Paulette Reaves: Secret Lover (1976)

Let’s go for another great soul sister from Miami’s TK Records. R&B singer and mother of Atlanta Hawk's 2005 NBA Slam Dunk Champion, Josh Smith, Paulette Reaves was born and raised in Miami, being the eighth child of the late Bishop Norman and Geraldine Reaves. She recorded her first album for the Blue Candle label in 1976, entitled Secret Lover; but she made a further major impression with the Clarence Reid penned and produced 'Jazz Freak', released on the Blue Candle label (via TK) in 1977. It was taken from the album All About Love, issued later the same year. ‘You Are My Star’, another track taken from that album, was released on an Expansion Records compilation during the ‘90s. On the single front, Paulette achieved success on the rare groove scene with her single ‘Let Me Wrap You in My Love / Your Real Good’, recorded for the label in 1977. She also had another hit in the ‘70s with ‘Your Real Good Thing's Gonna Come to an End.’ Upon marrying Walter Smith and having four children, Paulette sadly gave up performing music. But like Al Green, Betty Wright, Joe Simon, Candy Staton, Howard Hewitt, Dave Hollister, Chante Moore, Kenny Lattimore and SWV's Coko, she has reinvented her career with a new focus and a new sound, reappearing a couple of years ago with a gospel album called My Time to Worship, released on her Kasola label. Anyhow, today we'll look back on her earlier career and, most specifically, on her very first album on Blue Candle, Secret Lover. This fine and rare LP was originally released in 1976, with production by Clarence Reid, and it has got a number of good songs, including the ballads ‘Take Back Those Things I Said’ and ‘There Is a Fire Down Below’. Once more I would like to thank Lohmax – one of my most cherished music suppliers! ;-) – for sharing this great lost album with me. Oh, by the way, I got the feeling scottdavida is going to like this one (in case he didn’t get it yet)! http://paulettesmith.com/, http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/, http://www.eurweb.com/

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