Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw was an acclaimed American jazz, blues, and soul singer known for her versatile voice and hits like "California Soul." She passed away in January 2024 at age 84.
Born Marlina Burgess on September 22, 1942 (some sources say 1939), in New Rochelle, New York, Shaw was introduced to music by her uncle, jazz trumpeter Jimmy Burgess. At age 10 or 11, she debuted at Harlem's Apollo Theater, impressing audiences and opening for acts like Lou Rawls, though her mother later restricted touring. She attended New York State Teachers College in Potsdam but dropped out to pursue singing.
Shaw started performing in the early 1960s in New England clubs and the Catskills, facing setbacks like a lost voice and a botched audition with Columbia's John Hammond. In 1966, gigs at Playboy Clubs led to a deal with Chess Records' Cadet label; her vocal take on "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" became a hit. Her debut album, Out of Different Bags (1967), blended jazz, blues, and pop.
"California Soul" from her 1969 Cadet album gained fame in rare groove scenes and ads for brands like Dockers. She joined Count Basie's orchestra for four years, then became Blue Note's first female vocalist in 1972, releasing five albums including the bold Who Is This Bitch, Anyway? (1974). Later, she recorded for Columbia and others, with her music sampled in hip-hop and featured in films like The Italian Job.
Shaw had five children and was married to Gilbert Roy Hefner and Ed Boyer. She performed until late in life, blending jazz standards with soul and R&B, drawing comparisons to Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan. Shaw died on January 19, 2024, in Las Vegas.
The Spice Of Life
Written-By – Miller, Shaw, Evans 6:02
A2 Call It Stormy Monday
Written-By – Walker 3:01
A3 Where Can I Go
Written-By – Fuld, Berland, Miller 2:21
A4 I'm Satisfied
Written-By – Dollison 2:48
A5 I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)
Written-By – Taylor, Dallas 3:12
B1 Liberation Conversation
Written-By – Miller, Shaw 2:03
B2 California Soul
Written-By – Ashford & Simpson 2:59
B3 Go Away Little Boy
Written-By – Goffin & King 2:45
B4 Looking Thru The Eyes Of Love
Written-By – Mann & Weil 3:00
B5 Anyone Can Move A Mountain
Written-By – Marks 3:03
Label: Cadet – LPS-833
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Sixties Soul, Jazz-Soul
Marlena Shaw's The Spice of Life (1969) is a seminal soul/jazz album, praised for its potent mix of funk, proto-disco, and conscious lyrics, featuring timeless classics like the socially charged "Woman of the Ghetto" and the soulful "California Soul," with exceptional arrangements by Charles Stepney and Richard Evans that laid groundwork for hip-hop sampling and remain fresh and relevant decades later.
The album seamlessly blends soul, jazz, gospel, and emerging funk with lush orchestrations. It features socially conscious themes, especially "Woman of the Ghetto," a raw depiction of poverty.
It became incredibly influential, providing breakbeats and grooves for countless hip-hop tracks, notes this review from Jive Time Records and this blog post from Tracks & Tales.
The partnership between producer Charles Stepney and arranger Richard Evans created a rich, inventive soundscape, featuring distinctive kalimbas, psych-guitar, and dynamic bass.
The album is home to iconic tracks "Woman of the Ghetto" and her signature cover of "California Soul," celebrated for their emotional depth and musicality.
It's Considered by many fans and critics as Shaw's definitive work and a true hidden gem of 1960s soul. It's lauded for its blend of entertainment and provocation, sounding as modern and essential today as it did in 1969.