Canzetta Maria Staton, more commonly known is Candi, is best known for her 1976 disco smash Young Hearts Run Free.
However she has been producing great soul, country and gospel music since the 50s
Born in Hanceville, Alabama she didn't have far to travel to the Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals where from 1968 she churned out a wheen of great singles earning her the title of the Queen of Southern Soul. An accolade indeed when you consider the opposition.
She returned to gospel in the 1980s.
In the 2000's her career enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance in Europe when London's Honest Jon records (previously featured here) released an eponymous compilation of her hits from Fame in 2003. This was followed in 2006 by His Hands and in 2009 by Who's Hurting Now? from which this terrific Mary Gauthier cover is taken.
There is always a dilemma as to how to pronounce her surname - is it Staton as in statistics or Staton as in states?We should be told.
The Fame stuff will feature later. And yes, you are getting Young Hearts Run Free!
Candi Staton - Mercy Now
Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free
TOPTASTIC!
ReplyDeleteIt has bugged me that until recently everybody I had ever met (who always only seemed to be aware of Candi via Young Hearts), and countless radio DJs, always said Stat-on, and I have always been "corrected" when I have said "Stay-ton".
ReplyDeleteCandi had her own show on BBC Radio 2 a few years ago and introduced herself as "Stay-ton". She has become more known in recent years (about time too!) and now I am glad to hear her name is now more often pronounced correctly.
I've moved from Stat-on to Stay-ton over the years Darcy and it is good to have it confirmed that this is the correct pronounciation.
ReplyDeleteYou are right re Young Hearts - it's a bit like Chuck Berry and My Ding-a-Ling except Young Hearts was quite good!
Yes, I love Young Hearts and always will. She's quite a lady - not 1 but 2 disco/sing a long classics that will live forever (You Got The Love) - and all of her wonderful Fame output that came before.
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