Margie Joseph
Margie Joseph is an American R&B, soul, and gospel singer born Margaret Marie Joseph on August 19, 1950, in Gautier (or nearby Pascagoula), Mississippi.
She sang in her church choir as a child and later attended Dillard University in New Orleans, studying speech and drama. In 1967, while there, she recorded demos at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, leading to her debut single "Why Does a Man Have to Lie?" on Okeh Records.
Joseph signed with Stax's Volt Records in 1969, scoring her first R&B hit (#46) with "Your Sweet Lovin'" produced by Freddy Briggs. She moved to Atlantic Records, releasing albums with producer Arif Mardin; her 1974 cover of Paul McCartney's "My Love" peaked at #69 on the Hot 100 and #10 on R&B charts, drawing Aretha Franklin comparisons. Key hits included a duet with Blue Magic on "What's Come Over Me" (#11 R&B, 1975) and tracks from albums like Margie (1975) and Hear the Words, Feel the Feeling (1976, Cotillion).
After less commercial success with 1978's Feeling My Way, she focused on family and transitioned to gospel music in the 1980s–2000s, performing at churches and events while residing on Mississippi's Gulf Coast. She released non-secular work, including a 1984 dance single "Ready for the Night," and has a new album in production as of recent reports.
Sweet Surrender
Bass – Bob Babbitt
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – David Spinozza, Norman Harris
Keyboards – Pat Rebillot, Richard Tee
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Synthesizer – Stan Free
Written-By – Paul Kelly 3:55
A2 (Strange) I Still Love You
Bass – Bob Babbitt
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – David Spinozza
Keyboards – Pat Rebillot, Richard Tee
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Written-By – Jerry Butler, Mikki Farrow, Norman Harris 3:30
A3 Come With Me
Bass – Bob Babbitt
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – David Spinozza, Norman Harris
Keyboards – Pat Rebillot, Richard Tee
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Written-By – Paul Kelly 3:13
A4 Baby I'm-A Want You
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Guitar – Cornell Dupree, David Spinozza
Keyboards – Richard Tee
Written-By – David Gates 3:03
A5 To Know You Is To Love You
Bass – Bob Babbitt
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – David Spinozza, Norman Harris
Keyboards – Pat Rebillot, Richard Tee
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Synthesizer – Ken Bichel
Written-By – Stevie Wonder 3:28
B1 If I'm Still Around Tomorrow
Bass – Bob Babbitt
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – David Spinozza, Norman Harris
Keyboards – Pat Rebillot, Richard Tee
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Synthesizer – Ken Bichel
Written-By – Ralph MacDonald, William Salter 3:09
B2 My Love
Bass – Bob Babbitt
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – David Spinozza, Norman Harris
Keyboards – Pat Rebillot, Richard Tee
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Written-By – Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney 4:25
B3 Ridin' High
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Guitar – Cornell Dupree, Hugh McCracken
Keyboards, Organ – Richard Tee
Percussion – Norman Pride
Written-By – Arif Mardin, Margie Joseph 3:24
B4 He's Got A Way
Bass – Jerry Jemmott
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Guitar – Cornell Dupree, Hugh McCracken
Keyboards – Richard Tee
Written-By – William Joel 3:45
B5 Sweet Surrender
Bass – Bob Babbitt
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – David Spinozza, Norman Harris
Keyboards – Pat Rebillot, Richard Tee
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Written-By – David Gates 2:55
Label: Atlantic – SD 7277
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Margie Joseph's 1974 album Sweet Surrender is widely acclaimed as a superb piece of seventies soul music. Produced by the legendary Arif Mardin, it is praised for its strong, soulful vocals, excellent musicianship, and cohesive sound.
Reviewers consistently give the album high marks, often describing it as a "gem" of 70s soul.
Joseph's vocals are noted for their superior quality, described as strong, soulful, and mellow with gospel undertones. Her distinctive, recognizable style is a highlight of the record.
Arif Mardin's production and arrangements are frequently lauded as excellent, on par with his work for other major soul artists like Aretha Franklin. The album features top-tier session musicians and the background vocals of The Sweet Inspirations.
A standout feature of the album's production is how Mardin arranged the songs to flow continuously from one track to the next, creating an immersive musical journey.
The album produces two hit singles: Come Lay Some Lovin' On Me" (originally a Paul McCartney song), and "My Love" (also a Paul McCartney cover), which was the biggest hit of her career, reaching the top ten on the R&B chart and becoming a minor pop hit.
The album also includes covers of Bread's "Baby I'm-A Want You" and the title track "Sweet Surrender", a version of Billy Joel's "He's Got a Way", and a rendition of Stevie Wonder's "To Know You Is To Love You". An original song co-written by Joseph and Mardin, "Riding High", also features on the album. The album's material is considered a solid representation of her work during her time with Atlantic Records.