up To The
Truth’ make their CD bow here. After that release, Doris decamped to
England, again becoming the go to girl for background vocals on classic
hits for Dusty Springfield, George Harrison, Pink Floyd and the Stones,
to name a few. In cahoots with Harrison, she released a brilliant LP on
Apple in 1970, represented on this disc by ‘Ain’t That Cute’ and ‘You
Tore Me Up Inside’. Two definite high points are 1974’s Dandy
Livingstone produced reggae inflected romp through Eddie Floyd’s ‘Don’t
Tell Your Mama’ and a sparkling disco workout from 1977, ‘Can’t Hold
On’, both new to CD. By this time, Doris had moved back to the States
where she eventually starred in the musical based on her life, "Mama I
Want To Sing", written by her sister, New York radio luminary Vy
Higgensen. The sisters are heard on a high spirited duet released here
for the first time anywhere. Doris’ final recording was for Ace
in 1996 ‘Hear Me Calling’, a duet with British blue eyed soulman James Hunter. Doris’s heartfelt, gut wrenching reading of the
gospel standard ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ provides a poignant and
powerful coda to a poignant and powerful collection. The
customary worth the price booklet includes rare photos and cuttings,
remembrances from friends and colleagues Ady Croasdell and David Nathan,
and Mick Patrick’s biographical essay drawing from a previously
unpublished 1995 interview with "Mama Soul" herself. If you’ve only given
a passing look to this album and dismissed it now is a golden opportunity to rectify that oversight. With 7 albums,30 x 45,s and a few compilations she left her mark on us all,a true SOUL LEGEND!...Read the booklet, packed with interesting info!
AMM
**********REQUEST**********
The Tasters!
22 comments:
A wonderful artist compilation - I know it and I've got it (and I love it). Thanks for review, P.
Great stuff thanks for the review AMM
Great Review, Thanks Man
Thanks, AMM for this upgrade. This is great review.
Superb artist , thanks for the review AMM .
thanksfor reviewing another Doris Troy compilation AMM
Thanks AMM. Looking forward to the read.
Great review
"Just One Look" had a killer backing group which helped make it such a great track, Bernard Purdie on drums but I havn't heard of the others. Neither have I heard most of the tracks on this album but I would like to!
Thank you mate - great review
Thank you for Doris and Kent and Flac AMM!
thanks much for more Doris!
nice reveiw AMM many thanks
Thank you for the upgrade AMM
What a wonderful review! 😁 Requires more than just one look...
Thanks, AMM!
EXCELLENT upgrade!THANK YOU AMM for this AND the invite!!
Cheers!
Bill
Thanks for the nice write-up AMM. Choice quality stuff for sure!
Thanks AMM for another wonderful KENT album
Everyday a new star is born. I agree with the lady's singing. Thank you AMM.
Thanks for this great upgrade and great review of this fine singer AMM
Cheers Pedro
Cant wait for this, especially the duets with Chuck Jackson.
another one that got by me!
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