What More Can a Woman Do? Brunswick & Chi-Sound Sisters of Soul (1999)

The year 1960 found the Brunswick label on the threshold of its fifth decade. The venerable imprint had survived several changes of ownership during a lifespan which straddled the jazz, R&B and soul eras. On the distaff side the company had played host to jazz immortals like Mildred Bailey and the Boswell Sisters in the ‘30s, while R&B divas such as Edna McGriff, Zilla Mayes and a pubescent Gladys Knight enhanced its ‘50s roster. Equally, throughout the ‘60s and well into the ‘70s Brunswick was home to an unprecedented array of female talent – names both old and new – whose legacy is saluted here. Many of these artists never got the same attention as their male counterparts; the scenario usually consisted of one or two hits, then a slide into obscurity. Only Barbara Acklin hit the heights as far as pop success went. She sounds strong on ‘Fool, Fool Look in the Mirror,’ ‘Love, You Are Mine Today,’ and the scorching ‘Love Makes a Woman.’ Slotting in neatly between Barbara Acklin's freshman outing and her chart breakthrough, came a brace of releases from Jackie Ross. Jackie's Chess Records hits aren't featured, but her Brunswick offering ‘Love Is Easy to Lose’, the first of only two singles she cut for the company, is quite as good. Other highlights include sassy Sugar Pie De Santo's ‘The One Who Really Loves You,’ Della Reese's ‘Nothing But a True Love,’ September’s ‘Caution’ and Lynn Roman's ‘I Don't Need No Sympathy.’ Linda Hopkins, Erma Franklin, Inez Johnston (aka Inez Foxx), Big Maybelle, Margie Alexander, La Vern Baker, and others also contribute. The awesome variety of female talent represented on this anthology spanning the years 1960 to 1977, shows us why Brunswick, judged on its classy roster of women, deserves to be up there with Motown and Chess in the pantheon of classic soul labels. If you’re still unconvinced after spinning this treasure-chest of goodies then may I suggest that you double your daily dosage. A cure is guaranteed. Taken from the original liner notes. http://www.allmusic.com/

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