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Marlena Shaw's penchant for stylistic variety is certainly evident on this, her sophomore release. Cut for the Cadet label in 1969, Spice of Life ranges from soul and proto-funk to jazz and MOR-hued material. Shaw shines throughout, showing her power on politically charged, Aretha-styled cuts like "Woman of the Ghetto" and "Liberation Conversation," while also delivering supple interpretations of such traditional jazz fare as "Go Away Little Boy" (shades of Nancy Wilson). And with a gutsy take on "Stormy Monday," it's clear Shaw doesn't shrink from the blues either. Across this sound spectrum, arrangers Richard Evans and Charles Stepney envelope Shaw in unobtrusive yet exciting pop-soul environs, throwing kalimba runs (a few years before Earth, Wind & Fire picked up on the instrument), psych guitar accents, and bongo-fueled organ riffs into the mix. Their widescreen touch is particularly well essayed on strings-and-brass standouts like the Bacharach-inspired Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil composition "Looking Through the Eyes of Love" and Ashford & Simpson's "California Soul" (a classic reading heavily favored by the crate-digging set). A perfect way to get familiar with Shaw's impressive early work.
© Stephen Cook /TiVo
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Richard Evans, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Marlena Shaw, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Richard Lee Evans, ComposerLyricist - Robert Eugene Miller, ComposerLyricist - Bobby Miller, Producer
℗ 1969 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Producer - Aaron Walker, ComposerLyricist - Marlena Shaw, MainArtist
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Producer - Marlena Shaw, MainArtist - Sigmunt Berland, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Miller, ComposerLyricist - Leo Fuld, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Producer - Marlena Shaw, MainArtist - Maurice Dollison, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Producer - Dick Dallas, ComposerLyricist - Marlena Shaw, MainArtist - William Eugene Taylor, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Stepney, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Evans, Producer - Marlena Shaw, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Bobby Miller, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Stepney, Producer - Richard Evans, Producer - NICKOLAS ASHFORD, ComposerLyricist - Valerie Simpson, ComposerLyricist - Marlena Shaw, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carole King, ComposerLyricist - Gerry Goffin, ComposerLyricist - Richard Evans, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Davis, Producer - Marlena Shaw, MainArtist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Barry Mann, ComposerLyricist - Cynthia Weil, ComposerLyricist - Richard Evans, Producer - Marlena Shaw, MainArtist
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Producer - JOHN D. MARKS, ComposerLyricist - Marlena Shaw, MainArtist
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Marlena Shaw's penchant for stylistic variety is certainly evident on this, her sophomore release. Cut for the Cadet label in 1969, Spice of Life ranges from soul and proto-funk to jazz and MOR-hued material. Shaw shines throughout, showing her power on politically charged, Aretha-styled cuts like "Woman of the Ghetto" and "Liberation Conversation," while also delivering supple interpretations of such traditional jazz fare as "Go Away Little Boy" (shades of Nancy Wilson). And with a gutsy take on "Stormy Monday," it's clear Shaw doesn't shrink from the blues either. Across this sound spectrum, arrangers Richard Evans and Charles Stepney envelope Shaw in unobtrusive yet exciting pop-soul environs, throwing kalimba runs (a few years before Earth, Wind & Fire picked up on the instrument), psych guitar accents, and bongo-fueled organ riffs into the mix. Their widescreen touch is particularly well essayed on strings-and-brass standouts like the Bacharach-inspired Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil composition "Looking Through the Eyes of Love" and Ashford & Simpson's "California Soul" (a classic reading heavily favored by the crate-digging set). A perfect way to get familiar with Shaw's impressive early work.
© Stephen Cook /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:30:55
- Main artists: Marlena Shaw
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Cadet Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
© 2005 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1969 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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