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7"
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FRY 024EP
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Great two-sider from one of the leading queens of rhythm and blues, Lavern Baker. "Bumble Bee" is an unusual uptempo early soul dancer with sharp backing vocals, nicely droning guitar chops and chime-like vibes -- and of course, a sassed-up vocal turn from Ms. Baker herself. Meanwhile, on the flip, there's the notorious X-rated version of "Think Twice," a duet with Jackie Wilson. Reportedly recorded at the end of a long session in which copious alcohol had been imbibed, here Baker and Wilson let rip, audibly stifling hysterics as they try and out-filth each other.
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LP
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RUM 2011027LP
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"Coming at a time when jazz singing was slowly evolving into an earthier, more emotionally fervent style known as rhythm and blues, Lavern Baker's debut album on Atlantic, dated 1956, proved her to be one of the key vocalists who furthered that transition. The niece of legendary blues singer Memphis Minnie, Baker was blessed with a powerful, soul-tinged voice that she put to use since her teens under the stage name 'Miss Sharecropper' and which eventually earned her a contract with Atlantic in 1953. Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990, Lavern was one of the most successful R&B artists of her era."
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LP
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RUM 2011028LP
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"Dolores Lavern Baker, responsible for a couple of dozen hits both on the R&B and Pop Charts of the late 50's, proved capable of melding blues, jazz and R&B styles in a way that made possible the emergence of a new idiom: rock and roll. She was also the first black artist to file a legal grievance against a white artist when she sued competing label Mercury recording artist Georgia Gibbs for covering one of her hits. Although she lost that battle, it set an important precedent! She was also one of the first R&B acts to bring rock and roll to the Ed Sullivan Show, opening the genre to a much wider audience. Lavern Baker is still considered one of the most remarkable female vocalists of her era, creating a sultry yet hard image that inspires female R&B singers to this day."
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7"
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POPC 109EP
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LaVern Baker was one of the ruling queens of rhythm & blues through the '50s, a singer who had all the ingredients to be an R&B diva -- a knockout voice, oodles of charm and feminine sass. "Love Me Right" is slightly uptempo for most popcorn -- a driving, swinging R&B number with incredible riffs and an irresistible vocal turn. "Tiny Tim" is slow and decidedly slinky as LaVern is joined by the baritone-voiced Jimmy Ricks for a brazenly suggestive duet.
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