Customer Reviews

Nasty Gal

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My god is this woman BAD!

Not only was Betty Davis the sexiest woman who ever walked this planet, she released several of the greatest funk albums ever produced. Those who know of her usually just think of her as a model who was married to Miles Davis for a year. But she was much, much more than just a mere footnote in the bio of the greatest jazz musician ever.

First of all, I think it's fair to say that Betty Davis was responsible for the development of jazz fusion. Why? Because when Miles Davis fell under the spell of this woman (and what man wouldn't?), she made it her mission to turn him onto the new funk & soul music that was revolutionizing America. She hipped him up to the new sounds and the new fashions, and Miles responded with a creative burst that cemented his rep as the greatest jazz innovator in history. He combined his jazz with her funk and out came jazz fusion.

Well, the marriage ended, but Betty set out to prove her own musical genius, and she did it with a series of albums that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest funk albums ever. She enlisted the aid of the best musicians and let the nastiness flow out of her.

This album, like the others, features her snarling, vicious vocals which sound like nothing so much as a wildcat in heat. It is a primal force of sexuality that is unequalled in musical history. Her vocals are sex incarnate. DIrty, raw, sweaty, up-against-the-wall sex. James Brown sounds like s schoolboy in comparison. Marvin Gaye would be intimidated. Chaka Khan would bow down. Wilt Chamberlain would be left exhausted in a heap in the corner.

Buy any Betty Davis you can find. That is an order.

OK, so Betty Davis was never a great singer (neither was David Bowie, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and so many other singers that made it really big in the 60s and 70s) but she had spirit and was really under-rated as a song writer. I bought this album for a very obscure reason. I heard bits of it on the Miles Davis documentary A Different Kind of Blue and it seemed intriguing. It was a bit risky to spend so much money on it (it isn't even remastered with bonus tracks or anything and I doubt it will be any time soon) but I decided to take the chance because sometimes I make some really interesting musical discoveries this way. Well, this time it really paid off. I think that Betty Davis may be my favourite funk artist of all time. Its important to note that it isn't all her that makes this album great. She is backed by a tight band which plays brilliantly, but her energy is definately a big part of it and the songs are all her's. Its not surprising that Miles Davis fell for her, because she sounds like a really interesting person. All the songs are good, but my favourites are Shut off the Light, Talking Trash, Dedicated to the Press, Lone Ranger and the title track. One of the songs even has a Led Zeppelin sounding riff for a bit of it, which was strange for a black funk album, but really interesting. I defeinately recommend this album despite the high price!

Betty Davis was creating controversy long before Vanity Six ever hit the scene. People think the scantilly clad Divas of today are the first. They are Dead Wrong! Betty Davis former wife of Jazz great Miles Davis and friend or girl friend of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix.(Depending on who's telling the story!) She was wearing outfits that made men drool and talking so dirty they cancelled some of her concerts in the bible belt in the early 70's. She is the the undisputed Queen of Funk and the riffs on this album are some of the best Bass lines that you will ever want to hear! Personally I think Larry Johnson is a cover for Larry Graham but, I can't prove it! If you are into Funk then check out her cut F-U-N-K and Shut off the Light. It will make you wonder why she not doing Gigs today! I bought this album 3 times and somehow they seem to keep disappearing! I love you Betty and will always be your number 1 fan!!!!! Bill Grantham

I got addicted to Ms. Betty Mabry Davis music ever since I heard F.U.N.K. It's TOTALLY off da hook. If you're looking for hard stripped down heavy funk, well don't hesitate to pick this one up! Betty's voice is going like a demon all over it. On this album, Betty's backed by Carlos Morales (guitar), Fred Mills (keyboards, vocals), Larry Johnson (bass) and Nicky Neal (drums). Eventually, Betty toured Europe and Japan late in 1975 and early 1976. The tune 'Shut Off The Lights' ended up in the British R&B charts. IMHO all her albums are worth having. [...]
One thing about the Betty Davis CD reissues is that they come without any liner notes or additional information or pictures.
The original inner sleeve for Nasty Gal album features the song texts.

I entered Betty's name as a fluke and was amazed to find ALL three albums. Her "Nasty Gal" was my favorite. The music is tight (expecially the guitars) and her singing style could (should) be released today!!! She was by far ahead of her time. Would LOVE to see her in concert.

F.U.N.K. is worth the price of admission, alone. She roll calls her funk favorites: "...Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder...the Funkadelics..."and, reserves special props for Jimi Hendrix! Driven by Carlos Morales' relentless, funky, phased guitar...this track is not unlike her homage to the blues on "They Say I'm Different."

I am from a little town outside of pittsburgh pa. and so is betty
and I have been a fan of hers since her first release BETTY DAVIS in 1973. I had all 3 of her albums and over the years have played them out and lost them. I am ecstatic that they are available here now on C.D. This album is pure F.U.N.K.

If you like old-school funk or, ya know, SEX -- Betty Davis is IT. This is a classic & it is not available from iTunes or MP3 download. Get it. Just get it.

Wicked good funk that absolutely won't allow you to listen without moving. Davis' voice is a beautiful, growling, lusty siren song that makes the listener get lost in song after song. Definitely top-notch party music.

I really enjoy most of the cuts on this CD. Betty Davis had or has a real and gritty talent. You can hear how she's physically into the tunes and I love the way that energy sucks you in. The listener can also hear the impact and sound of Miles on some of the tracks, which is another plus in my book for the album's musical integrity.