Marlena Shaw ”The Spice Of Life”

Marlena Shaw

”The Spice Of Life”
( LP Cadet Records, Reissue, 1977 )
Catalog # CA-833

Tracklisting:
A1 Woman Of The Ghetto (6:02)
Written By – Bobby Miller/Marlena Shaw/Richard Evans
Written-By – Bobby Miller, Marlena Shaw, Richard Evans
A2 Call It Stormy Monday (3:01)
Written-By – T. Bone Walker
A3 Where Can I Go? (2:21)
Written By – Miller/Fuld/Berland
Written-By – Fuld, Berland, Miller
A4 I’m Satisfied (2:48)
Written-By – Morris Dollison
A5 I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) (3:12)
Written By – Billy Taylor/Dick Dallas
Written-By – Billy Taylor, Dick Dallas
B1 Liberation Conversation (2:03)
Written By – Bobby Miller/Marlena Shaw
Written-By – Bobby Miller, Marlena Shaw
B2 California Soul (2:59)
Written-By – Nicholas Ashford/Valerie Simpson
B3 Go Away Little Boy (2:45)
Written-By – Gerry Goffin/Carole King
B4 Looking Thru The Eyes Of Love (3:00)
Written-By – Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil
B5 Anyone Can Move A Mountain (3:03)
Written-By – Johnny Marks

Credits:
Arranged By – Charles Stepney, Richard Evans
Artwork By, Photography – Paccione
Engineer – Dave Purple, Stu Black
Producer – Charles Stepney, Richard Evans
Producer, Other [Album Supervision] – Bobby Miller

Notes:
Previously released with a different cover and catalogue number.
Jewelry courtesy of Harry Winston, Inc., New York City.
Also available on GRT 8-Track Tapes and Cassettes.
Format:Vinyl, LP, Repress
Country:US
Released:1977

Review:
Marlena Shaw’s penchant for stylistic variety is certainly evident on this, her sophomore release. Cut for the Cadet label in 1969, Spice of Life ranges from soul and proto-funk to jazz and MOR-hued material. Shaw shines throughout, showing her power on politically charged, Aretha-styled cuts like “Woman of the Ghetto” and “Liberation Conversation,” while also delivering supple interpretations of such traditional jazz fare as “Go Away Little Boy” (shades of Nancy Wilson). And with a gutsy take on “Stormy Monday,” it’s clear Shaw doesn’t shrink from the blues either. Across this sound spectrum, arrangers Richard Evans and Charles Stepney envelope Shaw in unobtrusive yet exciting pop-soul environs, throwing kalimba runs (a few years before Earth, Wind & Fire picked up on the instrument), psych guitar accents, and bongo-fueled organ riffs into the mix. Their widescreen touch is particularly well essayed on strings-and-brass standouts like the Bacharach-inspired Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil composition “Looking Through the Eyes of Love” and Ashford & Simpson’s “California Soul” (a classic reading heavily favored by the crate-digging set). A perfect way to get familiar with Shaw’s impressive early work.
By Stephen Cook (AMG)

By Pier