Soul Sisters
This week, American Routes talks to three soul singers from the formative era of the mid-1950s through Motown of the late ’60s, and an all-female New Orleans brass band. Justine “Baby” Washington talks about growing up in Harlem and her hits “The Times,” “Nobody Cares,” and “That’s How Heartaches Are Made.” Maxine Brown started as teenager in NYC singing with gospel groups. By 1960 she penned the hit, “All in My Mind,” and would later have hits with “Oh No Not My Baby” and a duet with Chuck Jackson on “Something You Got.” Chris Clark is a rare white soul singer who recorded for Detroit’s Motown Records. She became known as the “White Negress” in England where she toured with fellow Motown artists. The Original Pinettes Brass Band is a young, ten-member, all-women’s New Orleans jazz band that has achieved hard-won respect in a field dominated by men.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Soul Sister Yusef Lateef
1984, Impulse
I Can't Stand It The Soul Sisters
The Sue Story: The Sound of Soul, New York City, Parlophone
I'm A Woman Peggy Lee
The Best of Miss Peggy Lee, Capitol
Sally Go Round the Roses The Jaynetts
Chess Rhythm & Roll, MCA/ Chess
SEGMENT: Justine "Baby" Washington
Workout Baby Washington
45 rpm single, Neptune
Clean Up Woman Betty Wright
Best of Betty Wright, Rhino
Instrumental: The Soul Explosion Illinois Jackquet
The Soul Explosion, Prestige
Reconsider Me Margaret Lewis
Shreveport Stomp: Ram Records Story Vol. 1, ACE
Why Not Me The Judds
Why Not Me, RCA
Soul Deep Tina Turner
Country My Way, K-tel
Five Long Years Tina Turner
Bold Soul Sister: Best of the Blue Thumb Recordings, Blue Thumb
Tramp Otis Redding and Carla Thomas
The Complete Stax Volta Singles 1959-1968, Stax/ Volta
Instrumental: Soul Twist King Curtis & the Noble Knights
Rock Instrumental Classics, Vol. 4: Soul, Rhino
SEGMENT: Maxine Brown
Soul Serenade Maxine Brown
Greatest Hits, Tomato
Angel From Montgomery Bonnie Raitt
Streetlights, Warner Bros.
Far Celestial Shore Mavis Staples
One True Vine, Anti
End Bed: Soul Serenade Willie Mitchell
Hot Rods Rock: Big Boss Instrumentals Vol. 3, Right Stuff
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: All For You The Funk Brothers
The Best of the Funk Brothers, Motown
Go to the Mardi Gras The Original Pinettes
Finally, self-produced
Mary Mack Lilly's Chapel School, recorded by Harold Courlander
Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol.6: Ring Game Songs and Others, Folkways
Spirit in the Dark Aretha Franklin
Spirit in the Dark, Rhino
Soul Sister Allen Toussaint
The Complete Warner Recordings, Rhino
SEGMENT: Chris Clark
Instrumental: Whitey Lambchop
Nashville: The Other Side of the Alley, Bloodshot
These Boots are Made for Walking Loretta Lynn
Honky Tonk Girl, MCA
I'm a Honky Tonk Girl Eileen Jewell
Eileen Jewell Presents Butcher Holler, Signature Sounds
Blues a Catin Bonsoir Catin
Blues a Catin, Bridgetown
Down on Me Big Brother & the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin
Big Brother and the Holding Company, Sony
You'll Lose a Good Thing Barbara Lynn
You'll Lose a Good Thing, Jaime/ Arctic
Instrumental: One Naughty Flat AFO Executives
Compendium, AFO
SEGMENT: The Original Pinettes Brass Band