LULU – Melody Fair – (Atlantic) – 1970

Everyone loves Dusty?

Lulu does Dusty.

Everyone loves Lulu?

Dusty, England’s then Queen of MOR soul, was packed up and sent to American Sound Studios, Memphis in September 1968.

This led to her landmark (and a little dull) “Dusty in Memphis” album released in England in March 1969.

Someone thought that Lulu, England (or rather Scotland’s) runner up queen of soul pop, could do the same.

Dusty headed off to Muscle Shoals, Alabama in late 1969 and recorded “New Routes” (which is actually the first capsule entry on this blog when it was a group email) which was released in 1970.

She followed it up with a return to the US and the same musicians, this time recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami.

Neither Lulu album sold very well (neither did Dusty’s album either …the critics elevated it to immortality later) and why would they. America had its own large batch of white and black southern soul divas …..  Bobbie Gentry, Carla Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Irma Thomas, Barbara Lynn, Jackie DeShannon, Sandy Posey and Doris Duke.

But it was a sign of the times.

All the English acts were looking for some “down home” sounds in the wake of The Band’s first two albums (1968 and 1969), Dylan’s “Nashville Skyline” (1969), Elvis’ “From Elvis in Memphis” (1969), Tony Joe White’s first two albums (1968 and 1969), Joe South’s first two albums (1968 and  1969), Neil diamond’s Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show  (1969) and others.

You get the idea.

Allmusic: “Most Americans first heard of Lulu when she soared to the top of the charts with the pop ballad "To Sir with Love," the theme to the film of the same name, in 1967. Actually, the Scottish singer — born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie — had been a star in Britain since 1964, when she hit the Top Ten with a raucous version of "Shout." Lulu's mid-'60s recordings (which included a version of "Here Comes the Night" that preceded Them's hit rendition) were often surprisingly rowdy and R&B-influenced. Although she didn't match Dusty Springfield, her Brenda Lee-like rasp could be quite gutsy and soulful. Her career was headed in a determinedly middle-of-the-road direction by the late '60s, which saw her hosting a British variety show and marrying Bee Gee Maurice Gibb (they later divorced). Lulu raised a few eyebrows by traveling to Muscle Shoals studios to record her 1970 album New Routes and releasing a double-sided single of David Bowie tunes (which Bowie also played on and co-produced) in 1973. Lulu has recorded intermittently ever since …."

But, Lulu (and Dusty) for that matter are best at clean pop.

Or, at least, I prefer both of them singing clean pop.

Lulu is backed by legendary American session players and produced by Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin of Atlantic records who could produce this type of stuff in their sleep.

She has a great voice, when she has the right material and when she is trying to be herself not someone else.

So ultimately any failure is with her or the material.

And  there are some failings … I’d say it’s a bit of both.

Some of the material is wrong for her (though, credit should be given for picking songs well off the beaten path) and some of it she just can’t handle.

Does that make the album bad?

Hell no.

This is a perfectly good, listenable, album of MOR soul with a southern flavour. Not memorable perhaps, but listenable.

I could see my local coffee shop playing it, to stylish acclaim.

It’s quite relaxing and its always good to hear a singer who isn’t screeching and caterwauling all over the place.

(an editorial polemical spray:  It’s a pity more of those crappy female singers from crappy reality “you wanna be a star” type shows didn’t listen to more Lulu instead of trying to sing like Aretha Franklin. There is only one Aretha and a legend she is even if she has been ripped off for a style which now seems to be de rigueur when it comes to expressing (fake) emotion).

Tracks (best in italics)

• Good Day Sunshine – (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)- misses the point a little. In an attempt to go south the sunshine has gone.
• After the Feeling Is Gone – (Terry Woodford, George Soulé)- an big ballad original that is quite strained but strangely memorable.
• I Don't Care Anymore – (Jerry Williams, Gary U.S. Bonds, Maurice Gimbel)- Doris Duke‎ did this on her 1970 "I'm A Loser" LP. Lulu hits it here.
• (Don't Go) Please Stay – (Burt Bacharach, Bob Hilliard)- this has been done by everyone: The Drifters, Dave Clark Five, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders.
• Melody Fair – (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb)- this is perfectly suited to Lulu. A straighter pop song with only touches of the South.
• Take Good Care of Yourself – (Jim Doris)- an original for Lulu.
• Vine Street – (Randy Newman)- an interesting take on Randy which Lulu gives a fair go.
• Move to My Rhythm – (Fran Robbins)- nice chakka ckakka funky guitar and horns. This has so much rhythm in the rhythm section it works
• To the Other Woman – (I'm the Other Woman) – (Williams, Bonds)- Doris Duke‎ did this on her 1970 "I'm A Loser" LP.
• Hum a Song – (From Your Heart) – (Richard Ross)- hum (not from my heart). I believe this was done first by Lulu.
• Sweet Memories – (Mickey Newbury)- This version doesn't get the elusive and subtle Newbury emotions but a good try.
• Saved – (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) – an Elvis cover? Given Lulu’s backing band is The Sweet Inspirations who were Elvis backing vocalists (and warm up act) on his 1969 shows and given he did this song in 1968 on his “Comeback Special” maybe this was suggested to Lulu by the backing band. Then again the original by Lavern Baker (a chick) from 1961 was on the Atlantic label (as is Lulu). So who knows? This musical archaeology is hard work. It's a great song and well done by Lulu though it doesn’t compete with either of the other two versions mentioned.

And …

Hmmm…. tape a couple and sell.

Chart Action

US

Singles

1970 Hum A Song (From Your Heart) The Billboard Hot 100 #54

Album

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England

Singles

Album

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Sounds

http://recordlective.com/Lulu/Melody_Fair/5e4bc98a-be0e-4d68-8ac6-03cc6c29f939/

Melody Fair

mp3 attached

Lulu – Melody Fair

Others

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MErfc-jpG0k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ew43u2gS0Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sczEBtOnD3k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r81iUVZR9Jw

Review

http://www.allmusic.com/album/melody-fair-mw0000857774

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melody_Fair_(album)

Bio

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lulu-mn0000321321

Website

http://www.luluofficial.com/

Trivia

• Vocals – Lulu, Musicians: "The Dixie Flyers":  Jim Dickinson – piano, guitar Charlie Freeman – guitar Mike Utley – organ Tommy McClure – bass guitar Sammy Creason – drums , "The Memphis Horns":  Andrew Love – tenor saxophone Ed Logan – tenor saxophone Floyd Newman – baritone saxophone Jack Dale – trombone, Felix Cavaliere (Young Rascals)  – Latin percussion. Backing vocals: " The Sweet Inspirations" plus Eddie Brigati (Young Rascals), David Brigati (Young Rascals), Carol Kirkpatrick, Chuck Kirkpatrick.