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Track Listings
| 1. I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (Sinead O’Connor) |
| 2. Joy (Lucinda Williams) |
| 3. Down To Zero (Joan Armatrading) |
| 4. The High Road (Sharon Robinson) |
| 5. On The Surface (Rosanne Cash) |
| 6. Just Say So (Cathy Majeski/John Scott Sherrill) |
| 7. Little Sparrow (Dolly Parton) |
| 8. How Am I Different (Aimee Mann) |
| 9. Only Time Will Tell Me (Toni Brown) |
| 10. Sleep To Dream (Fiona Apple) |
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
After four decades toiling in the record business with little more than a fervent cult following to show for it, Bettye LaVette can seem like soul music's equivalent of Roy Hobbs, protagonist of the bittersweet baseball fable The Natural. Whether this riveting collection of ten covers by an eclectic range of contemporary female singer/songwriters will change the husky-throated Detroit native's fortunes seems irrelevant: Its spare, dusky groove and intensely emotional, in-the-moment performances seem utterly disconnected from concerns as trivial as fame and fashion. A forceful, timely reminder that soul thrives on the singer and not the song, LaVette doesn't so much cover these songs as reinvent them from the inside out, be it the chilling, a capella read of Sinead O'Connor's "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" that opens the album, a gritty take of Lucinda Williams' "Joy" where the singer burns with a fire that might make Tina Turner envious or her recasting Dolly Parton's "Little Sparrow" as bluesy omen and "How Am I Different" by Aimee Mann as inviting, r&b shuffle. In a musical era where soulful authenticity and emotional resonance are too often virtual, this album is a delicious dose of the Real Deal. -- Jerry McCulley
Product Description
With one eye on the intimate concept albums Sinatra invented at mid-'50s Capitol, and the other on the gritty yet sophisticated soul records produced at Atlantic in the '60s, this release offers ten songs that tell the story of Bettye LaVette. Recording stints at Motown, Atlantic, Epic, and a host of smaller labels left her with dreams to burn, and she pours every moment of hope and heartbreak from her 44 years in music into her tough-minded new collection. Choosing only songs written by female artists, she spins the tale of a woman in a world where men make the choices. For every moment of fear and loss, there's an answering moment of triumph and defiance. The songs are from such artists as Sinead O'Connor, Lucinda Williams, Joan Armatrading, Rosanne Cash, Dolly Parton, Aimee Mann, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By A Fan
Format:Audio CD
This is no comeback album. Bettye LaVette is right where she's always been, doing what she's always done; reaching into a song, finding its heart and staking a claim to it as her own. This is our chance for the world to catch up with her, and it couldn't be a finer opportunity.
"I've Got My Own Hell To Raise" is ten songs from ten female writers who, at first blush, might be surprised they've written soul songs. In each case, opening with the cappella Sinead O'Connor's "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" and closing with Fiona Apple's "Sleep To Dream," LaVette not only taps the emotional essence of each song, she's able to transmit that emotion with no wasted effort or dramatic puffery.
Even better, the brilliance of her performance is matched by the vitality of the attitude portrayed in each song. There's not a whimper to be heard from beginning to end. There's vulnerability, but no weakness. The show of strength is exhilarating.
For those current day melisma-addicted "neo-soul" singers who think it's necessary to stretch every word over a dozen notes and add senseless swoops and trills as a sign of sincerity, "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise" will be a master class on what it means to sing with real soul. The great delight is that we get to sit in on the lesson any time we like.
LaVette sings on the razor's edge of emotion. Every note, every tone, every pregnant pause has a meaning. It is naked, it is pure, it is powerful. LaVette knows what she wants to say, and even better, she has all the tools to tell us. This is a real voice. When she wants to hammer, she hits hard. When she needs to cut deep, she's a laser.
The production of the CD provides the perfect setting for her performance. It's spare, and stripped down, making sure LaVette is always the centerpiece. Those who think horns are necessary for soul music might be disappointed, but they shouldn't be, because with this CD, horns would just get in the way. This is soul music, distilled to its essence, the way it should sound all the time.
The CD is a flat out gem. You need this CD.
"I've Got My Own Hell To Raise" is ten songs from ten female writers who, at first blush, might be surprised they've written soul songs. In each case, opening with the cappella Sinead O'Connor's "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" and closing with Fiona Apple's "Sleep To Dream," LaVette not only taps the emotional essence of each song, she's able to transmit that emotion with no wasted effort or dramatic puffery.
Even better, the brilliance of her performance is matched by the vitality of the attitude portrayed in each song. There's not a whimper to be heard from beginning to end. There's vulnerability, but no weakness. The show of strength is exhilarating.
For those current day melisma-addicted "neo-soul" singers who think it's necessary to stretch every word over a dozen notes and add senseless swoops and trills as a sign of sincerity, "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise" will be a master class on what it means to sing with real soul. The great delight is that we get to sit in on the lesson any time we like.
LaVette sings on the razor's edge of emotion. Every note, every tone, every pregnant pause has a meaning. It is naked, it is pure, it is powerful. LaVette knows what she wants to say, and even better, she has all the tools to tell us. This is a real voice. When she wants to hammer, she hits hard. When she needs to cut deep, she's a laser.
The production of the CD provides the perfect setting for her performance. It's spare, and stripped down, making sure LaVette is always the centerpiece. Those who think horns are necessary for soul music might be disappointed, but they shouldn't be, because with this CD, horns would just get in the way. This is soul music, distilled to its essence, the way it should sound all the time.
The CD is a flat out gem. You need this CD.
45 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'd never heard of this performer until a report on "CBS News Sunday Morning" by Bill Flannagan of VH1 ("Up Next and Recaps" on September 25) included a brief description about this meaty slice of music. I'm not normally grateful to a newscast, but in this case I certainly am - I might have missed out on this incredible singer.
Comparisons to Ann Peebles or Tina Turner come to mind, but that misses the mark since there's a smouldering presence in Bettye's voice that isn't matched elsewhere. The late Janis Joplin would have had this voice in her head as an ambitious ideal to approach, but could never hope to attain.
The musicians in the back give Bettye some wonderful support, enabling her to simply deliver without having to carry lesser talent along with her. The recording quality is supurb, and whatever ambience the studio brought to the table only helps to create the magic surrounding these knockout performances.
If you thought that there was no genuine soulful entertainers left anymore, give this a listen before you walk away. If you miss this, you've missed the world.
Comparisons to Ann Peebles or Tina Turner come to mind, but that misses the mark since there's a smouldering presence in Bettye's voice that isn't matched elsewhere. The late Janis Joplin would have had this voice in her head as an ambitious ideal to approach, but could never hope to attain.
The musicians in the back give Bettye some wonderful support, enabling her to simply deliver without having to carry lesser talent along with her. The recording quality is supurb, and whatever ambience the studio brought to the table only helps to create the magic surrounding these knockout performances.
If you thought that there was no genuine soulful entertainers left anymore, give this a listen before you walk away. If you miss this, you've missed the world.
44 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By A*
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
Bettye LaVette can't sing. Lavette can "sang." Time and sour taste has weathered her voice and bent a weird saddened state to her phrasing but it works here. She sounds like the last great gospel singer. She has the kind of voice that Aretha should have if she fell on hard times.
The entire production is showstopping but the care she gives to Dolly Parton's work is masterful. It's an utter shame that this work might be ignored when awards are handed out but that's not the point. The point is that her work has gravity to it in a time when music is all about prodcution above everything else.
Only Mavis Staples and the still great Etta James can come close to evoking such an a lived in performance to another's material.
The entire production is showstopping but the care she gives to Dolly Parton's work is masterful. It's an utter shame that this work might be ignored when awards are handed out but that's not the point. The point is that her work has gravity to it in a time when music is all about prodcution above everything else.
Only Mavis Staples and the still great Etta James can come close to evoking such an a lived in performance to another's material.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
One-of-a-Kind Talent
I'm enjoying this CD, especially Dolly Parton's Little Sparrow. That's the reason I purchased. Bettye deserves the spotlight and has for so long!
Published 9 days ago by 2_pelo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hate to be repetitive
I can cut and paste this review for all of the albums we bought by Ms. LaVette. A friend took my wife and I to see her when she came to our town and my wife became an instant fan. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Charles A. Downs
3.0 out of 5 stars
The most unlikely
When Betty Lavette bubbled under for a week in the mid 60s with Let Me Down Easy the disc was never issued here but a later one called I Feel Good WAS. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Richard
4.0 out of 5 stars
PJ
I saw Ms. Bettye Lavette on the 2011 UNCF EVENING OF THE STARS! I thought she was wonderful and that she actually performed the song better than Chaka, no offense Chaka. Read more
Published on January 30, 2011 by pat
4.0 out of 5 stars
Oh Bettye, where have you been?
What I like about this cd is that it avoids all the rock, r&b and blues cliches.
You won't hear all those riffs and hooks that we all have heard hundreds of
times before. Read more
You won't hear all those riffs and hooks that we all have heard hundreds of
times before. Read more
Published on July 13, 2009 by Jonathan C. Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Miss this!
I recently discovered Bettye and became an instant fan. A fantastic voice coupled with songs that speak to the human condition. Read more
Published on April 17, 2009 by Cindy M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hidden gem
I had never heard of Bettye LaVette until I happened to come across this CD at a local library. I immediately loved it, which is uncommon for me. Read more
Published on December 13, 2008 by doctormanny
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it!
This album is GREAT! All of the songs are unique but go together well.
Published on April 29, 2008 by Rankin it
5.0 out of 5 stars
I've Got My Own Reflection to Raise......
As you might know by now - the life of a Seer who reviews music can get very complicating. Be that as it may, everyday in my candlelit
office I receive tons of complimentary... Read more
office I receive tons of complimentary... Read more
Published on November 18, 2007 by ! Metamorpho ;)
4.0 out of 5 stars
great album
I heard a couple of samples of Betty LaVette on a website. I really enjoed what I heard so I bought the album. Read more
Published on June 14, 2007 by Martin Fuller
