My Life to Live

A Chicago-based vocalist whose music was steeped in Southern gospel and deep soul, Otis Clay never had a major pop hit, but he was a periodic visitor to the R&B charts and an enduring presence in the world of blues and vintage soul, while also enjoying a long career in spiritual music. Clay was born on February 11, 1942 in Waxhaw, Mississippi, where the church was a vital part of his family's life. In 1953, Clay's family moved to Muncie, Indiana, where he began performing with a local gospel group. In 1957, Clay and his family relocated to Chicago, where he joined the Golden Jubilaires, the first of many gospel groups he would work with in the Windy City.

Carmen McRae - The Art of Carmen McRae & For Once in My Life (2004) {2CD, Atlantic–Collectables COL-CD-6836 rec 1967, 1975}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 631 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 249 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 56 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1967, 1975, 2004 Atlantic / Collectables | COL-CD-6836
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Bop / Standards / Soul Jazz

This 2004 double disc of Carmen McRae released by Collectables continues the label's efforts to chronicle her stay with Atlantic Records from 1967 to 1972. She was near the top of her interpretive powers during this era, turning standards and contemporary pop songs into personal expressions of joy and heartache. Her voice, while not as pure as it had been, is still a thing of wonder, very powerful and always very much her own.

Blues and roots singer and songwriter Sena Ehrhardt fronted a fresh new band and worked with a new producer, David Z., for Live My Life, her third album, and third for Blind Pig Records, but her approach, which is a varied mix of blues, blues-rock, soulful R&B, funk, and a touch of reggae, remains the same, which is a good thing. Her singing, which can range from sultry to gritty and back again, is as solid as always, showing why she is one of the brightest lights on the contemporary blues scene.