Blondes
By Mick Patrick
To be born blonde might be a good indication of bloodline but not necessarily of character. To dye one’s hair blonde, or to don a blonde wig, on the other hand, can be statement of intent – blonde ambition. To quote Heidi Klum, “Going blonde is like buying yourself a light bulb.” It worked a treat for the some of the former brunettes here, for sure.
Black blondes are not unusual on the music scene of today but it was a different story in the 1950s and 60s. The first was likely Joyce Bryant, the steamy “Black Marilyn”, who, in a bid to stand out above the competition, resorted to upending a tin of silver radiator paint over her head. “Joyce caught all kinds of hell for having blonde hair,” wrote Etta James in her memoir. “I dug her and copied her style.” Other black women singers followed suit, including a number of those in the James Brown Revue.
There again, a change can be as good as a rest. “I felt depressed and had to do something about it,” the newly blonde Dionne Warwick told the press in 1965. “It’s a lovely honey shade. Next time I get depressed I may change to a redhead.” Today they’d call it reinvention.
In any event, the hair colour, natural or otherwise, of the women featured in this article is of no real significance. What is important is they all have recordings available on Ace … because they’re worth it.
Selected releases
-
Peggy Lipton
Better known as an actress (Mod Squad, Twin Peaksetc), Peggy made some cool records for Lou Adler’s Ode label in the late 60s before marrying producer Quincy Jones. Check out her versions of Goffin & King’s ‘Wasn’t It You’ on “Where The Girls Are Vol 5”, Donovan’s ‘Wear Your Love Like Heaven’ on “Lou Adler: A Musical History” and ‘Lu’ on “Sassafras & Moonshine: The Songs Of Laura Nyro”.
-
-
Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings
Rhythm & Blues
Etta James
CD £12.14
-
Who's Blue? Rare Chess Recordings Of The 60s And 70s
60s Soul
Etta James
CD £11.50
-
Queen Of Soul With Bonus Tracks
Modern Soul
Etta James
CD £11.50
Etta James
All of Etta’s 1950s R&B decks can be found on “Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings” – the whole shebang on one boss 2CD set. For her 60s and early 70s soul sides, see “Who’s Blue? Rare Chess Recordings Of The 60s & 70s” or our reissues of her “Queen Of Soul”, “Call My Name”, “Losers Weepers” and “Etta Is Betta Than Evvah!” albums, each with copious bonus tracks.
-
-
Doris Day
Five Ace reasons to love Doris Day: ‘Oo-Wee Baby’ on “Where The Girls Vol 1”, ‘Move Over Darling’ on “Hearing Is Believing: The Jack Nitzsche Story”, ‘Send Me No Flowers’ on “Always Something There: A Burt Bacharach Collectors’ Anthology”, ‘Let The Little Girl Limbo’ on “Where The Girls Are Vol 5” and ‘Love Him’ on “Born To Be Together: The Songs Of Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil”.
-
Oo-Wee Baby
-
Move Over Darling
-
Send Me No Flowers
-
Let The Little Girl Limbo
-
-
Doris Troy
Doris placed a solitary song on Billboard’s Hot 100, but what a song. Her self-penned ‘Just One Look’ has endured as a much-covered standard, heard in many ads and films. If that one hit record is all you know of this singer-songwriter-producer-arranger-session vocalist-actress, our career-spanning “I’ll Do Anything: The Doris Troy Anthology” CD is your chance to catch up on the good sounds you missed.
-
Priscilla Paris
The Paris Sisters – Sherrell, Albeth and powder-voiced lead singer Priscilla – can be heard on several Ace CDs, including “Early Girls Vol 5” and “Phil Spector: The Early Productions”. For the enigmatic Priscilla’s post-Sisters work, see “Love, Priscilla: Her Complete 1960s Solo Recordings”, which contains her super-rare “Priscilla Sings Herself” and “Priscilla Loves Billie” LPs plus a handful of unissued titles.
-
Dionne Warwick
For many years the muse of Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Dionne’s catalogue also includes songs by many other distinguished writers. Viz ‘I’m Your Puppet’ on “Sweet Inspiration – The Songs Of Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham”, ‘Move Me No Mountain’ on “Time Is On My Side: The Jerry Ragovoy Story” and ‘Get Rid Of Him’ on “Where The Boys Are: The Songs Of Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield”.
-
I'm Your Puppet
-
Move Me No Mountain
-
-
Dolly Parton
“I’m not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb. I also know I’m not blonde,” she once said. Funny, yes, but not strictly true, if her childhood photos are any indication. “Eddie’s House Of Hits: The Story Of Goldband Records” features Dolly’s first single ‘Puppy Love’, cut when she was 13. For ‘Don’t Drop Out’, her great Shangri-Las-alike, see “Where The Girls Are Vol 1”.
-
Mary Wells
To discover what made her Motown’s first female superstar, try our “The One Who Really Loves You / Two Lovers” twofer. For some overlooked gems from Mary’s post-Motown catalogue, seek out ‘If You Can’t Give Her Love (Give Her Up)’ on “Something New To Do: The Phillip Mitchell Songbook” or ‘Dear Lover’, ‘(Hey You) Set My Soul On Fire’ and ‘Me And My Baby’ on “The Girls Got Soul”.
-
-
You Won't Forget Me: The Complete Liberty Singles Vol 1
Pop
Jackie DeShannon
CD £11.50
-
Break-A-Way: The Songs Of Jackie DeShannon 1961-1967
Pop
Various Artists (Songwriter Series)
CD £11.50
-
Come And Get Me: The Complete Liberty And Imperial Singles Vol 2
Pop
Jackie DeShannon
CD £11.50
-
Keep Me In Mind: The Complete Imperial & Liberty Singles Volume 3
Pop
Jackie DeShannon
CD £11.50
Jackie DeShannon
For a taste of the pre-fame Jackie, check out ‘Just Another Lie’ on “Good Girls Gone Bad: Wild, Weird & Wanted”. Her complete Liberty/Imperial singles are collected across the Ace CDs “You Won’t Forget Me”, “Come And Get Me” and “Keep Me In Mind”. To hear her songs performed by the Byrds, Brenda Lee, the Searchers and many others, see “Break-A-Way: The Songs OfJackie DeShannon”.
-
