Customer Reviews

Do Your Duty

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I initially was introduced to Bettye LaVette through her 2005 CD, "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise," which is an album of covers of songs that were written by female artists from across a wide range of musical genres (e.g., Sinead O'Connor, Lucinda Williams, Joan Armatrading, Roseanne Cash, Dolly Parton, Aimee Mann, and Fiona Apple). I immediately was blown away by her gravelly voice and the gut wrenching sadness that she that she was able to wring out of the songs. When I first listened to "Do Your Duty," which is made up of songs that originally were recorded in the 1970's, I was blown away again, largely because the overall sound of the disc was very different than "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise," but still incredibly beautiful. Bettye LaVette's voice, while still dripping emotion, is smooth as silk on "Do Your Duty," and the music on the disc has the lilting, mellow groove of classic soul/R&B rather than the harder edge blues vibe that pervades "I've Got My Own Hell to Raise." I don't claim to be an expert, but in my opinion "Do Your Duty" is as good as any of the albums put out by Motown groups like the Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas back in the day. It is a crying shame that more people don't know about this extremely talented artist. I highly recommend this CD, especially if you enjoy classic soul/R&B. Bettye LaVette's "Child of the Seventies" is another very good soul/R&B CD, and her live CD, "Let Me Down Easy: In Concert" is a really good electric blues CD.

Fans of circa-1970 r&B/soul or the modern day retro revival may really enjoy this album - a fine performance and solid collection of songs. She can belt them out but I found her voice to be thin in the high registers, not as well-rounded and musical as some of her more commercially successful contemporaries.