Customer Reviews

The Bitch Is Black

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Well today I welcomed a dear old friend back into my home and what a delight that was. She looked good and sounded even better than ever and I learned so much about her that I didn't know before. I am talking about receiving my brand new remastered never before officially released on CD copy of Yvonne Fair's `The Bitch Is Black'.

This is one of my top two favourite Motown albums from the `70's and I'm thrilled that it's now been recognised for the classic that it is. There is a 20 page booklet filled with fascinating stories about Yvonne's life courtesy of her daughter & ex-husband and many lovely photographs. The music is timeless earth shaking soul delivered in Yvonne's own inimitable style. She weaves her magic spell covering songs like `Tell Me Something Good', `Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On' with an non-credited Marvin Gaye & `Let Your Hair Down' making them sound like they were written just for her. No one could ignore Yvonne's plea to `Stay A Little Longer'. I love all 10 tracks but if I had to pick just one it would have be the gut wrenching `It's Bad For Me To See You' which never fails to reduce me to tears as it's a song with which I can personally identify.

`The Bitch Is Black' has been a part of my life since Yvonne's definitive version of `It Should Have Been Me' started its journey up the UK charts in '76 where it peaked at #5. As a result of that hit I bought the album and fell in love with Yvonne's voice and longed for her to release a follow up which sadly never happened. However `The Bitch Is Black' has become her enduring legacy and now with this release on Reel Music I'm sure that Yvonne will gain many more fans.

My grateful thanks to Paul Williams and all those associated with this release.

Artists were not treated fairly by the Motown machine during the 1960's and early 1970's. Some acts, nonetheless talented, had huge successes, whereas other acts had not, despite being equally or in Yvonne's case even more talented than many others. Yvonne already recorded for Motown in the late 1960's, but didn't have any of her material released until the single "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" b/w "Let Your Hair Down" in June 1974. The album "The Bitch Is Black" followed one year later.

With this release the album "The Bitch Is Black" steps into the digital age for the first time and it's about time! Yvonne's a fantastic singer and she squeezes the most out of every song on this album, including the definitive rendition of "It Should Have Been Me". In most cases, I prefer my soul to be from the 1960's, but Yvonne's voice begs me to differ.

If you're not convinced already, the songs on the album have been remastered and have never sounded better. A 20-page booklet accompanies the CD, containing some good photos and great stories of Yvonne's life, including her touring with James Brown during the 1960's and her years at Motown. I thought I knew Yvonne, but I learned alot from this booklet.

The only thing that I can complain about is the lack of unissued material. Nevertheless, this release offers a great opportunity to hear the sounds, watch the images and learn the stories of one of the best and truly most underappreciated soul singers from the 1960/1970's.

For all of the young people out there who are just
discovering motown, I have to let you know that this
cd is a must have. this is a real sample of old school
r&b at it's best. Norman Whitefild, who around that time
recieved grammys or nominations for the Temptation's
'papa was a rolling stone' and 'cloud nine' was on a roll.
Yvonne is an r&b Diva. The theatrics and excitment on
every cut is spectacular! Patti and Aretha, I like,
but I think they did alot of sceaming, where as Yvonne
Belts and pleads the lyrics. You really beleive that
she has lived the pain that she so forcfully sings about.

hi there,

i got to tell you that i am not the greatest motown fan,(more southern soul/deep soul etc.)
i do got many motown cd's, but they all sound to well done and a bit ,

marvin gaye is great,temptations ,etc.
but this album shoots out the roof!
i did own the original album (my sister also|) and almost went crazy that this album not have been reissued!
UNTIL NOW!!!!

even the title is not so motown ish.

funky music sho nuf turns me on is the best version ever .and listen to the back ground that is marvin gaye!

this is a must to all soul/funk fans,don't matter if you love souther soul,motown,nothern soul,rare,..............

BUY IT!!!!

thank you and have a funky good time!

I echo the praise and superlatives already heaped upon this singer. I picked up the original lp in a second hand record store about twenty-five years ago, and from the 1st cut I was hooked. She does the definitive version of "Funky Music Sho nuff turns me on". There are no throw away cuts on this record. She has a tough gritty voice, that can meld into a full bodied soul purr when she wants to. Not only does she have the vocal chops, but the emotions that she mines in these songs is amazing. It is a shame this talented, powerhouse singer was allowed to fall through the cracks. I have been looking for years for the release of this gem on cd, and I just found it. I applaud those that released this soul/funk masterpiece on cd, rescuing it from obscurity.

at last they put this out on cd. the cd is pure funk soul from the 70s dont let this cd pass you by get it while you can a real gem a 1000 out of a 1000 for this yvonne fair. cd the bitch is black. martin harrison.

It's taken years for Yvonne Fair to be recognized as the great singer that she was. Aside from a few tracks on the "Funky Divas" compilation, her recordings haven't even seemed to have turned up on any Motown Various Artist collections. I actually owned two copies of this album on vinyl (there were two slightly different covers...the decorations around the border on the first version were eliminated probably due to the depiction of pills, according to this CD's liner notes), and back in the day it was the kind of album you played just prior to going out and hitting the clubs or after you returned with the fruits of the night's labor to continue to party. What a great album and the remastering is awesome. I love the fact that the first voice you hear on the opening track is Marvin Gaye singing uncredited background vocals on "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On." Some of the second tier Motown staff writers, such as Gloria Jones and Pam Sawyer, get their songs sung the way no one else ever could such as the dark and compelling "It's Bad For Me to See You." There are, in my opinion, a couple examples of filler on what would have been Side 2, but it in no way detracts from the overall performance and quality of this album. Norman Whitfield, who wasn't usually known for being a producer of female vocalists (though he did helm Rose Royce after he left Motown), simply does a fantastic job on this superb slice of prototype funk! I just wish there were some bonus tracks or unreleased sides, such as on the packages from the UK on the Velvelettes, Barbara McNair, Chuck Jackson, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, and the other Motown artists who are finally receiving some well deserved attention. But don't let that stop you...buy this, sit back (if you can) and enjoy!

I had this album in the 1970s and loved it then and was dissapointed when it went out of production as my lp was totally scrachted from the constant playing.i was delighted to find this on amazon and digitally remasterd.yvonne fair
is one of the most tresured vocalists of the past century.all of my friends now want to purchase her album and most have done so recently.
i give this album 6 stars.
enjoy

This chick has attitude and can belt the blues. A great addition to my collection! Would recommend her to any Blues aficionado!