Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Download not available
Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell, and Estelle Brown had deep separate and shared histories when they became the Sweet Inspirations in 1967. That April, hot off backing Aretha Franklin and Van Morrison at the studio dates that yielded "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "Brown Eyed Girl," the singers recorded their first session as headliners for Atlantic. The group left Atlantic Recording Studios with ardent interpretations of contemporary material that, depending on the source, either reaffirmed its gospel foundation or took it to church, but none of the resulting songs -- all eventual A-sides -- truly shook up the charts. This would typify the Sweet Inspirations' four years with the label. Perhaps the women were underserved. Only two of their nine charting singles were written for them, and the one that did best, "Sweet Inspiration" -- their lone Top 20 pop and Top Ten soul hit -- was dashed off by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham after the songwriting duo watched them attempt to spin gold from straw in the studio. Unfulfilled commercial promise notwithstanding, the group during these years -- with Ann Williams replacing Houston in 1969, then leaving her partners a trio the next year -- produced a high volume of powerful R&B and gospel. Beyond the singles, there are numerous deep cuts that either rival or surpass them. When the material is substandard, which isn't all that often, the leads and harmonies still stir the soul. It's all collected on this three-disc, 66-track anthology featuring the entirety of the Sweet Inspirations' first five albums, including the all-gospel Songs of Faith & Inspiration, as well as nonalbum cuts and archival selections, none of which were previously unreleased. The SoulMusic label takes great care of their subject by supplying a lengthy essay (with quotes from Estelle Brown) and all of the recording details, down to scans of the record labels and sleeves. It's astonishing that the women were so productive on their own during an era when they were augmenting live performances and recordings for the aforementioned, Dusty Springfield, Elvis Presley, and Yusef Lateef, among many others.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From CA$ 10.83/month
M. Curtis, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - G. Becaud, Lyricist - P. DELANOE, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Roebuck Staples, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Roosevelt Jamison, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Jerry Wexler, Composer, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - BERT RUSSELL, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Steve Cropper, Lyricist - Eddie Floyd, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Isaac Hayes, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - David Porter, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Butler, Lyricist - Redding, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Burt Bacharach, Lyricist - H. DAVID, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Kay Lewis, Composer, Lyricist - Helen Lewis, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
C. MOMAN, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - D. Penn, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
D. PORTER, Lyricist - I. Hayes, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
A. Franklin, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - T.White, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
W. RANEY, Lyricist - R. Delmore, Lyricist - A. Delmore, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - H. Glover, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - I. Turner, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Lindon Oldham, Lyricist - Wallace Pennington, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
W. Pickett, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - S Cropper, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - D. Carter, Lyricist - L. Oldham, Lyricist - W. Pennington, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Ruby Clark, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Cissy Drinkard Houston, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Barry Gibb, Composer, Lyricist - Robin Gibb, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Cissy Drinkard Houston, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Cissy Drinkard Houston, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Don Covey, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Alex North, Composer, Lyricist - HY ZARET, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Burt Bacharach, Lyricist - Hal David, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Burt Bacharach, Lyricist - Hal David, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Booker T. Jones, Composer - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - William Bell, Composer
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Carole King, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Howard Greenfield, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Frank Wilson, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Sylvia Shemwell, Lyricist - Emily Houston, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Wayne Jackson, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Mark James, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Burt Bacharach, Lyricist - Hal David, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Barry Mann, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Cynthia Weil, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Doc Pomus, Lyricist - Mort Shuman, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Valerie Simpson, Lyricist - Jo Armstead, Lyricist - Nikolas Ashford, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Eddie Hinton, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Michael Settle, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Kenneth Gamble, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - LEON HUFF, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Kenneth Gamble, Lyricist - The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - LEON HUFF, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Turner, Composer, Lyricist - Bellmon, Composer, Lyricist - Akines, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Turner, Composer, Lyricist - Drayton, Composer, Lyricist - Bellmon, Composer, Lyricist - Akines, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Turner, Composer, Lyricist - Drayton, Composer, Lyricist - Bellmon, Composer, Lyricist - Akines, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Gamble, Lyricist - Huff, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Gamble, Composer, Lyricist - Martin, Composer, Lyricist - Chambers, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Gamble, Composer, Lyricist - Huff, Composer, Lyricist - Chambers, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Ugene Dozier, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Ugene Dozier, Composer, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Gamble, Lyricist - Huff, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Tate, Lyricist - Whitsett, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
The Sweet Inspirations, MainArtist - Di Fosco Ervin, Lyricist - Lynne Farr, Lyricist
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Album review
Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell, and Estelle Brown had deep separate and shared histories when they became the Sweet Inspirations in 1967. That April, hot off backing Aretha Franklin and Van Morrison at the studio dates that yielded "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "Brown Eyed Girl," the singers recorded their first session as headliners for Atlantic. The group left Atlantic Recording Studios with ardent interpretations of contemporary material that, depending on the source, either reaffirmed its gospel foundation or took it to church, but none of the resulting songs -- all eventual A-sides -- truly shook up the charts. This would typify the Sweet Inspirations' four years with the label. Perhaps the women were underserved. Only two of their nine charting singles were written for them, and the one that did best, "Sweet Inspiration" -- their lone Top 20 pop and Top Ten soul hit -- was dashed off by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham after the songwriting duo watched them attempt to spin gold from straw in the studio. Unfulfilled commercial promise notwithstanding, the group during these years -- with Ann Williams replacing Houston in 1969, then leaving her partners a trio the next year -- produced a high volume of powerful R&B and gospel. Beyond the singles, there are numerous deep cuts that either rival or surpass them. When the material is substandard, which isn't all that often, the leads and harmonies still stir the soul. It's all collected on this three-disc, 66-track anthology featuring the entirety of the Sweet Inspirations' first five albums, including the all-gospel Songs of Faith & Inspiration, as well as nonalbum cuts and archival selections, none of which were previously unreleased. The SoulMusic label takes great care of their subject by supplying a lengthy essay (with quotes from Estelle Brown) and all of the recording details, down to scans of the record labels and sleeves. It's astonishing that the women were so productive on their own during an era when they were augmenting live performances and recordings for the aforementioned, Dusty Springfield, Elvis Presley, and Yusef Lateef, among many others.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 66 track(s)
- Total length: 03:11:35
- Main artists: The Sweet Inspirations
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
- Genre: Miscellaneous
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group 2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.