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| Music Forum Index » Bruce Springsteen Forum » Claudia Lennear: Phew! Remembered... |
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| Mystic... |
 Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:40 pm |
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A great and very talented lady who is long forgotten within the
history of rock:
http://www.funkmysoul.gr/?p=121
Claudia Lennear should have been huge! She had a great pedigree that
was a publicists dream ( Ikette, One of Leon Russell’s Shelter People
and Jagger wrote Brown Sugar about her). Warner Brothers threw lots of
money at this album, top session players, gate fold sleeve, very sexy
photo inside. The album is split into two halves. The first side is
the ‘Rock’ side with definite Stones vibe with Ry Cooder, Mike Utley,
Milt Holland and Jim Dickinson all putting their talents into the mix;
the second side is a suite of four (minor) Allain Toussaint songs with
the great man in charge of musical direction and on piano, and another
set of top sessioner’s at work. They all work their up a fine funky
sound, but unfortunately CL bottled it. This is most peculiar singing
style, she can start a line as if she is going to go all out for it
only to pull out. If Chaka Khan or Tina Turner had had the vocal
duties then this could have been huge, unfortunately, it is just
average. I was fortunate to get a press release in my copy. In it
Claudia tell the world that It’s a whole different feeling being in
the spotlight instead of hidden in a chorus of nine people. I like it,
but I’m just beginning to discover who the real Claudia Lennear is,
myself It would seem that she wasn’t comfortable in front, as this is
the only album she ever got the chance to make.
It was only a couple of weeks ago that while saying Thanx for a cool
Grant Green album in comments that I made my humble request through a
Merlot haze for this long lost solo effort from 1973.I remember always
seeing and drooling over this gorgeous album cover in the cut out bins
at Virgin Records, but as Prog and Kraut was my main tastes back in
the day the funk had yet to creep into my soul. It was only recently
while listening to a rare funk soul comp that had the track Everything
I Do Gonna Be Funky on it did I put 2 & 2 together Doh!!!!
That in turn started the quest to track it down and ended up where we
are today. The danger has always been that you start to crave hearing
the album so much that you build it into a masterpiece of proportions
so high that by the time you actually track it down and get to play it
you are left disappointed!!! After playing it twice here’s what I
think. The first thing I noticed was Ry Cooder’s guitar is pure Keef
riffage on the opening track, now that has to be good right? shame
that Claudia seems a bit uninvolved and that her vocal could be
stronger cause I know she can belt it out anytime she needs to, Also
the song seemed very familiar then it clicked this is the Ron Davies
track that David Bowie covered and made his own on ZIGGY STARDUST, She
sang back up on Davies 2nd Album U.F.O. from 1971.
Track two is also a Ron Davies song and from where I stand the rest of
side 1 is just going through the motions soul by numbers vocally and
the songs aren’t that memorable, Jimmy Miller could have done wonders
with these musicians me thinks. Not a bad first side but just not that
great and I agree with Nikos when he said average.
Side two is a different story altogether, Now we’re talking the funk.
Allen Toussaint’s production has a nice open live feel and Miss
Lennear seems more at home dressed in the squelchy wah wah guitar
funky bass and brass he envelopes her in. This is more like it, in
fact I would suggest renumber Nikos tracks and put the 2nd side long
track first followed by side one tracks and you will enjoy the album a
lot more, in the days of vinyl I would have had side 2 on first every
time. Not the funk masterpiece I had always hoped it would be but a
fine album for the Funk Blog Downloads Folder on the PC. Anyone
wanting to hear more should check out in no particular orderIke & Tina
Turner
Humble Pie - Rock on , Leon Russell - Leon Russell (Claudia and Kathi
McDonald)
Joe Cocker - Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Ron Davies - U.F.O.
The Dependables - Klatu Berrada Niktu 1971, Gene Clarke - No Other
and countless other sessions too many to mention(Kundalini69) |
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| colonialacres... |
| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:28 pm |
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"Mystic" <mystic at (no spam) bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:fao9e5hv4pr92b57mtu40bdna0hvn6u4ej at (no spam) 4ax.com...
Man, she was smokin' hot, as the pictures on the album show. Always liked
her singing too, and will check out that album when I have some time.
Thanks.
Anyone
Quote: wanting to hear more should check out in no particular orderIke & Tina
Turner
Humble Pie - Rock on , Leon Russell - Leon Russell (Claudia and Kathi
McDonald)
Joe Cocker - Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Ron Davies - U.F.O.
The Dependables - Klatu Berrada Niktu 1971, Gene Clarke - No Other
and countless other sessions too many to mention(Kundalini69)
I noticed Kathi McDonald (who was also smokin' hot) was appearing this last
weekend at a festival in Golden Gate Park, with lots of 60's hippie-type
bands --- Barry Melton; Cold Blood; various Moby Grapers; etc. |
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| Mystic... |
| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:07 pm |
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Quote: Man, she was smokin' hot, as the pictures on the album show. Always liked
her singing too, and will check out that album when I have some time.
Thanks.
The album deserves to be set as one of the all time classic lost
Albums. |
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