Yvonne Fair first gained fame as a back-up singer for James Brown with whom she also had a daughter. She then toured frequently as a solo artist but never found real fame and is best remembered for the ballad “It Should Have Been Me”. She sadly died in 1994 at the age of 51 yet, she left behind a true masterpiece of 70’s music.
Ms. Fair’s recently re-issued 1975 album “The Bitch Is Black” has a title that is unlikely today, but it must be remembered that this is the same era as Elton John’s mega-hit “The Bitch Is Back”. From the first seconds, this album explodes in 1970’s southern boogie on the track “Funky Music ‘Sho Nuff Turns Me On”. Written by the great Norma Whitfield, the track opens with Marvin Gaye on back-up vocals and then Yvonne gets down to business with a baritone sax sounding like a chainsaw in the background.
Other stand-out tracks include covers of “I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More)” and “Tell Me Something Good” and the triple-dare challenge “Walk Out The Door If You Wanna”. Put on your bell-bottoms and enjoy this favored find of 2010.