Customer Reviews

Country Side of Esther / Set Me Free

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To my knowledge, this is the first US cd issue of the "Country Side of Esther Phillips". "Set Me Free" was previously issued by Atlantic, though they omitted one track which is now restored on this issue. Though Esther did have a few hits, she certainly deserved a higher level of commercial success than she received. As the liner notes indicate, she was likened to Dinah Washington in her day, but in retrospect it is obvious that Esther was one of a kind. Her delivery is always very soulful. Her tone is quite different than Aretha's, but the passion is similar. Curiously the running order of the "Set Me Free" album is different than Atlantic's earlier reissue; I don't know which matches the original album, or if either actually does. More curious is the packaging which states "2 albums on 1 cd". This is a 2-cd set. The first album is only about a half-hour long but the latter is nearly 74 minutes long. The two albums are on two separate discs.

Remastering was done well, certainly an improvement over the previous "Set Me Free".

Dear Esther Phillips,I really have a soft spot for her.The best part of excellent "Rhino" compilation "The best of Esther Phillips 1962-1970" were four songs taken from her long unavailable country LP,finally here in a full glory.Because great Dinah Washington died before she ever recorded country album herself,this would be the closest we will ever come to imagine what would Dinah sound with this kind of repertoire.Just like Ray Charles before her,Phillips had a great feeling for country music and the combination of soul/R&B vocal style touch in a very straightforward country material was a brilliant idea (many years later done again on "Rythm,Country and Blues" album with Patty Labelle and Natalie Cole between other stars participating in duets with country singers).Esther Phillips country album is absolutely first-class,must-have CD but unfortunately second CD here was just another "Atlantic" mix of desperate search of hit single - curse of Phillips versatility.(Almost like young Aretha's "Coumbia" days) Its nice to have both LP's but for me the whole reason of buying this CD is Esther Phillips excellent country album finally available on CD format.

Never heard of Esther Phillips until I saw her name in a newspaper article. Checked her out on Amazon, bought this 2-CD album and can barely bring myself to play any of my other favorite CD's. She has an "Eartha Kitt" sound at first, until you hear her out and, wham, she's country, she's soul and she's
blues. If you want something to stir your bones, hear her out!

if you are an esther philips fan then this double cd is for you! i had the country side of esther philips on record, it was worn out and then hearing those tunes on this cd was awesome! i just want to say thanks for finding this set!

Although her voice is not what one might consider as aesthetically pleasing and melodic in the traditional sense, there is something about it which is truly impressive. The straight-forward honesty in her delivery makes these songs both very easy to identify with and wonderful to listen to.