The Emotions were three sisters from Chicago who got their start as Gospel singers known as the Heavenly Sunbeams. Like many other acts, they decided to leave the spiritual for a more financially profitable try in the secular Soul world as the Emotions. So I Can Love You was their first hit single and the basis for this album on the Volt label. MORE

Why oh why did it take me so long to get a copy of this record? The one time that I saw it in a store was just this summer in Detroit and someone had already grabbed it up. Oh well, thanks to Soulstrut I now have my own copy. The Emotions were out of Chicago and signed with the Volt/Stax label. MORE

Prison Reform was a big issue in the early 1970s, mostly brought about by Black prisoners inspired by the Civil Rights and Black Power movements happening outside the prison walls. MORE

Ain’t Gonna Give It Up is a great, moving Soul number that starts off with horns, builds up to the light chorus with plenty of “la la las” that are the hook. Girls In The City gets a little too cheesy and MOR for me with lyrics about how they can’t stop looking at girls in Chicago who dress in pink. I’ll gladly go back to the A-side on this 45. MORE

And Get Away is a great catchy Soul dance tune. I love the interplay between the singers on the chorus, and their harmony during the versus. The group finishes off with a power ballad. MORE

The Esquires are one of my favorite vocal Soul outfits. They put out some really good and consistent 45s. You Say is a perfect example with a fast paced beat and the lead falsetto backed up by the rest of the group. State Fair is more on the Pop side with its harmonies and lyrical content. MORE

I first heard about this album through a 45. Then I later found out that David Axelrod co-produced most of the LP with Johnny Guitar Watson. Willie Mitchell also helped out with three of the tracks. The record starts off sounding like Watson with Sweet Dan, which he wrote. Ms. Everett lays down some strong and soulful singing over a thumping rhythm track with a little drum break in the middle. MORE

There’ll Come A Time is a fine Soul release by Betty Everett. For most of the record it seems like she can’t miss with tunes like the laidback You’re Falling In Love, the upbeat I Need A Change, the slow and orchestrated Maybe, and the light Pop of1900 Yesterday and Sugar. MORE

This single comes from Betty Everetty’s Love Rhymes album that was produced by Willie Mitchell, Charles Chalmers, David Axelrod and Johnny Guitar Waston for Fantasy Records. Both of these tracks were done by the duo of Mitchell and Chalmers. Just A Matter Of Time Till You’re Gone has that classic Hi sound to it with its slow rhythm and overall mood. MORE

The Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama was the scene of some of the best Soul recordings of the 1960s. Run by Producer Rick Hall, Fame was lucky enough to cut a deal with Atlantic after they had a split with Stax. Fame benefited by getting to work with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and others to record some of their most classic material. MORE