Spice of Life (Dig) [Original recording reissued]

Marlena Shaw | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 26, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B0009VKL0E
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,373 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Marlena Shaw, Spice of Life

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the price of admission just go CALIFORNIA SOUL!, September 25, 2005

By 

G. Mitchell "greggmitch" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spice of Life (Dig) (Audio CD)

You go Marlena - FINALLY...Cadet/Verve saw fit to re-issue Marlena's long-lost '69 soul/jazz classic SPICE OF LIFE, featuring some of the earliest and best vocal performances - but the cut that really captures this era is her amazingly funky take on CALIFORNIA SOUL - really, it's worth the price of the entire CD just for this nugget - I defy you to listen to Marlena's strut on this song and not snap your fingers and groove along - roll down the windows, drive up PCH, and blast it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars lots and lots of fun, April 28, 2009

By 

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber Print DJ ... (Mahwah, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Spice of Life (Dig) (Audio CD)

You could fill a mansion with both rock and soul records by people that put an album out, and sank into obscurity. The differance is, in soul, you really had to be good--at singing or playing- to even get onto wax. The music demands a good voice, and the ability to lock into syncopated rythms. It would be fun to find out exactly why Aretha Franklin became an international superstar, while people just as good remain unknown.

Marlena Shaw is a case and point: She has a great voice, the ability to sing sweet soul, grittiy southern soul, and jazz. For a soul album, this is very, very diverse, and everything works. Shaw even does some out and out scatting on this--not easy to do--and is a master.

There are all kinds of music and textures on here. All are done beatifully. There is even a version of Calafornia Soul that puts the 5Ds cover to shame and I like the 5ds version.

Obviously, as with most soul records, this is not a revelation, but that is rare in this type of music, because it is a narrow construct. But if you like soul and R&B, this is an essential album, just because it is SO good.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Spice!, July 9, 2008

By 

Gilbert R. Jimenez "Big Jimmy" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spice of Life (Dig) (Audio CD)

Awesome CD with a touch of The Four Tops,Temptaations, & Aretha Franklin, a definite classic. Highly recommend to everyone who enjoys oldschool R&B, Soul, & Jazz. "California Soul" is the highlight of this CD (which was played in the DICKIES commmercial during the NBA Playoffs). BUY IT!!!