Alice Clark
Alice Clark (c. 1947 – April 2004) was an American soul singer from Brooklyn, New York, known for her powerful vocals and a cult following that developed decades after her short career. Despite recording only 15 tracks, she is now regarded as one of soul music's "best kept secrets". Born in 1947, Clark grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Raised in a deeply religious family, she began her singing career in a local church choir.
Musician Billy Vera, who worked with her, recalled her as a "quietly spoken young mother". Clark's professional recording career spanned just four years from 1968–1972, during which she released a small but influential body of work.
Her debut single, "You Got a Deal" / "Say You'll Never (Never Leave Me)," was written and produced by Billy Vera and released on Rainy Day Records in 1968. The following year she recorded "You Hit Me (Right Where It Hurt Me)" / "Heaven's Will (Must Be Obeyed)," produced by George Kerr and released on Warner Bros. (1969). "You Hit Me" later became a staple of the Northern Soul scene. In 1972 she released her only self-titled album, Alice Clark on Mainstream Records, produced by Bob Shad. The album featured arrangements by jazz veteran Ernie Wilkins and included her signature track "Never Did I Stop Loving You".
Discouraged by a lack of commercial success, Clark left the music industry in 1972 and remained out of the public eye for the rest of her life. She died in April 2004 at the age of 57 due to liver and kidney failure. In the 1990s, her music was rediscovered by the acid jazz and soul communities in the UK. Her 1972 album is now a highly sought-after collector's item, and her full catalog was compiled in the 2010 release The Complete Studio Recordings 1968-1972 by Ace Records.
Alice Clark
A2 Looking At Life (John Bromley, Petula Clark 3:10)
A3 Don't Wonder Why (Leonard Caston 3:22)
A4 Maybe This Time (John Kander, Fred Ebb 3:18)
A5 Never Did I Stop Loving You (Juanita Fleming 2:34)
B1 Charms Of The Arms Of Love (Bobby Hebb 2:38)
B2 Don't You Care (Bobby Hebb 2:49)
B3 It Takes Too Long To Learn To Live Alone Leon Carr, R.I. Allen 3:34)
B4 Hard Hard Promises (Bobby Hebb 3:05)
B5 Hey Girl (Earl DeRouen 3:16)
Label: Mainstream Records – MRL 362
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Alice Clark's self-titled 1972 album is a highly regarded, cult-classic soul-jazz masterpiece that has achieved legendary status among collectors after going largely unnoticed upon its initial release. It is widely considered one of the best soul albums ever recorded.
Clark's vocals are described as superb, powerful, emotive, and soaring, possessing an "Aretha-grade soulfulness" with the controlled serenity of Roberta Flack or Dionne Warwick. Her voice is a perfect mixture of love, pain, longing, and hope.
Produced by Bob Shad and arranged by jazz veteran Ernie Wilkins, the album features lush production that allows Clark's vocals to take center stage against a rich musical backdrop. The backing tracks include gospel-influenced organs, hazy horns, and a tight rhythm section featuring session aces like drummer Bernard Purdie and guitarist Cornell Dupree.
The album is an emotional ode to the peaks and valleys of love and heartbreak. The music can be both funky and laid-back, featuring heartfelt ballads and energetic soul numbers.
Despite being a commercial flop at the time of its release, the album gained popularity decades later, particularly in the UK's Northern soul and Acid Jazz scenes. It is now a highly sought-after collector's item.