Thursday 18 December 2014

HERE IS BARBARA LYNN (1968)


After hitting big with the smoky "You'll Lose A Good Thing" in 1962 and having the Stones famously cover her "Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Going") in 1964, Texan singer, songwriter and guitarist Barbara Lynn signed to Atlantic Records where they announced her arrival with the album Here Is Barbara Lynn.

Now lavishly reissued for the first time courtesy of Light In The Attic Records, it's been fully remastered from the original tapes, pressed on 180 gram vinyl, housed in a sturdy gatefold sleeve and includes a colour insert with photographs and an interview with Barbara. More importantly than all that, it's a superb album of classy, understated soul music. It's topped and tailed with two of her most well known songs - "You'll Lose A Good Thing" and "This Is The Thanks I Get" - with everything in between of comparable quality.

There's no need for raving or over-singing, just sit firmly on the groove and simmer until cooked to perfection. "Take Your Love And Run" and "Mix It Up Baby" knock the tempo up a touch but it's the ballads and mid-tempo numbers which excel with Barbara's self-penned "(Until Then) I'll Suffer" a real stop-you-in-your-tracks moment. 

The release of Here Is Barbara Lynn coincided with Aretha Franklin's most successful period at Atlantic (Lady Soul and Aretha Now both charted in the top 3 in '68) so it's doubtful this record or Barbara got the attention they deserved. The fact "(Until Then) I'll Suffer" didn't make it to a single until '71 rather underlines this, but this reissue goes some way to deservedly bringing Barbara Lynn - still out there playing live - back into view. 

Here Is Barbara Lynn is released by Light In The Attic Records.

4 comments:

  1. I've just spend all my money on the kiddie's presents..curses! Definitely an acquisition next pay day. Her version of Good Woman is one of my all time faves.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bad timing! I'm A Good Woman is great.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This collides with another Aretha release - a supermarket soul album of "Diva" covers. The Barbara Lynn would be a far more worthy purchase.
    I love "I'm a good woman", too -but "The thanks I get" is one of the greatest ever slow burn, spurned soul songs. There's some footage of her at an open air gig in the States in fairly recent years - and she was still performing in fine style.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This Is The Thanks I Get is my favourite too. Even managed to play it in the pub the other week!

    ReplyDelete