Genre: soul
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: I'm a Loser
Company: Canyon
Catalog: LP-7704
Year: 1969
Country/State: Sandersville, Georgia
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor ring wear
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4895
Price: $80.00
It's always struck me as a shame that outside of hardcore soul circles Doris Duke isn't better known given that she was easily as talented as many of her better known soul contemporaries.
Like so many others, Duke (born Doris Curry) started her musical career in Gospel. As a teenager and a young adult she toured and recorded with a number of Gospel acts including The Caravans, The David Sisters, The Evangelistic Gospel Choir, and The Raspberry Singers.
By the early 1960s she's relocated to New York City, paying her bills as a backup sessions singer, supporting everyone from Frank Sinatra to Aretha Franklin. Under her married name of Doris Willingham she also managed to record a couple of obscure 45s for small labels such as Hy-Monty and Jay Boy. In 1968 she was hired as part of Nina Simone's touring band.
Returning to sessions work in 1969 she caught attention of former Atlantic A&R man/producer/singer/songwriter Jerry Williams Jr. Williams quickly signed her to a recording deal on his small RRG label. Billed as 'Doris Duke' she debuted with the Williams written and produced 'Congratulations Baby' b/w 'Divorce Decree' (RRG Catalog number 44004). While the single did little commercially, it attracted enough attention for Williams to finance a follow-on album on Wally Roker's Canyon label (which was coincidently Williams' label).
Like the earlier single, 1969's "I'm a Loser" was produced, arranged, conducted and largely written by Williams. Recorded at Phil Walden's Capricorn Studios, the collection featured support from guitarist James Carr, drummer Johnny Sadlin and the cream of local studio musicians. Propelled by Duke's deep and world weary voice, the album featured an engaging mixture of Gospel, R&B and Stax-influenced soul. Technically Duke wasn't the world's greatest singer. She didn't have a great deal of range and her delivery was occasionally brittle and shrill. That said, her ability to channel the hurt and pain of love and real life was simply unsurpassed. It's hard to imagine Aretha Franklin, or even Millie Jackson having the nerve to take on a song about infidelity ('To the Other Woman') or even more daring for the timeframe, a woman falling into prostitution ('I Don't Care Anymore'). Exemplified by tracks such as 'Feet Start Walking' and 'Congratulations Baby' seldom have you heard someone singing about so much pain and unhappiness. Simply killer soul !!! Elsewhere, released as a single Duke actually enjoyed a pop and R&B hit with 'To the Other Woman (I'm the Other Woman)' b/w I Don't Care Anymore' (Canyon catalog number 28). Unfortunately two follow-on singles did nothing:
- 'Feet Start Walking' b/w 'How Was I To Know You Cared' (Canyon catalog number 37)
- 'He's Gone' b/w 'The Feeling Is Right' (Canyon catalog number 54)
Adding to Duke's problems, Canyon's shaky finances effectively doomed the album.
"I'm a
Loser" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) He's Gone (Jerry Williams Jr. - Larry Harrison) - 4:34
2.) Can't Do Without You (George Jackson - Ronald Townsend) - 2:06
3.) Feet Start Walking (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds) - 2:28
4.) Ghost of Myself (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3:06
5.) Your Best Friend (Jerry Williams Jr. - Larry Harrison)- 2:48
6.) The Feeling Is Right (Mickey Buckins - George Jackson) - 2:44
(side
2)
1.) I Don't Care Anymore (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds -
Maurice Gimble) - 3:05
2.) Congratulations Baby (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds - Maurice Gimble) - 2:00
3.) We're More Than Strangers (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds) - 3:29
4.) Divorce Decree (Jerry Williams Jr. - Maurice Gimble) - 2:29
5.) How Was I To Know You Cared (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds) - 2:38
6.) To the Other Woman (I'm the Other Woman) (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds) - 2:55