Bettye Lavette - Let Me Down Easy

Although she was indeed signed to Motown, and therefore was an obvious contender to become a part of Motorcity, the sassy Miss B. was far more well known for her work prior to Motown, on Atlantic, Calla, Big Wheel, West End, Atco, and on so many other labels. I adore her voice. Amy Winehouse has just made a major pop career by sounding like Bettye Lavette. Not only did Bettye sound fabulous, and still does, but she was drop dead gorgeous too, as her pictures will attest. She was a privilege to have on Motorcity, and to record more than an album's worth of material with her, and, in fact, only recently, her old Motorcity recording of "Right Out Of Time" has just gone massive with a brand new version that we cut, a version that's attracted all the acclaim that the original production never had, and even got played on Radio Two. Bettye's biggest ever hit was "Let Me Down Easy", a record on the Calla label that the late Dave Godin revered as if it were a religious experience. We were fortunate enough in Detroit in 1990 to not only re-record it, but to shoot some wonderful footage of the lady singing her heart and soul out like no one else can.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Motown
• Detroit
• Sixties-Soul
• Diva

[jeromedemontpellier]

My god, what a singer, so underrated it's a crime ! Her phrasé, style voice, way of singing is so perfect it is quite unbelievable !Saw her live in Paris, never forget it. Thank you Miss Lavette

[laurap90]

great great great great!

[wendlw]

wow she's amazing. and i can totally see where Winehouse gets it from.

[teleblasted]

Bettye's begging four times 'please!' toward the end of this record, make yer knees turn to jelly! I used to use Bettye's early records as benchmarks to aspire to when coaching a girl who wanted to be a soul singer. By the way: Check out Jean Stanback's little voice crack in 'I Still Love You' on Deep Soul Treasures V1, for another sublime moment! These albums were Dave Godin's selection of great and mostly lost singles, and the first three at least were blinders!!!

[69Skarab]

Quality

[zarofrench]

Soulful and  so well delivered..Bettye in concert will leave you in a state youve never experienced.

Bettye rules the world.Love her.

[mabuddy50]

I am a new fan of this wonderful talent. Has I listen to her lyrics, she is giving voice to "me" as I deal with me. In her music, she is "me."

[KJacks62254]

WOW! This arrangement blows away the original and really draws her out. She loves it and it shows. Thank you Bettye Lavette and thank you Motorcity for this FABULOUS! recording.

[lomaxz49]

damn , just finish watchin her on PBS, , first time too. shes is just great.

[spratscat]

Awesome stuff... love the change at 1:20..

[ursuioana]

you need to look for quality if you want it...i think i found more than enough..she's great...