Betty Davis
Betty Davis, They Say I'm Different, Just Sunshine JSS-3500.
Bonnie Raitt, Gladys Knight, Joni Mitchell. and (sometimes) Aretha Franklin notwithstanding, there is a relative dearth of outstanding musical contributions from women being heard these days. This despite the fact that mediocre talents like Kathi MacDonald, Maggie Bell, Bette Midler, and Maria Muldaur are releasing records by the dozen. So it is a particular pleasure to discover a giant new envelope of energy named Betty Davis. They Say I'm Different will rock your socks off. Her voice is a gravelly purr reminiscent of Janis Joplin's, but what she says with it is a whole new thing. She is unabashedly funky and sexy, Good Golly! it's Miss Molly up on stage talking vitals to vitals like we ain't heard since Bessie Smith, no shit! And helping her kick is a magnificently recorded band that makes the Fabulous Flames seem like a false alarm. Knockout tracks include the title track, "Shoo-B-Doop And Cop Him", "He Was A Big Freak" (the single release), and "Git In There". In addition, all the great tunes on this album were written by dancing Ms D herself.
The fact is, this is Betty's second album and the first is reportedly better than this one. Pick up either of these jewels and be the first on your block hip to this one-woman soul explosion. I think you'll agree that hers is a talent that will endure.
--Bill Adler
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Betty Davis
Freeing John Sinclair
Bill Adler
Old News
Ann Arbor Sun