Search - Esther Phillips :: Black Eyed Blues

Esther's 3rd CTI Masterpiece!

Dr.D.Treharne | Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom | 02/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was the third album that Esther cut for Creed Taylor's CTI album. It marked a change from the previous two in that the string arrangements were undertaken for the first time with this artist, by Bob James; it's a subtle but very important change. Secondly the material stretches out from the straight-ahead R&B to embrace a range of varying styles. This being the case, the album is not as 'immediate' as the previous two, but is just as satisfying when it yields all its nuances. My favourite tracks are her reading of Bill Wither's "Justified" which is a great version.There's a particularly sensual and burning version of "I've only known a stranger" and a straight ahead jazz version of Leonard Feather's "You could have had me baby".While I'm writing about it I should also mention the title track, which is a Joe Cocker track given a particularly good makeover. That's four out of the seven tracks mentioned already, so when you consider that there's a bonus unreleased track as well out of the remaining three,it makes you realise what good value it is. Add in an excellent set of sleeve notes, and this is another 'must have' Esther Phillips album!"

Oh God yes,the blues...

Ima Reader | Georgia,USA | 01/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Little Esther,this is the one to hole up with when life has done you wrong,the boss is a beast, the man bought golf clubs with the money put away for serious stuff,the mother-in-law made a crack about any skill I have,total funkdom. Sometimes I have to listen twice for the recovery from self-pity but it always works and I return sassy,a touch crusty and ready to take it all on again.Good Stuff."

Favorite disc by Favorite singer!

Christopher Enzi | San Francisco | 11/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This whole disc is just so delicious. Not only to my subjective ears, either. Whenever I'm playing this in my salon, my customer always asks, "Who IS that?" Each song is different, gorgeously produced with a big, soulful 1970s sound that Creed Taylor had imagined would unite Jazz with R&B. And what amazing songs: starting with the angry "Justified"-"'cuz when I met ya, baby, Florence Nightingale shoulda been your Nurse but ole Red Cross Me, I'm gonna take the job but now I think I'm to the point I need one myself, really!" Mmm! Carolyn Franklin (Aretha's sister) wrote "Too Many Roads Between Us" surely up there with "Neither One of Us..." as one of the saddest love songs ever. "You Could Have Had Me..." by Leonard Feather could have been seedn as kissing up to the auther of The Jazz Encyclopedia so Esther hangs out on the song for almost eight minutes and finds meat never thought to be on that bone! "I've Only Known A Stranger" Wow! Breath taking. Old style Jazz with Duke Ellington's "I Got It Bad" but feel it, funk it, make it new. Go Esther! A big surprise for us old people who used to listen to Esther on LP or 8track- a NEW song "Tangle In Your Lifeline" is as personal and lovely as anything whe ever recorded. When I bought this cd, it was only available as an import at $22.95. Now you can get it for under $11! What are you waiting for?"