Gwen McCrae: Rockin' Chair / Something So Right (1975-76)

The wife of George McCrae, Gwen made her mark in the mid-70s with a delightful series of southern-style soul numbers produced by Steve Alaimo and Clarence Reid for Henry Stone's Miami-based TK operation. She first found success with a astonishing remake of the old Bobby Bland gospel blues, ‘Lead Me On’ (R&B number 32, 1970). The record was recorded for TK Records, but leased to Columbia Records. The following year, now on TK's subsidiary label Cat, she followed with an equally remarkable remake of the Ed Townsend oldie, ‘For Your Love’ (R&B number 17). McCrae had her only pop hit with ‘Rockin' Chair’ in 1975, when the number 1 R&B hit crossed over to reach the US Top 10. ‘Love Insurance’ (R&B number 16) was a respectable follow-up in 1975. TK collapsed in 1980, but she still had a number of hits for Atlantic Records during that decade, eventually gaining cult status on the UK's Northern Soul scene. The sexy, danceable, early-‘70s Miami Sound, for which she is best remembered, is much in evidence on this release of two of her finest albums from that era. Rockin’ Chair's title track is undoubtedly the hightlight here, but the rest of the songs, from the raw, funky ‘Move Me Baby’ to the monster sample cut ‘90% of Me Is You’ live up to its high standard. Other nice ones are the wonderfully titled ‘Your Love Is Worse Than a Cold’, ‘He Don't Ever Lose His Groove’, ‘He Keeps Something Groovy Going On’, and ‘It's Worth The Hurt’. Something So Right is an oft-overlooked gem that was cut during the best part of her 70's career on the Cat label. The record's got a good mix of deep southern soul tracks and funkier modern soul numbers, and Gwen's voice is right on the money on just about every cut. Clarence Reid wrote most of the material, and great cuts include ‘Love Without Sex’, ‘Mr. Everything’, ‘Damn Right It's Good’, and ‘Iron Woman’. http://www.oldies.com/, http://www.cduniverse.com/

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Gwen McCrae singing her big hit 'Rockin' Chair' on a clip from last year: