Clydie King - Direct Me mp3 download

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Over the years King had worked with both Vennetta Fields and Sherlie Matthews. They'd done sessions work together in various combinations and Matthews co-wrote a song King had recorded ('My Love Grows Deeper'). In 1968 Matthews approached Fields and King with a proposal that they join forces. The original intent was they serve as an independent entity, singing, writing, arranging, and producing their own material. They approach Motown which agreed to sign them and as The Blackberries (a nod to their cultural heritge and new boss Berry Gordy), began working, appearing on scores of Motown and outside projects.And that gets you to 1971 and King's first album. I'd love to know the marketing and politics behind 1971's "Direct Me" - How did King get hooked up with hard rock producer Gabriel Mekler? How did she get signed to Mekler's short-lived Lizard label? Why wasn't this album credited as a Blackerries release? I could speculate on the reasons (I'm sure i t had nothign to do with her slinky good looks), but I'm sure someone out there knows and perhaps they'll take the time to share their knowledge ... Unfortunately, nothing on the album line notes answers those earlier questions - "Clydie King. Does the name sound familiar? It should. When she was eight years old, Art Linkletter called her "the next Marian Anderson." But that's not really where it's at. Clydie has sung with almost every major artist in the pop field - from Dean Martin to B.B King to Crosby, Stills & Nash to the Beatles. And her voice has been heard in the background of well over 500 albums. And that's not where it's at either. If her face looks familiar, that shouldn't come as any surprise; she has appeared on every major television variety show including Ed Sullivan, Kraft Music Hall, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Red Skelton, and several appearances on Hollywood Palace with Sammy Davis. But that's only part of the story. Clydie also spent three years with Ray Charles as one of the Raelets (sic) getting it all together and then finally stepping out for duets with the master. But where it's really at is right here - ten songs - some written especially for her - that give Clydie King an opportunity to stand alone, a major new talent doing her own thing for the first time."  As mentioned, released on the small Lizard label, 1971's "Direct Me" teamed King with producer Gabriel Mekler and an impressive roster of studio talent, including long-time friend Billy Preston (King and Preston had known each other since they were children). Musically the set was quite diverse and thoroughly enjoyable, serving to showcase King's amazing and flexible voice. Listening to these ten tracks it was easy to see why King was such an in-demand back-up singer. Blues ('I Can't Go On Without Love'), hardcore soul ('Direct Me'), funk ('You Need Love Like I Do'), pop ballads ('B Minor'), and even rock (''Bout Love'), King was capable of handling it all. With some wonderful arrangements from William Allen (who also provided percussion throughout the album), King made this sound effortless. Interestingly, judging by the two Mekler originals ('B Minor' and 'First Time, last Time'), the producer apparently envisioned casting King as a pop star. And that hints at the album's main shortcoming. The ten tracks are so diverse you never get a feel for who King was. Mind you, she handled it all with grace and style, but the album's very diversity made it hard to get a handle on King and probably didn't help sales. And that encapsulates the albunm's biggest problems - for soul fans King was probably too rock oriented for comfort, while for rock fans she was too soulful. How do you get out of such a corner ?  Written by bassist Bob West, ''Bout Love' was a wonderful, up-tempo track that managed to find a sweet spot between rock and soul. If you've ever wondered what Diana Ross would have sounded like if she'd really cut lose on a rock song, this is a good place to start. The track was also tapped as the second single. rating: **** stars- Co-written by Delaney Bramlett and Carl Radle, 'There's A Long Road Ahead' sounded like a strong Delaney and Bonnie track - blue-eyed soul performed by one of the most soulful singers I've ever heard. Great tune with a funky, muscle shoals-styled feel. The rest of The Blackeberries simply kill on this one. rating: **** stars- For a guy known for his work with the like of Steppenwolf, I have to admit being surprised at how pretty the Gabriel Mekler-penned 'B Minor' was. Easily the album's prettiest song and would have sounded great on the radio ... Not sure if King's vocal was multi-tracked, or if that was Venetta Fields and Shirley Matthews (the other two members of The Blackberries) sharing lead vocals.   rating: **** stars- 'You Need Love Like I Do' found King and the Blackberries literally slashing their way through one of the best early '70s slices of hard core soul I've ever heard. Seriously, try sitting still through this one ... even by eight year old dances when I play this one. rating: ***** stars- While it wasn't bad and served to underscore King's higher vocal registers, her heavily orchestrated cover of The Beatles' 'The Long and Winding Road' just didn't match up to the rest of side one.  rating: ** stars- So how could you go wrong with an Otis Redding and Steve Cropper composition ? Well, you can, but King doesn't, trotting out her rawest, throatiest voice to turn in a killer take on 'Direct Me'. The woman literally sounded like she gargled with a cup of nails. Great tune. rating: **** stars- Written by Shirley Matthews and previous recorded by The Mirettes (it was also released as a single), 'Ain't My Stuff Good Enough for You?' was another track that sounded like a full fledged Blackberries effort (love their backing vocals on this one). rating: **** stars     - The second Mekler original, 'First Time, Last Time' was another sweet pop ballad. To my ears if almost had an early-'60s girl group feel that was old fashioned, quaint, and lovely. rating: **** stars- King's blazing cover of Booker T.'s 'Never Like This Before' placed her right back in Stax soul territory. With Fields and Matthews chirping along in the background, this was simply wonderful with a gigantic amount of commercial potential, which is probably why it was tapped as the lead-off single. rating: **** stars- Much to my surprise, the bluesy closer 'I Can't Go On Without Love' was also one of my personal favorites. Kicked along by Billy Preston's keyboards and David T. Walker's lead guitar, King turned in a dazzling   rating: **** stars   The album spun off a pair of obscure singles: - 1970's 'Never Like This Before' b/w 'The Long and Winding Road' (Lizard catalog number 21005)- 1971's ''Bout Love' b/w 'First Time, Last Time '(Lizard catalog number 21007)Commercially the album never had a chance. Mekler's Lizard imprint was grossly under-capitalized meaning there was little promotional support for the LP and it quickly disappeared. The good news here is you can still readily find copies of the LP at a reasonable price."Direct Me" track listing:(side 1)1.) 'Bout Love (Robert West) - 2:572.) There's A Long Road Ahead (Delaney Bramlett - Carl Radle) - 3:003.) B Minor (Gabriel Makler - L. Francen) - 2:284.) You Need Love Like I Do (Barrett Strong - Norman Whitfield) - 3:125.) The Long and Winding Road (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 3:24(side 2)1.) Direct Me (Steve Cropper - Otis Redding) - 2:252.) Ain't My Stuff Good Enough for You? (Shirley Matthews) - 2:413.) First Time, last Time (Gabriel Mekler) - 2:144.) Never Like This Before (Booker T. Jones - Isaac Hayes David Porter) - 2:485.) I Can't Go On Without Love (R.L. Williams) - 3:20