Marlena Shaw - Sweet Beginnings (1977) [2001, Japan]
R&B, Jazz, Soul/Funk, Disco | EAC Rip | FLAC, Img+CUE+LOG+Scans (PNG) | 40:17 | 287,11 Mb
Label: SME Records (Japan) | Cat.# SRCS 9826 | Released: 2001-02-21 (1977-02-14)
After being the most popular female vocalist at Blue Note, with 1974's "Who Is This Bitch, Anyway", Shaw often did material that didn't suit her well. Her take on Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Making Love" springs to mind as an instance of Shaw's apparent boredom. Shaw was always an artist who needed to be mentally engaged or the proceedings would be like pulling teeth. This effort finds her challenged, taking on many styles and in amazing voice. Sweet Beginnings, her first effort for Columbia, finds her again teamed with producer Bert DeCoteaux. The album's biggest hit was Shaw's tasteful jazz take on Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "Go Away Little Boy". Although her strength is well known, on that track, Shaw's sweetness keeps the assertiveness from being tedious. On the song after giving ultimatums, she finally says, "Do you think you can get a job by Thursday?"