Randy Crawford – Raw Silk
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Randy Crawford, vocals
Don Grusin, piano, electric piano
Greg Poree, guitar
Abraham Laboriel, bass
James Gadson, drums
Leon Pendarvis, piano, electric piano
John Tropea, guitar
Will Lee, bass
Rick Marotta, drums
Joe Prcaro, percussion
William D Smith, clavinet
Phyllis St. James, background vocals
1 LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : Pure Pleasure
Original Label : Warner
Produced by Stephan Goldman
Remastered by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
Originally released in 1979
Reissued in March 2015
Tracks:
Side A:
- I Stand Accused
- Declaration Of Love
- Someone To Believe In
- Endlessly
- Love Is Like A Newborn Child
Side B:
- Where There Was Darkness
- Nobody
- I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me
- I Got Myself A Happy Song
- Just To Keep You Satisfied
- Blue Mood
Reviews:
“Veronica “Randy” Crawford hails from Macon, Georgia. An American jazz/r & b singer, she achieved greater success in Europe than in the U.S. In the mid-seventies, it appeared that she would be a solid part of the American jazz scene, performing with George Benson and Cannonball Adderly. Crawford sang on Yes guitarist Steve Howe’s solo effort, Please Don’t Touch in 1978. The following year, her collaboration with The Crusaders on “Street Life” did respectably on U.S. Pop and R & B charts, but much better in England. Initially signed by Columbia, Crawford’s musical legacy and solo career were defined by her ten albums with Warner Brothers. Although, there was some acknowledgment on the U.S. Jazz charts, a breakthrough never materialized. She continued to release solo albums, and has sung with Joe Sample, Bootsy Collins, Quincy Jones and Al Jarreau.
Pure Pleasure Records has re-mastered Crawford’s third Warner Bros. release Raw Silk (1979). The album consists of lush, studio arrangements that surround Crawford’s prominent voice. The opening track, “I Stand Accused” (previously recorded by Isaac Hayes with a patented “long version”) is unadulterated, heartfelt soul. With era-representative atmospheric electric piano (Don Grusin), the band performs hooks and modulations as Crawford wails about love. She can crank it up with the best of them. On “Declaration Of Love”, there is a subtle Allen Toussiant horn chart that complements the fluid sound. Regardless of studio polish, this is a voice that cannot be restrained. “Someone To Believe In” is a universal ballad of romantic yearning (“…someone to come home to after a weary day…”). There is a lyrical string accompaniment (Ian Freebairn-Smith), not at all unusual for this time period. Crawford is capable of turning up the heat at anytime. With funkiness and a clavinet groove (William D. Smith), “Endlessly” churns out hypnotic rhythms and Crawford responds with intensity. On a different, jazzy note, “Love Is Like A Newborn Child” starts with a piano/voice duet. The vocals are belted out like a gospel show tune.
Crawford utilizes a variety of songwriters on Raw Silk. Side2 begins with a soul/pop cover of Ashford and Simpson’s “Where There Was Darkness”. Backup vocals (Phyllis St. James) and stings underscore the smooth tempos. A pleasant surprising choice is Bert Williams’ 1905 doleful “Nobody”. The arrangement is scaled back to capture the bluesy vocal phrasing. Bill LaBounty’s clever take on breaking up, “I Hope You’ll Be Very Unhappy Without Me” returns to the finger-snapping grooves and hooks that dominate the album. The vocals are still forceful. An original composition, “I Got Myself A Happy Song” is tougher (Toussaint horns) up tempo material that livens the band. But it’s the tender strains of the Marvin Gaye classic, “Just To Keep You Satisfied” that unites the powerful voice with the most textured (strings and woodwinds) acoustics. Crawford has an emotional, spiritual voice and the finale, “Blue Mood,” captures this. Her pure gospel vibrancy is on display. With a nimble piano intro (Leon Pendarvis), the flow of this number is exceptional. Additionally the band turns in a cohesive performance.
Audiophile vinyl was a good choice for this version of Raw Silk. Crawford’s voice is powerful, but also has richness in subdued moments. The horns and strings are mixed seamlessly and never intrude on Crawford. The bass and drums are present, but ambient. Crawford is a force, but at times held back by the extensive production.” John Sunier, Audiophile Audition, April, 2015
"Crawford has the pleasure of owning one of the most distinctive female singing voices of all time, a voice that shot to fame with the jazz outfit The Crusaders and the single ‘Street Life’, released in 1979. This solo effort, originally issued via Warner Bros, was issued in that same year and is one of her best, offering a perfect song selection. Her general performances are impeccable. She allows the song dominate, to flower and to stand on its own two feet. She never does what many jazz/soul/R&B vocalists do: kill it with vocal acrobatics. And she’s capable too and you know it. All that restraint makes her performance all the better.
This album has a slight analogue warmth. While there’s plenty of detail on offer, the upper mids are not open to the sky. That is, there’s no tremendous treble insight off the back of a struck cymbal while Crawford’s vocal delivery is rolled off a touch. None of this serves as negative criticism, as such. What we have here is an ‘authentic sound’ of a time and a place. In this case, the late seventies. There’s a golden glow around the entire production. That’s enhanced by the bass heavy electric piano and the forward nature of the bass guitar. Crawford’s album is here to reassure and comfort. In effect, this mastering tone helps the singer to give us a cuddle. There is tonal variation to excite the ear, though. Brass inserts add upper mid flare, for example and Crawford’s own voice has enough variation to keep you interested at all times.” Paul Rigby, hi-fi World , July 2015
Ratings :
AllMusic : 3 / 5 ; Discogs : 3.75 / 5