Customer Reviews

Margie

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Soul singer Margie Joseph's third album for Atlantic, originally released in 1975, revisited the funkier bottom end of her 1973 label debut (confusingly titled Margie Joseph). Where 1974's Sweet Surrender had smoothed out the R&B grooves and nosed its way towards disco's rhythms, this new set offered more grit on the upbeat numbers and deeper soul on the ballads. Arif Mardin continued in the producer's chair, and the song list was again constructed with a large dose of covers and a pair of originals. Joseph and Mardin's "Sign of the Times" opens the album with P Funk-styled synthesizer and plucked bass, and a melody that anticipates a seamless segue into Carole King's "Believe in Humanity." Both songs offer up early-70s social spirituality in their lyrics. A cover of King's "After All This Time" appears later on the album, transitioning smoothly from a softer mid-tempo to a beefier soul shout as the strings and percussion start and stop for emphasis. "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh" is taken at a slow tempo, drawn out and more worn down than Bill Withers' original, while "Who Gets Your Love," is given a lighter treatment than Dusty Springfield's earlier version. Joseph gets a chance to scat briefly at the end of "Promise Me Your Love," unfortunately just in time for the fade, and the album closes with a cover of "I Can't Move No Mountains" that's decidedly more urban than Blood, Sweat & Tears earlier horn-lined release. Many of Joseph's fans vote this as their favorite of her releases. It's more sophisticated and less brash than her label debut, which is a plus or minus depending on your preference for polish over roots. What this album makes clear is that Joseph was maturing as an artist, and her pairing with Mardin, which ended with this album, had developed over the course of their three albums together. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com]

"Margie" is by far the best album that Margie Joseph released in her soulful career. The selection of material is fantastic along with some really great vocals and production.
Best bet: "Words (Are Impossible).

This was Margie Joseph's third album for Atlantic. Like the first two, Arif Mardin was the producer, arranger and conductor, but it was to be (as far as I know) the last time that Arif Mardin was Margie's producer.

The album yielded two minor R+B hits, these being Words are impossible and Stay still. Covers of songs by Carole King (Believe in humanity, After all this time) and Bill Withers (The same love that made me laugh)sit comfortably among originals including two that Margie co-wrote with Arif (Sign of the times, Stay still).

Margie Joseph was an excellent performer, but that big hit eluded her, so she never made the big time. Nevertheless, she made some excellent music of which this album is typical.

While this is not my favorite Margie Joseph album (my favorite being "Sweet Surrender"), it was her third in the fast track of Atlantic records under Arid Mardin. There are a few good tracks recorded on this album,and some of my personal favorites include, the remake of Bill Withers' '74 hit "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh," Margie's voice is a little raspy, giving it the edge the song needed to make it "old school soul". Her rendition of Dusty Springfield's "Who Gets Your Love" is deifnitely captivating considering that there are few people who can even compete with Dusty's soulful interpretation of any song. Track #5 "Promise Me Your Love" is another jazzy gem with Donny Hathaway on background vocals highliting Margie's ability to combine jazz and soul; he was also on background vocals for "Sign Of The Times." "If You Walked Away" can only be described as being rich, melodic, moving and intoxicating, while the soulfull "Stay Still" written by Joseph and peaked at #34 R&B during the summer of 1975.

Margie's delightful interpretation of Carole King's "After All This Time" is a clear indication of how much Margie was ahead of her time. Although initially Margie did not like "Words (Are Impossible)" it went on to become #27 R&B and #91 Pop hit for her in late 1974. "Just As Soon As The Feeling Over" written by Alabama soul singer Sam Dees, shows how Margie is the consumate artist and makes a somng her own consdiering that she didn't have a lot of time to learn it before laying down the tracks. "I Can't Move No Maountains" is my number one favorite on this CD and shows Margie at her best, she's free to be soulful, and fun.

This was Margie's last album with Atlantic, but one not to be forgotten. If you like soul, jazz and good singers, then this album is a must for you, because Margie Joseph does it all.