Alice Clark

by Alice Clark

Overview

The self-titled 1972 disc from Alice Clark has more than stood the test of time, it is a sublime masterpiece of R&B/pop from the house of Bob Shad, the jazz producer who founded Mainstream Records, the original home for this superior project. Perhaps it isn't a coincidence that Clark's repertoire is exactly the kind of material Janis Joplin would pick up on in her days after Big Brother & the Holding Company, as this was also the first imprint that Joplin & the Holding Company recorded for professionally. Jimmy Webb's "I Keep It Hid" starts things off, one of the singles released from this original package and a nugget from another soul masterpiece, Supremes Arranged and Produced by Jimmy Webb, when Webb oversaw the post-Diana Ross girl group the same year as this release. A rendition of Fred Ebb and John Kander's tune, "Maybe This Time" from the motion picture Cabaret, is included along with three compositions from "Sunny" author Bobby Hebb. The collection of material from Webb, Ebb, and Hebb is actually genius A&R because all of it is a perfect fit. Northern soul fans and R&B critics are aware of this hidden treasure, but the buildup in this review of all the magnificent trappings shouldn't overshadow the fact that Alice Clark delivers the goods from start to finish. Some call it acid jazz, but truth be told, beyond the cult niches of space age bachelor pad and Northern soul -- the base that keeps obscure gems such as this bubbling on a variety of radar screens -- this is some of the best R&B you've probably never heard. The trifecta of Bobby Hebb songs include "Don't You Care" and "Hard, Hard Promises," two titles Hebb has yet to release on his own. The third is an up-tempo version of "The Charms of the Arms of Love" which concluded his 1970 album Love Games. Clark rips apart "It Takes Too Long to Learn to Live Alone" in wonderful fashion with tasteful guitar, chirping horns, and restrained vibraphone. Juanita Fleming's "Never Did I Stop Loving You" is just brilliant as the vocals take off into different dimensions inside and between the unique melody. The final track,"Hey Girl," is not the famous Carole King/Freddy Scott hit -- it's a true find originally covered by Donny Hathaway and written by Hathaway's percussion player, Earl DeRouen. Here Clark changes it to "Hey Boy" in a lively, jazz-heavy jaunt which concludes the Toshiba/EMI version of this dynamite set of recordings that should have made Alice Clark a superstar. ~ Joe Viglione

Product Details

Release Date:	07/05/2019
Label:	Wewantsounds
UPC:	3700604722304

Tracks

1. I Keep It Hid
2. Looking at Life
3. Don't Wonder Why
4. Maybe This Time
5. Never Dit I Stop Loving You
6. Charms of the Arms of Love
7. Don't You Care
8. It Takes Too Long to Learn to Live Alone
9. Hard Hard Promises
10. Hey Girl

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alice Clark   Primary Artist,Vocals
Alice   Primary Artist
Clark   Primary Artist
Ernie Wilkins   Conductor
Ted Dunbar   Guitar

Technical Credits

Fred Ebb   Composer
Earl DeRouen   Composer
Leonard Caston   Composer
Ernie Wilkins   Arranger
Leon Carr   Composer
Robert Allen   Composer
Petula Clark   Composer
John Bromley   Composer
Juanita Fleming   Composer
Bobby Hebb   Composer
Bob Shad   Producer
John Kander   Composer
Alice Clark   Composer
Jimmy Webb   Composer