FREDA PAYNE - Unhooked Generation : The Complete Invictus Recordings (2001) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Freda Payne was one of the great female soul singers of the early '70s -- her voice was powerful enough to rank highly among her contemporaries, but what set her apart was her daring material, its consistency, and the wonderful, ambitious production given her by the Invictus label. All of this is apparent on a mere single-disc collection, but for the best appreciation of the full scope of her achievements, the 41-track collection Unhooked Generation: The Complete Invictus Recordings is necessary for any serious soul collection. Though this is a lot to ingest at once, part of the reason for that is that it's dense, layered music; there's a lot going on in the lyrics and music is busy, filled with glorious details that help elevate this music ahead of much of the soul music of the time. As her biggest hits suggest, Payne pushed the subject material of soul further: "Band of Gold" dealt with a marriage falling apart because of male impotence; "Bring the Boys Home" was an anti-Vietnam protest song. This hints at what's covered on the rest of her albums for Invictus, all available here. What's remarkable is how Payne and her team of writers sound fearless throughout these recordings, pushing the boundaries of contemporary soul forward -- even if the songs don't cover new thematic ground, or are merely good generic pieces, there's something in the arrangement, production, or performance that elevates it above its peers. So, while this is a lot of music, it's worth exploring -- music this rich deserves such an exhaustive, loving presentation and any serious soul fan will be well-served by acquiring this. Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Tracklist 1 :
1     Unhooked Generation 2:32
Ronald Dunbar
2     The Easiest Way to Fall 2:37
Ronald Dunbar
3     Band of Gold 2:56
Ronald Dunbar / Edyth Wayne
4     I Left Some Dreams Back There 3:18
Ronald Dunbar    
5     Deeper and Deeper 3:02
Ronald Dunbar / Norma Toney / Edyth Wayne
6     Rock Me in the Cradle (Of Your Lovin' Arms) 3:04
Ronald Dunbar / General Johnson    
7     Love on Borrowed Time 2:58
William Weatherspoon    
8     Through the Memories of My Mind 2:41
William Weatherspoon
9     This Girl Is a Woman Now 2:58
A.J. Bernstein / Vic Millrose
10     The World Don't Owe You a Thing    
11     Now Is the Time to Say Goodbye
Freda Payne    
12     Happy Heart 2:51
James Last / Jackie Rae
13     Cherish What Is Dear to You (While It's Near to You) 3:58     
Angelo Bond / Holland-Dozier / Holland
14     I Shall Not Be Moved 2:46
Holland-Dozier / Holland
15     I'm Not Getting Any Better 6:14
Holland-Dozier / Holland
16     Suddenly It's Yesterday 4:59
Holland-Dozier / Holland    
17     You Brought the Joy 2:57
Holland-Dozier / Holland    
18     He's in My Life 3:48
Ronald Dunbar
19     You've Got to Love Somebody (Let It Be Me) 3:03
William Weatherspoon
Tracklist 2 :
1     Instrumental Prelude 0:55
Holland-Dozier / Holland    
2     The Road We Didn't Take 4:19
Holland-Dozier / Holland
3     Bring the Boys Home 3:31
Angelo Bond / General Johnson / Greg Perry
4     Odds and Ends 3:46
General Johnson    
5     Mama's Gone 3:27
General Johnson    
6     How Can I Live Without My Love 2:57
Holland-Dozier / Holland     
7     Just a Woman 2:35
William Weatherspoon
8     Come Back 2:52
Holland-Dozier / Holland    
9     You're the Only Bargain I've Got 3:43
Ronald Dunbar / General Johnson
10     We've Gotta Find a Way Back to Love 3:07
Holland-Dozier / Holland    
11     Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right 3:22
Holland-Dozier / Holland / Richard Wylie
12     Rainy Days and Mondays 4:43
Roger Nichols / Paul Williams    
13     If You Go Away 6:34
Jacques Brel / Rod McKuen    
14     Right Back Where We Started From 3:49
Ronald Dunbar / M. Smith    
15     Mood for Love 3:08
Angelo Bond / Gary "Gazza" Johnson / Greg Perry
16     Reaching Out 3:20
Ronald Dunbar / Michael W. Smith     
17     For No Reason 2:37
Ronald Dunbar / M. Smith
18     The Man of My Dreams 4:15
Ronald Dunbar / M. Smith     
19     Mother Misery's Favourite Child 5:11
Holland-Dozier / Holland     
20     You Brought the Joy 2:57
Holland-Dozier / Holland
21     Band of Gold 3:42
Ronald Dunbar / Edyth Wayne
22     Deeper and Deeper 3:18
Ronald Dunbar / Norma Toney / Edyth Wayne

FREDA PAYNE - After The Lights Go Down Low (1963-2005) RM | LP Reproduction | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 

By the year 2000, the golden oldie rotation of "Band of Gold" was the main thing keeping the memory of this singer alive. Yet, deep in the catalog of this classic jazz label lies this ambitious, largely successful recording which shows just how diverse and indeed brilliant Freda Payne can be. The album is divided half into big band tracks, half into small combo. The main presence in both cases is alto saxophonist Phil Woods, and this is one of the few recordings he doesn't turn into a football scrimmage for bebop yardage. There is an incredible wealth of material here, and it is definitely impressive to consider that Duke Ellington wrote a song specifically for the session. It is the singer's confidence and marvelous vocal abilities that steal the show at every turn, but that is not to demean the contributions of top-drawer jazz musicians such as pianist Walter Perkins and guitarist Jim Hall. The record is dominated by Tin Pan Alley material, to be sure, but on the second side some serious jazz is attempted, including a beautiful "Round Midnight" and a version of "Lonely Woman" by Ornette Coleman. When it comes to the latter tune, the author of the liner note seems to be straining to hide his contempt, referring to the song as a "composition" in italics, as if it was too touchy to print such a thing in a regular font. It is hoped that an Impulse re-issue will see the light of day in this case so that the line "all that's left is a band of gold" will no longer be true in the case of this virtuoso songstress. Eugene Chadbourne  
Tracklist :
1. After the Lights Go Down Low 3:23
L.C. Lovett / A. White
2. Sweet Pumpkin 2:56
Ronnell Bright
3. Blue Piano 2:48
Duke Ellington / Bill Katz / Ruth Roberts / Bob Thiele
4. The Things We Love To Do 2:32
Stanley Clayton / Clara Ward
5. Awaken My Lonely One 2:07
Philip Moody / Doris Pony Sherrell
6. Sweet September 2:33
Bill McGuffie
7. I Cried for You 3:58
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman
8. 'Round Midnight 4:20
Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams 
9. Out of This World 3:10
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
10. Lonely Woman 3:53
Ornette Coleman / Margo Guryan
11. I Wish I Knew 3:50
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
12. It's Time 1:53
Pauline Rivelli / Ruth Roberts
Credits :
Freda Payne - Vocals                                          
Al DeRisi - Trumpet
Jimmy Nottingham - Trumpet
Ernie Royal - Trumpet
Nick Travis - Trumpet
Quentin Jackson - Trombone
Alan Raph - Trombone
Bob Brookmeyer - Valve Trombone
Phil Woods - Alto Saxophone
Seldon Powell - Tenor Saxphone
Zoot Sims - Tenor Saxphone
Sol Schlinger - Baritone Saxophone
Hank Jones - Piano
Art Davis - Bass
Gus Johnson - Drums
Manny Albam - Arranger, Conductor
Recorded September 1963
at RCA Studios, New York City
Tracks 1 and 2 on September 17
Tracks 3-6 on September 18
Tracks 7-12
Phil Woods - Alto Saxophone
Hank Jones - Piano
Jim Hall - Guitar
Art Davis - Bass
Walter Perkins - Drums

FREDA PAYNE - Band Of Gold (1970-2012) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although much of soul vocalist Freda Payne's early '70s association with the mighty Invictus label would be fraught with stress, her 1970 debut album, Band of Gold, was nevertheless a masterpiece of epic proportions. Touted on the sleeve as "people music, for people who like pop, rhythm and blues, ballad, hymns -- just about anything," Payne's set certainly reflects that wide range and, while the overall sonic tone of Band of Gold reflects her producers' Motown history, especially across songs like "Unhooked Generation" and the Holland-Dozier penned "The World Don't Owe You a Thing," there are other more spontaneous moments here as well. With a majority of the songs co-written by Ron Dunbar, who would go on to become part of the P-Funk empire, "Payne" wowed her audience first with the top hit "Band of Gold" before diving into "Deeper and Deeper." Both are downtempo love ballads, delivered with a maturity and richness that belies much of the balladeering of the era. Other standouts include the young love remembrances of "Through the Memory of My Mind," which allows Payne's vocals to stay fully in front and even includes a subtle Shangri-Las-y spoken work bridge and the smoky intro'd "This Girl Is a Woman Now." It must be said, however, that the title song -- truly one of the greatest soul ballads of all time -- so dominates proceedings that it is very easy to overlook these other gems, one reason why Band of Gold rarely attracts much attention today. Amy Hanson
Tracklist :
1     Band of Gold 2:53
Ronald Dunbar / Edyth Wayne       
2     I Left Some Dreams Back There 3:19
Ronald Dunbar
3     Deeper and Deeper 2:52
Ronald Dunbar / Norma Toney / Edyth Wayne
4     Rock Me in the Cradle 3:00    
Ronald Dunbar / General Johnson
5     Unhooked Generation 2:29
E. Wayne, R. Dunbar
6     Love on Borrowed Time 2:56
William Weatherspoon
7     Through the Memory of My Mind 2:40
William Weatherspoon   
8     This Girl Is a Woman Now 2:59
A.J. Bernstein / Vic Millrose
9     The World Don't Owe You a Thing 2:58    
Holland-Dozier
10     Now Is the Time to Say Goodbye 3:09
Freda Payne
11     Happy Heart 2:49
James Last / Jackie Rae
12     The Easiest Way to Fall 2:3
Ronald Dunbar

FREDA PAYNE - Reaching Out (1973-2012) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Freda Payne was a onetime flagship of Invictus, the label established by Motown mutineers Holland-Dozier-Holland. Though she only made three albums with the former Detroit hit machine, it was through the first two singles both artist and label became instantly known. Parting with Motown proved the right decision for HDH in their search for more creative recognition. Through Payne's "Unhooked Generation" and " "Band of Gold" they nurtured a newfound soul style. Combining the infectious rhythmic base of their earlier efforts with the Supremes and the Four Tops, HDH ventured into a more funk-oriented approach, with a little less emphasis on the familiar orchestration.
Payne's debut album may have been a standout. By the time Reaching Out was released, Holland-Dozier-Holland seemed to have focused their attention elsewhere. They only took writing credits for three compositions, leaving the bulk to Smith and co-producer Dunbar and some ill-advised cover versions. A little less attention to the packaging would have been at its place; not even a bikini-clad Payne can make up for a tragic misstep like treating listeners to her version of "If You Go Away." Her voice remains sensual throughout the album; however, it never comes close to the spine tickling capacities of the debut. Also, Reaching Out is heavily in need of more playful album tracks like "The Easiest Way to Fall" or "Love on Borrowed Time" from her debut album. Only in one instance does Payne revitalize the memory of earlier hits: the darkly grooving "Mother Misery's Favourite Child" reflects the way she had with domestic drama. Though it can't be all blamed on Payne; if only HDH and Dunbar had supplied her with some of the quality stuff they took to the Honey Cone. Quint Kik  
Tracklist :
1     Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right
Holland-Dozier / Richard Wylie
2     Reaching Out
Ronald Dunbar / M. Smith    
3     For No Reason
Ronald Dunbar / M. Smith
4     Man of My Dreams
Ronald Dunbar / M. Smith    
5     Mother Misery's Favourite Child
Holland-Dozier / Holland    
6     We've Gotta Find a Way Back to Love
Holland-Dozier / Holland
7     Mood for Love
Angelo Bond / Gary "Gazza" Johnson / Greg Perry
8     Rainy Days and Mondays
Roger Nichols / Paul Williams    
9     If You Go Away
Jacques Brel / Rod McKuen    
10     Right Back Where I Started From
Ronald Dunbar / M. Smith
Credits :
Arranged By – Donald Baldwin, McKinley Jackson, Michael L. Smith, Tony Camillo
Vocals – Freda Payne

FREDA PAYNE - Payne & Pleasure (1974-2009) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     It's Yours To Have 4:15
Reginald Dozier / McKinley Jackson
2     Didin't I Tell You 3:28
Reginald Dozier / Althea King
3     I Get Carried Away 4:19
Reginald Dozier / Althea King
4     Run for your Life 3:29
McKinley Jackson / Barney Perkins
5     Don't Wanna Be Left Out 6:32
Reginald Dozier / McKinley Jackson
6     Shadows on the Wall 5:07
McKinley Jackson / Barney Perkins
7     I Won't Last a Day Without You 4:29
Roger Nichols / Paul Williams
8     The Way We Were 3:42
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Marvin Hamlisch
9     A Song For You 5:52
Leon Russell
Credits :
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Gene Page
Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Julia Tillman, Myrna Matthews, Shirley Jones
Backing Vocals, Other [Background Contractor] – Edna Wright, Marti McCall
Bass – Scott Edwards (2)
Congas – Leslie Bass (pistas: 6, 9)
Contractor [Musician Contractor] – Olivia Page
Drums – Ed Greene (2) (pistas: 3, 5, 6 to 9), Kenny "Spike" Rice (pistas: 1, 2, 4)
Grand Piano, Electric Piano – Joe Sample
Guitar – Dennis Budimir (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9), Don Peake (pistas: 3, 5, 7, 8), Ray Parker
Guitar [Wah-wah] – Melvin "Wah-Wah" Ragin* (pistas: 1 to 5, 7, 8)
Harpsichord – Gene Page (pistas: 3, 5, 7, 8)
Organ – Huby Heard (pistas: 1 to 5, 7, 8)
Producer, Arranged By, Orchestrated By – McKinley T. Jackson II
Vibraphone – Emil Richards

FREDA PAYNE – How Do You Say I Don't Love You Anymore (1966-2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 

In 1966, when Freda Payne recorded How Do You Say I Don't Love You Anymore for MGM, she had already recorded a jazz LP for Impulse! but was still a few years away from Invictus and her commercial peak with the polished '70s soul of "Band of Gold." Although the LP was arranged by Benny Golson, one of the finest arranger/composers in jazz, it was closer to a pop date than vocal jazz. Payne sang "Yesterday" and "Let It Be Me" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," while the studio charts of Golson (and production by Tom Wilson) looked to the contemporary pop burgeoning across the pond from Petula Clark and Tony Hatch. (Think punchy but compressed brass, perfect for mono speakers in car radios and department stores.) Despite her early jazz leanings, Payne proves herself a far better pop-soul singer, sounding great on the two songs with the most hit potential, the title track and "You Never Should Have Loved Me." By comparison, her interpretations of the standards are clumsy; she holds notes a beat too long and wrings every last note of melodrama from "Yesterday" and "Let It Be Me." Overall, not a bad dry run for her Invictus recordings, which would begin in just a few years. John Bush
Tracklist :
1  (How Do You Say) I Don't Love You Anymore  2:35
Written-By – Kooper, Levine
2  Yesterday  2:58
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
3  San Juan  2:26
Written-By – Raleigh, Zacharias
4  You Never Should Have Loved Me  2:38
Written By – Thomas Wilson 
5  Let It Be Me  3:11
Written-By – Bécaud, Curtis, Delanoë
6  On Easy Street  2:01
Written-By – Anisfield, Weiss
7   You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'  3:14
Written-By – Weil - Mann, Spector
8  It's Here For You  2:55
Written-By – Daryll
9  Feeling Good  3:09
Written-By – Newley, Bricusse
10  Sad Sad September  1:52
Written-By – Frank Owens
11  If You Love Me  2:32
Written-By – Piaf, Parsons, Monnot
12   Too Late  2:10
Written By – Maxwell
Credits :
Arranged By, Conductor – Benny Golson
Freda Payne - Vocals 

FREDA PAYNE - Come Back To Me Love (2014) FLAC (tracks), lossless

 
Tracklist:
1     You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To 4:23
Cole Porter
2     Haven't We Met 3:54 
Ruth Batchelor / Kenny Rankin
3     Lately   3:53 
Gretchen Valade
4     Come Back To Me Love  5:23  
Gretchen Valade
5     Whatever Happened To Me 3:23      
Gretchen Valade
6     You Don't Know 3:48   
Tom Robinson / Gretchen Valade
7     Save Your Love For Me 5:21 
Buddy Johnson
8     Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry 3:55  
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
9     The Island 6:10   
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Ivan Lins / Victor Martins
10     I Should Have Told Him 3:31 
Tom Robinson / Gretchen Valade
11     I Just Have To Know 4:25
Tom Robinson / Gretchen Valade
12     Midnight Sun 5:38  
Sonny Burke / Lionel Hampton / Johnny Mercer
13     Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most 4:46   
Thomas J. Wolf Jr. / Fran Landesman
14     I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water 4:23
Eddie Miller
Credits:
Producer, Arranged By, Conductor – Bill Cunliffe
vocals – Freda Payne

FREDA PAYNE – Contact (1971-2018) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Freda Payne's second Invictus album was a significant success, making it onto the pop charts. She found her niche in the early '70s, doing silky, sophisticated pop/soul with excellent production, arrangements, and material supplied by the Holland/Dozier/Holland team. They wisely didn't try to make her a sassy or hard-edged vocalist, putting her voice in string and horn-dominated charts and emphasizing her soothing, lightly sensual side. Ron Wynn
Tracklist : 
1 I'm Not Getting Any Better 6:45
Written-By – Holland - Dozier
2 Suddenly It's Yesterday 4:24
Written-By – Holland - Dozier
3 You Brought The Joy 3:00
Written-By – Holland - Dozier
4 Bring The Boys Home 3:22

Written-By – A. Bond, G. Johnson, G. Perry

5 You've Got To Love Somebody (Let It Be Me) 3:01
Written-By – R. Miner, W. Weatherspoon
6 Prelude 0:53
Written-By – Holland - Dozier
7 The Road We Didn't Take 4:17
Written-By – Holland - Dozier
8 Odds And Ends 3:50
Written-By – G. Johnson, G. Perry
9 Cherish What Is Dear To You (While It's Near To You) 3:56
Written-By – A. Bond, Holland - Dozier
10 I Shall Not Be Moved 2:43
Written-By – Holland - Dozier
11 Mama's Gone 3:23
Written-By – G. Johnson, G. Perry, R. Dunbar

– BONUS TRACKS –

12 You Brought The Joy (Us Single Version)

13 He's In my Life

14 How Can I Live Without My Life

15 Just A Woman

16 Come Back

17 You're The Only Bargain I've Got

18 Deeper And Deeper (Us Single Version)

19 Band Of Gold (Alternate Version)

Credits :

Arranged By – H.B. Barnum, McKinley Jackson, Anthony Camillo

Musician [Stuff] – Greg Perry, Ronald Dunbar, William Weatherspoon

Primary Artist, Vocals  –  Freda Payne