Go Go Power: The Complete Chess Singles 1961-1966

by Sugar Pie DeSanto

Overview

Although Sugar Pie DeSanto has had a long career, most would agree that her peak as a recording artist was with Chess Records in the 1960s. All of the tracks issued on her Chess singles are on this CD, including a 1966 U.K. 45 ("There's Gonna Be Trouble") not issued in the U.S., as well as a previously unreleased bonus cut, the quite fine and tough "Witch for a Night." Nine of these cuts that appeared on 1960s singles, in fact, never appeared on an album anywhere prior to this CD. While not many of these sides made much chart noise, over these years DeSanto proved herself one of the finer, and certainly one of the grittiest, woman singers straddling the lines between bluesy R&B and contemporary soul. She's most known for the raunchier, sassier, bluesiest side of her repertoire, and there are, as expected, plenty such examples on this CD, including her moderate hit duet with Etta James ("In the Basement") and her witty answer record to Tommy Tucker's "Hi Heel Sneakers" ("Slip-in Mules [No High Heel Sneakers]"). Those who know DeSanto mostly as a soul-blues artist, though, might be surprised -- and usually pleasantly so -- to hear her do some quality material here that's more in the mainstream early- to mid-'60s soul style. Some songs even approach the fringe of the girl group and Motown sound, and occasionally she even adeptly handles ballads, like "Ask Me" (more famous in its hit version by Maxine Brown) and the more memorable 1965 recording "Never Love a Stranger." Not every song here is too distinctive, but the batting average is pretty high. Considering how heavily the Chess catalog has been mined in the CD era, it's odd that it took so long for such a comprehensive DeSanto collection to appear, but Ace has done its typical fine job with the packaging, including detailed historical liner notes. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	05/12/2009
Label:	Kent
UPC:	0029667231725
Rank:	98395

Tracks

1. Soulful Dress
2. I Don't Wanna Fuss
3. In the Basement, Pt. 1
4. Witch for a Night
5. Slip-In Mules (No High Heel Sneakers)
6. Mama Didn't Raise No Fools
7. Go Go Power
8. Do I Make Myself Clear
9. Mr & Mrs
10. Good Timin'
11. Here You Come Running
12. Ask Me
13. Can't Let You Go
14. Crazy Lovin'
15. I Love You So Much
16. It Won't Be Long
17. Jump in My Chest
18. Love Me Tonight
19. There's Gonna Be Trouble
20. Use What You Got
21. Never Love a Stranger
22. Open Your Heart
23. Somewhere Down the Line
24. In the Basement, Pt. 2

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sugar Pie DeSanto   Primary Artist
LaFemmes   Primary Artist
Joe Hudson Band   Primary Artist
Etta James   Primary Artist
The Laflammes   Primary Artist
Riley Hampton   Conductor

Technical Credits

Terry Vail   Composer
Brenda Bruno   Composer
Brian Cockburn Smith   Photography
Steve Richard   Photography
Maurice McAlister   Composer
Malcolm Baumgart   Memorabilia
Steve Richards   Photography
George Patterson   Arranger
Charles Handy   Arranger
Rob Hughes   Memorabilia
Billy David Band   Composer
Carl "The Truth" Smith   Producer
Eric Charge   Memorabilia
Paul Toole   Memorabilia
Niall McCormack   Package Design
Tony Bruno   Composer
Shena DeMell   Composer
Mick Patrick   Memorabilia,Sleeve Notes
Billy Davis   Producer,Supervisor
Riley Hampton   Arranger
Gene Barge   Composer
Leonard Caston   Composer,Producer
Charles Jones   Composer
Russell Fratto   Composer
Robert Staunton   Composer
Brian Nevill   Memorabilia
Phil Wright   Arranger
Raynard Miner   Composer,Producer
Gerald Sims   Composer
Charles Stepney   Arranger
Rob Shread   Restoration
Gilles Petard   Photo Courtesy
Sugar Pie DeSanto   Composer
Duncan Cowell   Mastering