A bit of a mixed bag this week with Soul, Psychedelia and Country.
Let's start with soul and our cover star the wonderful Bettye Swan. I'm pleased to report that she is still going strong at the age of 78 after a career from 1964 to 1980. Her husband and manager George Barton died in 1980 and Bettye subsequently changed her name to Betty Barton, became a Jehovah's Witness and a teacher in the Las Vegas Area.
You could say that that Time to Say Goodbye was a fitting end to her musical career. The song is the final track on the quite glorious Sanctified Soul compilation on Ace Records. You need this album in your life.
Next up are the Zombies with Maybe After He's Gone a track from their Psychedelic masterpiece 1968's Odessey and Oracle.
Finally we are off to East Nashville for yet another compilation from 2006 called The Other Side: Music from East Nashville here. Mostly local obscure acts but there are a few names that Americana fans may recognise. Chely Wright is a country singer and LGBT activist who is best known for her song Single White Female. According to the blurb on this song she has taken a more contemplative turn with a spare and lovely recording of Wish Me Away
Bettye Swan - Time to Say Goodbye
The Zombies - Maybe After He's Gone
That Zombies track is a bit jarring sandwiched between the others - that's if you played them consecutively!
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