It shouldn’t be a surprise that there’s a host of vintage soulful scale balancers in the legacy of Rhythm & Blues. We’ve been blessed for decades with the diverse, regal talent of the second Venus Ruled sign. Surprisingly, there’s plenty of people that stood back from the spotlight to be songwriters, and background singers. Some…
Tag: Josephine Armstead
The Second Heaven of ’67: 42 Gems from the Sunset of the 60’s
It’s complete. With this particular mix, I can call conclusion to a journey that started 4 years ago. Yes, oddly, 1967 is the hole in a series of not so much hits for those Misses of Soul Music (here’s 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968 & 1969 for reference). As we head into…
Mary – Very – Proud: Late Sixties into Seventies Sister Soul
When we look back at late 60’s Soul Music in terms of a transitional period that saw the rise of women’s liberation, we know one name in particular: Aretha. True to life, from 1967 through 1974, she sat on multiple thrones. She had major hit singles on both the R&B and Pop charts, critically acclaimed…
Delicious Together: The Delectable Art of the Duet 1952-1973
The other component of Libra season, beyond balance and justice, is relationships and partnerships. Who are your others? Seems a perfect time to round up a bounty of the beauty of the duet. The call & response between two players on Vinyl goes further back that Vinyl itself of course, as singing is basically the…
Bye Bye ’65: The Golden Girls Golden Anniversary set of 1965
A lot of what I’ve done as a DJ, writer, and even public speaker has been carrying the legacy of R&B, Pop, and Soul female singers. For years, I’ve wanted to highlight the efforts and the narratives around the women in Post-War Popular Music, because they are far too often neglected or overshadowed. When DJ…
Tina Britt “You’re Absolutely Right” (Eastern 605, 1965)
Tina Britt “You’re Absolutely Right” (Eastern 605, 1965) Speaking of Josephine Armstead’s partnership with Ashford & Simpson, one of the direct benefactors of their efforts was 26 year old Tina Britt. The Florida native found herself in New York recording a version of “The Real Thing.” That effervescent example of how Ashford, Simpson and Armstead…
Deena Johnson (Josephine Armstead) “The Breaking Point” (Wild Deuce 1004, 1965)
Deena Johnson (Josephine Armstead) “The Breaking Point” (Wild Deuce 1004, 1965) I‘ll have you know, I think the pinnacle of 1960’s soul happened in 1965. Following this assertion, I think some of the finest female soul records were released that year too. So as we get to the heart of the Half Century Past that…
DJ Larsupreme 