RATING GUIDE

90-100% Excellent

80-90% Very Good

60-80% OK/Good

50-60% Is it worth it?

Below 50% forget it.

The Very Best of

BETTY WRIGHT

The TK Years

Sequel Records NEM CD671

Track listing

1 Shoorah, Shoorah

2 Tonight is the night

3 Where is the love?

4 That's when I'll stop loving you

5 Ooola La

6 Slip and do it

7 If I ever do wrong

8 Life

9 Do right girl

10 I think I'd better think about it

11 Smother me with your love

12 You can't see for looking

13 Lovin is really my game

14 That man of mine

15 If you abuse my love (you'll lose

my love).

16 Something kind of thing

17 Room at the Top

18 My Love is

Confession time. I was a happy man when I found this CD. I've always loved the sound of Betty Wright. In fact I have a thing about lady Soul singers called Betty. If pushed to name my top 10 female Soul vocalists I would have to name Bettye Swann, Betty Everett, Betty Lavette and Betty Wright. 

Although this Sequel compilation deals only with Betty's years in the TK stable and is not a complete best of as such, it is still all quality. There are recordings here to suit every taste in Soul music including the rarefied palettes of Northern fans who don't mind listening to 70's recordings. 

Shoorah, Shoorah, an Allen Toussaint composition, kicks of the Miami songbirds compilation. A big hit for Betty. No wonder. The powerful horn section acts just like a chorus of backing singers. Great voice, great sound, great music. Good for dancing. (10/10)

Tempo drops for the next track which is one of Betty's own compositions. It's the live version of Tonight is the Night so when you listen to it "think back to your very first time..." It's a slowie with a long talk-in introduction. But when Betty gets going you realise that this is an all round singing talent coming at ya. Not only is she capable of the powerhouse performance she is something else when she has to handle the quiet emotional material. Pity Sequel couldn't make the join between Parts 1 & 2 a little more seamless. Definitely a song most of the planet can relate to. Oh, yes - nothing less than a 10/10. 

Betty's Miami home background is infused with the Miami Soul sound in the next track - and yes there is such a thing! Where is the Love is a classy superb dancer, fast paced with some brilliant guitar work and tight horn section. Anything less than 10/10 would demand a government enquiry. 

That's when I'll stop loving you is a great mid-tempo number with a brilliant arrangement. Backing singers sound a touch churchy in parts but this one has a distinct jazzy feel and that label Crossover springs to mind. Still talking quality here even with a 9/10.

Mildly funky but Ooola la is definitely a case of the naughty naughty erotic lyrics. A great dance sound with melody, rhythm and teasing vocal. "Thrills me .... grooves me..." Oh yes it do! do! do! Love the ending! 10/10.

Slip and do it is one of Betty's lecturing songs. Her songs always involve an issue and take it through to a conclusion. A real piece of Crossover this track with a real hint of funk but nothing that a Northern fan would decry. "More power to it!" Yeh. Absolutely. Great fro dancing and great on lyrics. So I'll slip and do it for another 10/10. 

If I ever do wrong is Betty's best ballad in my books. Great lyrics, great vocal performance with genuine feel for the lyrics. An absolute stunner. Just let yourself drift along with her voice. 10/10. Life is a pleasant little number with a 60's feel to it. Mid-tempo but the recording would have been better if the producer had not made her voice sound so distant. Good but not outstanding hence 8/10. Do right girl starts off quietly with a few squeaks from Betty getting into a groove. Once you get past the build-up this is a wonderful mid-tempo number but doubtful as a dancer. Too many changes perhaps? I could be wrong. Still Class "A" performance. Rating = 9/10.

Smooch power next with I think I'd better think about it. Sit back and listen in wonder at the way in which she turns the words into more than just words. Real artistry here. 9/10. Smother me with your love is a great mid-tempo mover with some fine lyrics penned by Betty herself. Too many changes make this a little too hard for dancing but it's still a great track and worth 8/10 at the least. You can't see for looking is a real slowy complete with powerful performance. 8/10. Lovin' is really my game is a live recording. A great meaty beaty number with crisp horn section. Definitely disco orientated but interesting because live performances always tell it liked it really is. An what is ? The power of an artist to perform before an audience. Betty can certainly perform but this number is nothing special. (Usually when I hear the word boogie I want to reach for a gun!) 6/10 on this one. Well, life is all ups and downs isn't it? That man of mine could be tailor made for todays Northern scene. A real delightful 1977 production with a lovely dance tempo and superb orchestration combining with that hallmark horn section. Love this one. Back on track with 10/10. So too If you abuse my love (You'll lose my love) which is from the same period. If you like Celeste Hardy's You're Gone then this will do it for you. High quality rating here with yet another 10/10. A something kind of thing is a Steve Alaimo production and is a great sit down and listen number. Not much here for the average Northern fan but if you have more catholic tastes then this will go down well. 8/10. Room at the Top is another pace number with that fabulous horn section making it a little better than it ought to be. 8/10. The compilation ends with a real slow number My love is. Straight from the heart this one. Great performance from a matured performer cut in 1979 at the end of TK. Another 8/10. 

A great all round compilation that paints a wonderful picture of a wonderful lady with a wonderful voice. Treat yourself to some 70's quality and "Do right..." Rating 91%