By acooolcat (211.78.28.79 - 211.78.28.79) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 01:49 pm:

There's certainly a tendency to focus on the past (particularly the 1960s) and ignore the present, but I know Bettye will be appearing in the UK very shortly - and wish I was there to see her perform. David and myself spent a memorable day/night with her in Detroit last September and were privileged to hear her latest material; it's tremendous and hopefully it'll be released in the near future.
She made her first recording, "My Man - He's A Loving Man" when she was around 16 and it's stood the test of time. Her follow up "You'll Never Change" is one of my all-time favorite Detroit recordings and "Let Me Down Easy" is a true, deep soul classic. I'm sure others on the forum have their own personal favorites - there are many to choose from.
And she's witty, articulate and gorgeous!
Graham

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 08:05 pm:

i think her silver fox recording 'nearer to me' takes a bit of beating.as does it's A side 'he made a woman out of me'.

i wish i could tell you some of bettye's stories.....she is a total character.

i told her she looked a million dollars...and she did and incredibly her voice sounds in fantastic shape.

she let us hear her latest venture in the basement of her home.

as she sang along to the tape, i had to pinch myself.

By brianday@cwcom.net (212.137.255.48 - 212.137.255.48) on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 09:19 pm:

just to let you know bettye is appearing in blackpool this sunday coming (28/4) dont know the venue ,but you lucky buggers up north get all the
best acts

By acooolcat (211.78.28.79 - 211.78.28.79) on Sunday, April 28, 2002 - 08:39 pm:

What was it like?
Curious in Taiwan.

By Millie (64.152.154.188 - 64.152.154.188) on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 02:20 am:

I was fortunate to meet Bettye some years ago when Ian Levine was in Detroit re-recording whatever remaining Motown artists were left here after the massive exodus to Los Angeles took place. I promoted a show at the Top of the Ponch (Ponchartrain Hotel) which stared Frankie Gaye (an absolute gentleman), Martha Reeves, Scherrie Payne, the Elgins, and the Contours. Now, that was a great evening. Bettye is a wonderful person and just never got the recognition she deserved. She's the best.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 08:22 pm:

Bettye gave me a copy of a letter she received from France from a David Hawkes together with a newspaper review of her show. I have also posted one of the pics he sent her from the show.
The translation is at the end of this posting.



Dear Bettye,

I have attached the original review from the newspaper 'Liberation'. It is a
highly respected and widely read daily newspaper where the music critics are
knowledgeable but not always kind. Its a very good review.

It was a real pleasure to meet you and to see you perform. Thank you for
your warm and kind reception. You really made me feel comfortable being with
you and the band.I spent two really great evenings in your company. I hope I
can take you out to lunch or dinner the next time you are in Paris or maybe
in London which I visit once a month.

Your show and the band are really first class. I really enjoyed 'Fever' -
great choice and good arrangement.

Don't know if you will read this from Blackpool or the USA so hope all going
well or went well. I'm sure those Northerners gave you a very good
reception.

Please keep in touch. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all again.
If you send me your home address I'll send you the original of the review by
post.

David

David Hawkes,
Informatique Interne,
Fujitsu Services.



TRANSLATION:-

Soul / The return of a lyrical singer but without the pathos.

Bettye Lavette, A Cry of Love

There are miracles. The resurrection of Bettye Lavette, adorable stable mate of Aretha Franklin, is one of them.

Returned to us thanks to Gilles Petard, scholarly and stubborn soul specialist who has been able to re-discover the tapes thought lost, of the finest disc of the marvellous Betty on the Atlantic label (label of Aretha during her best period), thus making it a legend in that it had never been released. Released 30 years late, Souvenirs (Art & Soul/Melodie) balances its 18 tracks of deep soul that make Diana Ross (with or without the Supremes) sound like fair ground music. During �Your Time to Cry� Bettye Lavette portrays the sharp lyricism of a Joe Tex or an Al Green, so dramatic but avoiding the pathos that undoes the reputation of many a gospel singer.

Bettye is in Paris without the Muscle Shoals (too expensive), but with the outstanding sensuality of a young 50 year old..

The level of the Meridian, comfortable saloon where it was once good to sip bourbon when Bobby Blue Bland came to town, is now maybe trying to improve its reputation?

There are only 4 more days, a lifetime, to warm to the love cries of Bettye Lavette, several octaves of southern fury that should put Tina Turner out to retirement.

By john lester (213.122.204.189 - 213.122.204.189) on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 09:21 pm:

France is reknown for acknowledging the greats.

It was only a few years ago that I watched Steve Cropper on TV and other Stax musicians playing support for Axelle Red.....

The language barrier doesn't spoil their enjoyment of the music at all. That pleases me immensely

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 11:20 pm:

Music is the universal language - n'est-ce pas?

By John Lester (213.122.196.95 - 213.122.196.95) on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 07:36 am:

Bien sur