VICKI ANDERSON - ANTHOLOGY
Vicki Anderson is acknowledged by James Brown in his autobiography as the best singer he ever had in his revue, and probably the best singer he had ever witnessed. Vicki joined James in 1965 replacing Anna King, and stayed for three years as his main female singer, until replaced by Marva Whitney in 1968. She rejoined in 1969 after Marva departed, staying for a further three years until 1972, after which Lyn Collins took over from her. The bulk of the material featured here is from those two periods, and listening to them again it is incredible to realise that despite recording some of the best tracks that James Brown ever recorded, Vicki has until now never had a legitimate album release. The quality of the tracks from these two distinct periods is undeniable, as are her powerful vocals keeping up with the tight rhythm sections of both the Famous flames and the JB's. From the mid 60's period included here are the covers of 'You Send Me', 'What the world Needs Now', and her original version of 'Wide Awake In a Dream' (later covered by Lyn Collins in the '70's), which confirms Brown's comments about what a great singer she is. The duet with Brown 'Think' (he also re-cut this in the 70's) 'If You Don't Give Me What I Want' and 'Baby Don't You Know' represent the beginnings of funk in 1967, showing how Vicki could adapt to this as well as singing straight soul ballads. This was to be repeated to greater success when she rejoined James in 1969 and recorded the marvellous 'Answer To Mother Popcorn', and 'I Want To Be In The Land of Milk and Honey'. The following year she released her most famous song, the feminist anthem 'Message From The Soul Sisters' (still a floor filler 35 years later) which opens this anthology. She followed this up with the even more funky 'Supergood' another answer to a James Brown song 'Superbad', and yet another classic, and an answer to Jean Knight's international hit with 'I'm Too Tough For Mr Big Stuff'. Unfortunately the hits stopped there and after 'Don't Throw Your Love In The Garbage Can' which was recorded in Miami she left James Brown. An isolated single on James' I-Dentify label by Mommie -O appeared in 1975 featuring a cover of Rufus' hit 'Once You Get Started' and Bobby Womack's 'Stop On By' (which had recently been covered by Rufus). Maybe Vicki was trying to make a point to Chaka Khan, but by this time James influence was in decline as he tried to compete with the new wave of 'Heavy' funk bands Ohio Players, Kool And The Gang and Parliament etc, and the single disappeared without trace. Vick returned to the recording scene in 1994 with the Italian band Bossa Nostra covering 'Message To The Soul Sisters' and Gil Scott Heron's 'Home Is Where The Hatred is' (immortalised by Esther Phillips) which is featured here, to great effect. Vicki married James Brown's right hand man Bobby Byrd in the mid sixties and is the mother of UK Based Carleen and Jhelisa who both came to prominence in the 90's with a couple of strong albums each. Vicki toured the UK with the James Brown Funky People Revue in the late 80's and again with husband Bobby Byrd in the mid 1990's. Hopefully this anthology will bring Vicki the recognition she is overdue, as an artist and as the great soul singer she is, and hopefully we will have the opportunity to witness her live in the UK again. Laurence Prangell December 2004.
(vinyl no longer available)
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