Search - Esther Phillips :: Kudu Years Home Is Where the Hatred Is 1971-1977

STUNNING ESTHER PHILLIPS ANTHOLOGY!!!

Bradly Briggs | TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA | 07/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Esther Phillips was a huge child star who traveled for years with Johnny Otis as the "girl singer" of the band through the 50's then turned into a stunning and sophisicated adult artist who was one the the finest stylists ever by the 60's with her hit "Release Me" which is the definitive version of this classic! Buy the time the 70's came around Esther matured into a stunning talent that was peerless and extraordinary and that is where this wonderful anthology comes in. Starting off with the legendary classic "From A Whisper To A Scream" which received a Grammy, (given to a deserving Esther by Aretha Franklin!) "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" is a riveting tale of the pain of addiction that takes the subject straight on and Esther turns this song inside out and makes it a incomparable classic. "From A Whisper To A Scream" is the haunting title song that is completely gut-renching and wildly soulful followed by a passionate "Baby I'm For Real" that is the definitive version of this classic!! Esther inhabits each of these songs so completely with raw & earthy emotion that each becomes her own and "That's All Right With Me" is another passion filled gorgeous performance. The blues is something Esther knew well and "'Til My Back Ain't Got No Bone" is great funky blues at its very best. Two rhythm cookers "I've Never Found A Man (To Love Me Like You Do)" and "Use Me" show the rocking and funky side of Esther and makes one wonder why she didn't have more chart success!! Why didn't the radio programmers of America play this dynamite singer more than just the few token hits that were played? It is clear from this great set of masterworks that many "hits" should have happened. A brilliant Esther goes deep inside the blues in the brilliant "Cherry Red" which is a real stunner as is a really funky version of Joe Cocker's "Black-Eyed Blues". Bill Withers "Justified" is another funky gritty Esther masterpiece and had these great tracks received airplay in the 70's they would have been huge hits as Esther is kind of like a female Curtis Mayfield but a total original unlike anyone else!! Another cooker "Doing Our Thing" is riveting and wildly rhythmic while "Disposable Society" is an amazing tour-de-force with a great funky groove and a chilling message! A hit "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes" and "Unforgettable" are both classic Esther in another great groove along with all her Beck produced songs such as the soulful "I Can Stand A Little Rain" and Jackie DeShannon's engrossing "Pure Natural Love" which rocks out in a sophisicated soulful way that is winning. Another brilliant LP from Esther was "Capricorn Princess" and from that masterwork comes a beautifully moving version of the standard "I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do" which is equal to the classic versions recorded earlier by Carmen McRae and Jackie DeShannon. Closing is an incredible concert version of "God Bless The Child" (who's got his own) and Esther certainly did have her own and was a totally brilliant once in a lifetime original classic!!! Thank you Esther for all of the wonderful years of great entertainment and for the incredible brilliance you left behind...THIS IS A MASTERPIECE!!!"

Esther Phillips' best...

B. Bowman | Jersey, United States | 11/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Esther Phillips (formerly "Little" Esther Phillips of Johnny Otis' band) had a unique voice that might be classified as an acquired taste, but if you are a fan of the blues or soul/R&B it is one that you have to hear. I wasn't familiar with her work from the period of her career which is contained on this collection (1971-1977) but was impressed with her singing on blues songs such as "Cherry Red" and "Black Eyed Blues". She really knew how to deliver in a pure blues setting, and her guitarist on these songs was impressive too. (The names of the backing musicians are not available in the liner notes, however the front of the disc states that Joe Beck, (guitar), Ron Carter (bass), Billy Cobham (drums), and Maceo Parker (saxaphone) are all featured on this collection. Who plays on what song is not mentioned, although its pretty easy to pick out Maceo Parker's playing on some of these songs if you've heard enough of his work with James Brown. Also interesting are the bold choices Esther Phillips made in choosing material: she does a great job making Bill Withers' "Use Me" her own and her version of Gil Scott Heron's "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" is just as powerful as the original recording. She also chose to cover Eugene McDaniels' "Disposable Society" and did a really funky version of that. This disc is solid until you get to some of her late 70's tracks like "What A Difference A Day Makes", her disco version of the song made famous by Dinah Washington. Although this was a big hit for her, it sounds dated today and I usually end up skipping the end of the disc which contains her disco material. The majority of this collection contains strong material though and is definitely worth buying."