ANTI- Records officially releases Bettye LaVette's new CD The Scene Of The Crime tomorrow 25 September 2007. The album was recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals FAME studio, the same studio where 34 years earlier Bettye recorded a masterpiece entitled Child Of The Seventies which Atlantic inexplicably shelved thus effectively and tragically derailing her career. The lost 'masterpiece' was finally released as Souvenirs by the French Arts & Soul label in 2000, and music lovers the world over 'discovered' a near-forgotten soul legend. The master soul stylist returned to the 'scene of the crime' in 2006 backed by Southern rockers Drive By Truckers, and the result is a stunning album that may well prove a second masterpiece.The idea for Bettye to collaborate with the Drive By Truckers originated with Anti Records President Andy Kaulkin. He contacted DBT's co-founder Patterson Hood who admits he jumped at the chance to work with Bettye in the studio. Patterson grew up "worshipping the great soul albums and always wanting to get to work with one of the legends". Patterson's father, a Muscle Shoals veteran named David Hood, was one of the four renowned members of the 2nd FAME rhythm section known as 'The Swampers' who left the studio in 1969 to open the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Both David Hood and Spooner Oldham played on the sessions for Bettye's '72 Muscle Shoals recording, and they contribute on Scene Of The Crime as well.The ten track set was co-produced by LaVette, Patterson, and David Barbe. Though initially the pairing of LaVette with DBT seemed odd it proves, as allmusic reviewer Thom Jurek notes, "a match made in roadhouse heaven...gritty, loud, raw, and drenched in Southern soul, blues, and gospel-tinged R & B".Rather than attempt a song-by-song descriptive prose break-down, I'll instead refer you to the aforementioned Jurek's excellent allmusic review as he deftly characterises the album's audial landscape. What I can offer is this: The Scene Of The Crime is a profanely compelling listen from start to end. LaVette's vocals are commanding, hauntingly emotive, coarse, softly vulnerable, heart-wrenching, and unremittingly soulful in equal measure. There are echoes of Tina Turner, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin, but LaVette has greater control and an impeccable vocal technique even now at sixty-one years of age.Her power rises from a defiantly proud center; an inner cavern simmering with cathartic indignation, painful betrayals, sorrowful regrets yet tempered by time, wisdom, tenacious hope, and ultimately triumph. LaVette has spent over four decades clawing her way to the top, a position she rightfully knew awaited only her arrival. Few artists as deserving as LaVette have been forced to endure as long and arduous a climb to recognition.LaVette chose songs - nine are covers - from a diverse set of artists including Elton John, Willie Nelson, Don Henley, John Hiatt, Eddie Hinton, and Frankie Miller. The one original song 'Before the Money Came (The Battle of Bettye Lavette)' was co-written by Patterson and Bettye. The album's pace expertly alternates between ballads, where LaVette's vocals are sparsely backed by keys and pedal steel; and mid-tempo rock songs laced with distorted, swampy six-strings, Oldham's Wurlitzer piano, cracking snares, and bottom-heavy basslines. On every song, Bettye's incomparable voice is both in the forefront and perfectly suited to the musical arrangements.Scene Of The Crime is simply an amazing album, and I've no doubt that years forward it will be reverently considered a classic. Long reign 'the great lady of soul'!So that's the 'review', and now for the purely subjective rating: I give the album 9 out of 10 lollies, stars, or flamingly zen Chihuahuas - your choice. Bettye LaVette's The Scene Of The Crime is highly recommended.Here is Bettye on Jools Holland:
Marigold says
I about fell off my chair when I saw the MOG notification in regard to this post. I am just so happy to see you back that I have not even read or listened to anything yet. I just wanted to say WELCOME BACK before I read your post! :)
Marigold says
Now that I have listened to the song...those are some deep soulful grooves. I hope you are back for good. Dont go away for so long again....or else. :P
HelenMarie says
Girlcrawl!!! So happy to see your name. I hope you were off stocking up on new music to introduce to all your mog buddies.
I love this bluesy soulful groove...and especially that line "I ain't never been afraid to speak my mind!" *"flamingly zen"*
*Cheers to you!*
Girlcrawl says
Marigold - Hello Groovy Papa, and thanks for the lovely 'welcome back'. Have sorely missed all the fabulous guys and gals within the Mog-o-sphere; and have especially missed your outrageously clever wit. Happy to finally return though it may take a month to 'catch-up' around here. Cheers, and thanks for the wonderful comment!!
SunshineDaydream - Hey lady!!! Happy to finally be back, and thank you for the lovely hello. Did indeed gather some goodies to share with my mog pals, and will hopefully be posting them pronto. Glad to see you are still about.
Love those 'bluesy soulful grooves' as well, and Bettye serves them up smokin'! Have no idea where 'flamingly zen' came from and even less idea what the hell it means - like to 'play' with words and when interesting combinations pop into my mind I tend to use them in speech...in short, I just liked the sound of the phrase. :-) Cheers to you as well!
Girlcrawl says
Will nearly break your heart...Bettye's achingly poignant take on the Elton John/Bernie Taupin song titled 'Talking Old Soldiers'. Brilliant!
oliverpenn says
Bettye LaVette has got to be the best "live" female act in the business! Early in her "comeback" one guy saw her with about 30 people in the audience and reported that she gave an incredible show, just as if she was singing for 30,000.
Now, she's playing to sold out houses in theatres, clubs and festivals. The provided video (above) is a great representation of what to expect when you see her "live." After she performed to an over-packed house at Joe's Pub in New York, over half the audience went backstage to thank her once again after the screaming standing ovations they had just given her moments before. When she emerged from her dressing room, she was deeply moved.
This new album, SCENE OF THE CRIME gets better and better after repeated listenings. Like most critics who have reviewed it, I was mezmerized by her remake of Elton John's "Talking Old Soldiers." It's a dramatic piece and Bettye calls on the experience she gained while starring on Broadway in "Bubbling Brown Sugar." Listening to her is like watching a stage performance. It's very moving, especially for those who have lost close, true friends. Those memories never leave you.
Rawkkiddoh says
I am really going to have to look for this, gotta say there really has not been an album released on the ANTI label that I did not like
Lady Miss Ian says
Hey Girly-Girl. Nice comeback post for you. :-)
I'm very much looking forward to this disc. Bettye is an amazing woman, and it's a great story behind this disc. I'd love to see her kick Amy Winohouse's ass. Or at least give her a really good talking to.
I am says
I echo the joy to have you back my "Musical Sister". I thought we lost you to pirate press gang.
Excellent tunes and back story. Good reading.
Cody B says
NIce One,GirlC!
Um, yeah, this record is on my list for sure. Not one to ever give a lick of credit to anything new, in the case of Bettye, I'd have to say I like the new stuff better than the classic material. I was kinda disappointed with Child of the Seventies.
Excellent review.
soulrocket says
hello, there.
those were 3 great selections. i missed betty when she played in my city in july of this year, that was a let down. i had no idea she was promoting a new album and
i didnt expect her new stuff to be so good.
another cool post, c.
zoot says
wb/G...
as a long time trucker fan,
i simply can't wait to pick-up this disc!
altho, both reviews are quite good - think i prefer your write-up over jureks.
must be your handwriting or something.
Girlcrawl says
oliverpenn - Thanks so much for a generous, and fabulously interesting comment - must say, I quite concur with your observations.'Talking Old Soldiers' is a 'dramatic piece' indeed, and I too found it absolutely 'mesmerising'. Am smitten with the release overall, and can't think of a performer as deserving of critical acclaim as the exceptional Bettye LaVette. Appreciate you dropping over and sharing such a thoughtful anecdote! Cheers.
Girlcrawl says
wassonii - Fabulous - it seems that coincidences and synchronicities are happening all about the Mog-o-sphere this evening. Appreciate both comments, and glad you enjoyed the listen. Cheers!
BrandNewFriend says
Hey welcome back Girlcrawl and what a fantastic post to make a comeback with.
'Let me down easy' is awsome and 'talking old soldiers' fantastic
thanks x
Girlcrawl says
Rawkiddo - Glad you enjoyed; you are quite right regarding Anti - no junk releases. Cheers!
Lady Miss Ian - Thanks for the lovely compliment; Bettye is indeed an amazing woman. "I’d love to see her kick Amy Winohouse’s ass" - lol. I would love to see that as well. Great comment, and congrats again on the wedding! Cheers.
I am - Hello there! Appreciate the warm welcome, and happy to be mogging again.
The 'pirate press gang' aye - is that where all my favourite moggers keep disappearing to...sounds scary. Shall zip over to your page shortly, and see what sort of interesting conversations you have started as of late. Cheers!
Cody B - An excellent endorsement - if Cody B likes it, then there's no doubt that it's a damn solid piece of work! :-) Thanks for the lovely compliment; one's first 'official' review is rather stressful. Cheers.
dimitra - Greetings! Spectacular album, isn't it? Yes, she is 61 years of age - if I look half that fabulous even at 41 it will be more than enough. Appreciate the comments, and thanks much for dropping over - your MOG site is on my 'will be visiting today' list; can't wait to hear what amazing music you have posted during my mini-hiatus. Cheers!
Flux - Great to be back, and thanks! The lady has magical pipes - amazing voice indeed.
Shud33 - You're a doll; appreciate the compliment, and glad Bettye 'moved' you. Thanks as ever for dropping over. Cheers.
soulrocket - Hello there dear - have missed my soul-pal! Sorry to hear that you could not attend the performance. The new album is stellar - I'm loving it. Will be at your site shortly as well; I know you've been posting awesome music as ever, and can't wait to give it all a listen. Thanks for the lovely words. Cheers.
zoot - Thanks so much - nice to be back. The DBT's are a fantastically interesting band - I've liked everything I've heard from them thus far. Thank you for the wonderful compliment (the handwriting aye...lol) - much appreciated, and I'm slowly but surely working my way to your site as well. Cheers!
BrandNewFriend - Thanks so much for the 'welcome back' and the lovely compliment! Glad you enjoyed the tracks - Bettye's an ace. Cheers as ever!
2Serenity says
U are BACK!! Yeah! Missed you. I know I have been bad too. But I am happy too to see you reemerge.
Great post by the way! I love Bettye's voice!
Girlcrawl says
Hey 2Serenity! Missed you as well, and thanks for the joyful welcome back. Hopefully I'm here for a stretch. Glad you haven't disappeared on another mini-hiatus. :-) Bettye's such an amazing artist; love her voice. Appreciate as ever the comment; cheers!
oliverpenn says
Amy Winehouse is good for what she does, but I don't think it's fair to compare Amy and singers like Joss Stone to the likes of Bettye LaVette or Aretha Franklin. Bettye & Aretha's early life experiences living in the United States (during very ugly times) had profound affects on their singing styles and understanding of the music we call "soul."
Coming from England and probably living in a middle class area, free of racial discrimination and all that goes with that, gives you a different understanding than that of a Bettye or an Aretha, both of whom were "middle class," but in a segregated world.
Mostly, these English girls just listened to some R & B records, while Aretha, for example, started singing gospel in a segregated, black Baptist church at the age of seven. And for years, did gospel gigs from coast to coast in countless churches and traveled in cars from city to city. During those trips, there were no public accomodtions open to them. The USA was completely segregated and blacks in America were practically living in HELL.
I've even heard music writers in the States with the gall to refer to Joss Stone as "probably the next Queen of Soul." Just wonder: who hired these people? Joss or Amy couldn't even get pass Fantasia Barrino or Jennifer Hudson!
waydutch says
Wow! That reached right out and grabbed me tight! Before the Money Came is So Outstanding! Thanks! This goes high on my must aquire list.
and btw welcome back...
Girlcrawl says
waydutch - 'Outstanding' is a great description - glad you enjoyed, and thanks ever much for the comment! :-)
poebegone - Thanks dear! Appreciate as ever you dropping over and commenting. Cheers.
Bartleby says
Almost like Marigold, I fell off my chair when I heard the first words sung by Bettye LaVette. It may be all too obvious to the articulate commentators above, it's incredible to hear this young lady of 51 sounding so sprightly.
Thanks ever so much.
Grievous Angel says
just stumbled across this thread, courtesy of "this thread of Bartleby's":http://mog.com/Bartleby/blog_post/115584. Looks like Bettye's got more hell to raise- i loved her last album, and often paired it with Solomon Burke's "Don't Give Up On Me." great thread- is talkin' old soldiers from the new disc as well? one of my all time favorite EJ songs.
Girlcrawl says
Bartleby - Quite welcome, and appreciate the comment; Bettye's 'sprightly' indeed, and more than a tad feisty!
Grievous Angel - So glad you dropped over, and appreciate both the listen and comment. Pairing LaVette with Burke is brilliant. Yes, 'Talking Old Soldiers' is from the new album - it's an outstanding track. Cheers!
ANTI- Records officially releases Bettye LaVette's new CD The Scene Of The Crime tomorrow 25 September 2007. The album was recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals FAME studio, the same studio where 34 years earlier Bettye recorded a masterpiece entitled Child Of The Seventies which Atlantic inexplicably shelved thus effectively and tragically derailing her career. The lost 'masterpiece' was finally released as Souvenirs by the French Arts & Soul label in 2000, and music lovers the world over 'discovered' a near-forgotten soul legend. The master soul stylist returned to the 'scene of the crime' in 2006 backed by Southern rockers Drive By Truckers, and the result is a stunning album that may well prove a second masterpiece.The idea for Bettye to collaborate with the Drive By Truckers originated with Anti Records President Andy Kaulkin. He contacted DBT's co-founder Patterson Hood who admits he jumped at the chance to work with Bettye in the studio. Patterson grew up "worshipping the great soul albums and always wanting to get to work with one of the legends". Patterson's father, a Muscle Shoals veteran named David Hood, was one of the four renowned members of the 2nd FAME rhythm section known as 'The Swampers' who left the studio in 1969 to open the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Both David Hood and Spooner Oldham played on the sessions for Bettye's '72 Muscle Shoals recording, and they contribute on Scene Of The Crime as well.The ten track set was co-produced by LaVette, Patterson, and David Barbe. Though initially the pairing of LaVette with DBT seemed odd it proves, as allmusic reviewer Thom Jurek notes, "a match made in roadhouse heaven...gritty, loud, raw, and drenched in Southern soul, blues, and gospel-tinged R & B".Rather than attempt a song-by-song descriptive prose break-down, I'll instead refer you to the aforementioned Jurek's excellent allmusic review as he deftly characterises the album's audial landscape. What I can offer is this: The Scene Of The Crime is a profanely compelling listen from start to end. LaVette's vocals are commanding, hauntingly emotive, coarse, softly vulnerable, heart-wrenching, and unremittingly soulful in equal measure. There are echoes of Tina Turner, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin, but LaVette has greater control and an impeccable vocal technique even now at sixty-one years of age.Her power rises from a defiantly proud center; an inner cavern simmering with cathartic indignation, painful betrayals, sorrowful regrets yet tempered by time, wisdom, tenacious hope, and ultimately triumph. LaVette has spent over four decades clawing her way to the top, a position she rightfully knew awaited only her arrival. Few artists as deserving as LaVette have been forced to endure as long and arduous a climb to recognition.LaVette chose songs - nine are covers - from a diverse set of artists including Elton John, Willie Nelson, Don Henley, John Hiatt, Eddie Hinton, and Frankie Miller. The one original song 'Before the Money Came (The Battle of Bettye Lavette)' was co-written by Patterson and Bettye. The album's pace expertly alternates between ballads, where LaVette's vocals are sparsely backed by keys and pedal steel; and mid-tempo rock songs laced with distorted, swampy six-strings, Oldham's Wurlitzer piano, cracking snares, and bottom-heavy basslines. On every song, Bettye's incomparable voice is both in the forefront and perfectly suited to the musical arrangements.Scene Of The Crime is simply an amazing album, and I've no doubt that years forward it will be reverently considered a classic. Long reign 'the great lady of soul'!So that's the 'review', and now for the purely subjective rating: I give the album 9 out of 10 lollies, stars, or flamingly zen Chihuahuas - your choice. Bettye LaVette's The Scene Of The Crime is highly recommended.Here is Bettye on Jools Holland:
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