Jeanette (Baby) Washington, "Money's Funny" c/w "Nobody Cares (About Me)," Neptune N-122 (rel. 3/1961)

 

Baby Washington returns with another of her fine releases for Neptune Records. She's remembered for her excellent Sue Records singles of the mid-1960s, but she was an excellent performer and songwriter from the git-go, when she emerged on Zell Sanders' J&S label in 1957.
    Washington is the rare ex-J&S performer who went places far beyond that label's inner-city means. She's one of the premier soul stylists of the '60s and never gets the props she merits. 
    The copy of today's record sat in a seller's bin for years. I'd come across it, take a gander at its dire condition, sigh and place it back in the bin. When said seller did one of their annual half-off sales, I took a ninth or 10th look at it and decided it was worth the small financial risk, just to see if it would, you know, play.
    And, despite its war-torn surface, it tracked through fine--but with many thumps, clumps and bumps. I've tweezered most of those out of our rockin' topside "Money's Funny." You'll still hear some audio signs of damage, but I think they're tamed enough to make this presentable. Some people enjoy the flaws of vinyl records.
    This rockin' story-song tells the sad tale of our narrator who's treating her buddies to a night on the town. Alas, her moolah runs out fast and when she reaches into her purse "all I pulled out was my empty hand." It's sardonic humor; the shared sympathy of a social embarrassment we've all encountered. Ms. Washington has a fine way with matter-of-fact lyrics leavened with solid rhyme schemes; her couplets sing well, as demonstrated her.
    A long, long fade-out distinguishes the side; I can't think of many recordings of this era that take such a while to get from 10 to 0. It feels like the performance goes on well past that fade; it's a pity record labels put such a time stricture on their singles. Another 30 seconds wouldn't have hurt; the gist is gotten by the listener but it's a pleasure to hear Baby sing.

Cash Box waxes enthusiastic about an excellent single. Billboard's review focused on the B-side ballad and deemed it, with their surfeit of enthusiasm, "adequate."

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bo9nf3cfmxohta5wzyqwq/2194a.mp3?rlkey=a1uhip0yj12pvq2cu3xbtgwug&st=h7tp8tk7&dl=0

"Nobody Cares (About Me)" may have Zell Sanders' girls The Hearts on background vocals. It has the feel of some of The Chantels' ballads. That grinding 12/8 beat, hammered home by a piano, gives this self-pity fest some zest. Add a few major seventh chords (still a modern touch in 1961) and you have a chonky, heartfelt peace of youthful angst.
    It's easy to take a singer of Washington's caliber for granted. She's always in fine form, in tune and able to deliver an emotional stand, no matter what type of song she performs. When she sings her own material, as in this release, the results are outstanding.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kr6vw9iayzp0lfi62am2s/2194b.mp3?rlkey=qvm4otmvufyhokfa0vjwy8pmb&st=3cun5tzt&dl=0

This single got to #60 on the national pop charts: too minor a hit to get on oldies radio, but proof that the public did respond to earthy material from time to time. Washington did well for herself in a long recording and performing career. I wonder if she did wear mis-matched gloves in person, as seen in the promo card sent to deejays by Neptune Records?

Tomorrow: intense teen harmony ala the Everly Brothers from Midwestern ciphers The James Brothers, via a rare-as-heck 1960 B.E.A.T. Records release. A haunting ballad B-side showcases the brothers and their voices--no rhythm section.