LITTLE ESTHER: "IF IT'S NEWS TO YOU" C/W "LONGING IN MY HEART," SAVOY 1516 (REL. 7/1957)

There’s a lot to unpack with today’s record. But first: the story of how I laid paws on it. Last week, I had some time to kill before a social engagement. I looked through some shops on a busy street in a hipster neighborhood. One of the stores sells records, and I’ve found some great things there (often in their dollar boxes).

In a perusal of their priced records, I came across four superb rhythm and blues singles. Three were disc jockey editions from the King and Federal labels. The fourth was today’s record. All appeared to have been played once or twice and filed away. The price was more than right; I also found a Clef Records EP of modern jazz pianist Bud Powell with its original picture sleeve.

It is rare to find such records in clean condition. They are most often found in various stages of decline—they were loved, handled without care and played down to the last spin of their grooves by most first-state owners. Unsold copies—and those squirreled away by people who bought them when new—are the hen’s teeth of 45-rpm collecting.

I got home and logged my new purchases on 45cat.com, where I keep track of my collection. I also look them up on Discogs to get a general idea of their presumed worth. To my pleasant surprise, the amount I’d paid for all five discs was less than what today’s record might cost if a seller did their homework and didn’t just think “old record” and slap an arbitrary price on it. I’m all for sellers not doing their studies: it makes it possible for me to acquire records I couldn’t otherwise afford. Their ignorance/contempt is my bliss, and I thank them for it.

Before she became Esther Phillips, Esther Mae Washington was Little Esther, and she made a series of powerful r&b singles from the dawn of the 45-rpm era until 1961. Those records never turn up; this was the first Little Esther I’d seen in person.

As Esther Phillips, she made one of thee most common 45s in the world, “Release Me” for Lenox Records. You are guaranteed to find a copy of this single in any box of more than 50 singles. They made a bejillion dillion of them.

Esther’s is a tragic tale of drug addiction and the harsh dealings of the music biz—both in recording and on the dreary road of touring. Marv Goldberg has a dense, fascinating account of her life and career here:

https://www.uncamarvy.com/LittleEsther/littleesther.html

I won’t paraphrase his research. Discovered by Greek-American bandleader Johnny Otis, Esther made her first recordings at age 14 with his band and skyrocketed to Black music fame, with eight Top 10 singles (four of them #1s) from 1950 to ’52. Then a decade passed without a major hit. “Release Me” restored her to the charts and rebooted her musical career. (Do read Goldberg’s account; it’s quite the thrill-ride.)

Today we’ll hear her next-to-last release for Savoy Records, one of the labels she frequented (which includes Federal and Decca) in the 1950s. She sings solid numbers by two top Black women songwriters in a great musical setting.

“If It’s News to You,” written by Rose Marie McCoy and Charlie Singleton, is business as usual for this stellar team. To a relaxing, swingin’ groove, with stingin’ guitar by Mickey Baker, Esther embodies this song of romantic fealty-bordering-on-obsession. She ain’t lettin’ go of her guy, whether that’s good for him or not. I tend to believe her!

Baker gets off a powerful full-chorus solo—always a major asset—and Esther’s nasal voice and confident performance makes this song a rockin’ gem! Apologies for a couple of thunks I fergot tuh edit out when I cleaned this one up. They don’t affect the music.

>>> Hear it HERE! <<<

“Longing in My Heart” is the work of Jessie Mae Robinson, Texas-born cleffer who penned a sheaf of r&b classics. This is a classy torch song with a touch of the 1940s r&b sound. It feels like a Little Willie John recording, but with a woman’s voice. Esther evokes a tenderness in her performance that’s as ideal for this song as her defiant stance on “If It’s News…” She was a fine interpreter of songs; such performers dig deep for how the lyrics pertain to their life story. They find a common thread and base their performance on those emotions. It’s method acting in musical form, and such performers stand out. Many singers just sing a song; people like Esther live what they sing and bring it to life for us. Time can’t dim the gift that she gives to both sides of this superb single.

>>> Hear it HERE! <<<

This single was preceded by a year of no Little Esther records. Two years passed until her final Savoy 45; then she made a few items for Warwick Records, including the much-coveted “Wild Child”—a record I hope to obtain in this lifetime. I’m grateful to have this single and doubly so for the pittance it cost.

Tomorrow: Joe Tex’s second single, with an Otis Blackwell song and a Tex original, from a crisp DJ copy of a 1956 King Records 45.