Betty Davis' debut was an outstanding funk record, driven by her aggressive, no-nonsense songs and a set of howling performances from a crack band. Listeners wouldn't know it from the song's title, but for the opener, "If I'm in Luck I Might Get Picked Up," Davis certainly doesn't play the wallflower; she's a woman on the prowl, positively luring the men in and, best of all, explaining exactly how she does it: "I said I'm wigglin' my fanny, I'm raunchy dancing, I'm-a-doing it doing it/This is my night out." "Game Is My Middle Name" begins at a midtempo lope, but really breaks through on the chorus, with the Pointer Sisters and Sylvester backing up each of her assertions. As overwhelming as Davis' performances are, it's as much the backing group as Davis herself that makes her material so powerful (and believable). Reams of underground cred allowed her to recruit one of the tightest rhythm sections ever heard on record (bassist Larry Graham and drummer Greg Errico, both veterans of Sly & the Family Stone), plus fellow San Francisco luminaries like master keyboardist Merl Saunders and guitarists Neal Schon or Douglas Rodriguez (both associated with Santana at the time). Graham's popping bass and the raw, flamboyant, hooky guitar lines of Schon or Rodriguez make the perfect accompaniment to these songs; Graham's slinky bass is the instrumental equivalent of Davis' vocal gymnastics, and Rodriguez makes his guitar scream during "Your Man My Man." It's hard to tell whether the musicians are pushing so hard because of Davis' performances or if they're egging each other on, but it's an unnecessary question. Everything about Betty Davis' self-titled debut album speaks to Davis the lean-and-mean sexual predator, from songs to performance to backing, and so much the better for it. All of which should've been expected from the woman who was too wild for Miles Davis.
Unique, titillating, provocative, multi-talented, and never surpassed - Betty Davis remains the original funk diva!'I Will Take This Ride' stems from Betty's self-titled '73 debut: the album was recorded with Sly & The Family Stone's rhythm section, produced by Sly drummer Greg Errico, and featured backing vocals from Sylvester and the Pointer Sisters! Highly recommend 'Betty Davis' and 'They S...
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Every once in awhile, I'll make a proclimation in my head that I don't like a particular type of music. I don't dare utter it loud but just a little prejudice floatin around, keeping me from exploring how I really might feel about that style. I felt that way about funk...that is until I met miz Betty Davis. That woman exudes FUNK and sexiness and dirt and feel goodums. Such a voice too, bet...
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He was never good at this sort of thing. Sure he was familiar with the language but when it came to putting it all together or tying up the loose ends, well that's when everything fell apart. Like a mark put on the send, he felt like he lost so much but still had that sliver of hope that he could win it all back. Gats, geetus, and gun molls. All the pieces were there. The 'Crew' with all it's m...
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Unique, titillating, provocative, multi-talented, and never surpassed - Betty Davis remains the original funk diva!'I Will Take This Ride' stems from Betty's self-titled '73 debut: the album was recorded with Sly & The Family Stone's rhythm section, produced by Sly drummer Greg Errico, and featured backing vocals from Sylvester and the Pointer Sisters! Highly recommend 'Betty Davis' and 'They S...
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So many moggers have shown this lady their listening love, that i had to put a great big shout out for her upcoming re-issues. THE DAME DAVIS IS BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND! 2 of her controversial, afro-punk-adelic albums will be re-issued, officially on May 15th, but you can buy them direct from Light In The Attic records - now! Endorsements of this calibre don't come easy : . Miles Davis If B...
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Every once in awhile, I'll make a proclimation in my head that I don't like a particular type of music. I don't dare utter it loud but just a little prejudice floatin around, keeping me from exploring how I really might feel about that style. I felt that way about funk...that is until I met miz Betty Davis. That woman exudes FUNK and sexiness and dirt and feel goodums. Such a voice too, bet...
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Seattle's Light In The Attic Records have dropped an album by Betty Davis that was recorded with Sly & The Family Stone's rhythm section and was sharply produced by Sly Stone drummer Greg Errico. It also features backing vocals from Sylvester and the Pointer Sisters according to the sleeve notes. Some of the tracks were originally released in 1973 and the CD also includes bonus unreleased track...
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From Amazon:Betty married Miles Davis in the late 60s, influencing him with psychedelic rock, introducing the jazz great to Jimi Hendrix and inspiring classic work like "Bitches Brew." She herself had been strongly urged to record by Marc Bolan of T. Rex, and turned down both Eric Clapton and Motown to keep control over her own work and express it as nasty as she wanted to be.Rappers from Ice C...
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