Rita Coolidge/Nice Feeling

Ihre Karriere begann sie Ende der 1960er Jahre als Folk- und Rock-Sängerin im Background von Stars wie Joe Cocker, Stephen Stills und Eric Clapton. Sie begleitete Cocker 1970 bei seiner Tour Mad Dogs & Englishmen, die auf dem gleichnamigen Album festgehalten wurde. 1971 erschien ihre erste LP, die über- wiegend Cover-Versionen enthält. Auch auf ihren folgenden Werken griff sie hauptsächlich auf mehr oder weniger bekanntes Fremdmaterial zurück. Ihr Debüt enthielt Songs von Künstlern wie Van Morrison, Otis Redding und Neil Young. Hochkarätig war auch die Auswahl der Musiker, die sich bereit erklärten, Coolidge im Studio zu unterstützen - auch das wiederholte sich auf ihren späteren LPs. Neben Stephen Stills, Bobby Womack und Ry Cooder ist vor allem Leon Russell zu nennen. Die ersten beiden Alben sind nun erstmalig auf einer 2on1- CD über BGO erhältlich. Sie erscheinen mit erweiterten Linernotes, Cneu gemastert und im BGO-typischen Slipcase-Packaging!

Her debut album, with Eric Clapton and Stephan Stills. It is amazing given the exposure Rita Coolidge obtained through the “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” soundtrack that her second album for A & M is such a cult item. Covers of songs by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Graham Nash, and participation by names like Al Kooper, Glyn Johns, Bruce Botnick, and Marc Benno should have made this record her breakthrough. Instead, it took quite a few more discs before she would hit the Top 40 on her own with her eighth solo album, Anytime, Anywhere. Asylum Choir member Marc Benno's "Family Full of Soul" opens the album with wonderful bluesy pop resplendent in guitars, vibes, and Coolidge's distinctive voice. As guitarist Benno gets two compositions on this album, so does keyboardist Mike Utley, and his co-write "You Touched Me in the Morning" is a far cry from the slick, similarly titled Diana Ross hit. These authentic tunes and performances are so soulful and moving it is stunning to think that it takes a bright and intelligent audience to seek out and find music this important, music this good. Parallel to the sounds generated by Bonnie Bramlett's various ensembles, the title track by Marc Benno is sheer brilliance; but then again, so is "I'll Be Here," which leads off side two, the swelling organ raising Coolidge's voice into the space where angels dwell on this Jimmy Lewis tune. Graham Nash's "Better Days" works so well in this company as the band changes their approach to the music, David Anderle's production brimming with deep drumbeats and a more majestic go at the sound created by labelmate Joe Cocker and his Grease Band. "Lay My Burden Down" is laced with gospel, and you can hear the future hit sound as Coolidge takes Dylan's "'Most Likely You'll Go Your Way" and makes it her own. Neil Young's "Journey Through the Past" also is transformed by this band, producer, and singer, creating an atmosphere that demands attention. A pity that the radio-listening public doesn't have the opportunity to hear what is inside this beautifully packaged and well-crafted set of recordings.
- All Music Guide (www.allmusicc.om)

Kommentare deaktiviert für Album