Search - Syreeta :: Essential

Under-rated Motown singer

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 04/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Syreeta was once married to Stevie Wonder though the marriage only lasted a couple of years. The business relationship was more successful, with Syreeta sometimes singing backup on Stevie's records while Stevie helped Syreeta's career in other ways. Furthermore, they often wrote songs together, their most successful collaboration perhaps being Signed sealed delivered, an international hit for Stevie. As far as I know, they didn't record any duets together.



Syreeta recorded a single in 1968 using the name Rita Wright, the A-side being I can't give back the love I feel for you. The two sides of that single are the final two tracks on this album. Following the failure of that single (despite being well-promoted and getting plenty of American airplay), Syreeta abandoned the Rita abbreviation and reverted to her own first name, dropping her surname in the process.



Syreeta's biggest UK hit (and only American hit) was her duet with Billy Preston, With you I'm born again, which peaked at number two in the UK. It is extraordinary that Syreeta missed the American pop charts completely with her solo recordings. Four of them made the UK charts, the most successful being the number twelve hit, Your kiss is sweet. Spinning and spinning, Harmour love and It will come in time were only minor UK hits.



This collection includes all the aforementioned songs including her own version of Signed sealed delivered as well as a duet with Smokey Robinson (First time on a ferris wheel), a duet with G C Cameron (Let's make a deal) and several excellent solo tracks.



If you enjoy seventies Motown music, give Syreeta a listen."

I love u syreeta.....

semaj emorej | dallas, texas United States | 10/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"a very nice overview of the beautiful syreeta's career.this beautiful cd has songs from her classic albums such as "syreeta"(1972)/"stevie wonder presents syreeta"(1974)/"rich love,poor love"(with g.c.cameron)(1977)/"one to one"(1977)/also includes the top five billboard single 'with you i'm born again'(a duet with billy preston)which is from the 1979 original motion picture soundtrack "fastbreak"/however,there are omissions and weaknesses from this compilation cd.it should have included 'win your love'which was written and produced by her then fiancee stevie wonder in 1970,and at least a few tracks with billy preston from the album "billy preston&syreeta"(1981)which features the beautiful'someone special'and the discoish beat of'searchin'/the one weakness with this cd is that some of the original tracks were edited from the original lp/album versions.perhaps this should have been a double cd set,therefore all of the songs listed could run in their original time lengths of which they were recorded.and if this were a double cd set,it would've included more unreleased material and rarities such as the stevie wonder written 'win your love'/therefore this would give the beautiful syreeta a near complete overview of her entire career.but motown itself needs 2 give the late beautiful singer more justice by releasing her remaining albums on cd.it would make her fans and myself very happy.syreeta was a very underappreciated and underrated vocalist who never got her due as a talented singer and songwriter and was pretty much under the musical radar.nonetheless,there is still material on this cd from her other albums such as '"syreeta"(1980)/"set my love in motion"(1981)/"the spell"(1983)which was her last full length studio album which was produced by jermaine jackson.this cd also features a duet with smokey robinson,'first time on a ferris wheel(love theme)'which is from the 1985 original motion picture soundtrack,"berry gordy's last dragon".i grew up with her voice along with stevie's as a child.what makes this collection so sweet is the inclusion of the very beautiful "something on my mind"/this collection should have included 2 more beautiful syreeta tracks:"cause we ended as lovers"(1974) and the very beautiful"blame it on the sun"(1980).the beautiful syreeta's sweetness lives...."

Get up

Simon C. Baxter | Indonesia | 09/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I owned this vinyl ablum many many years ago and found it, as I remembered, uplifting. Inspired by the memory I purchased the CD. Now I remember what was so good about it, it is really a happening sound no matter how old you are or how long ago this was made. Timeless music that just gets you feeling so good is how I best describe this CD. Funny I have over 600 CDs and with my 5 stacker CD player this one always has a reserved spot for parties...ummm, no matter what other new great funky CDs are purchased, Jamiroquai or Incognito (Adventures in Black Sunshine takes 2nd reserved spot)this still one of my favourites. Beautiful music, beautiful woman."