New topic
Printable| Author | Message |
BettY Davis - this is funk... hi everyone!
last year in july i got an album called "This Is It!", a compilation of Betty Davis' three main albums. The music is some of the dirtiest, earthiest funk I ever heard. I highly recommend this music. She was married to Miles Davis for about a year. I got in touch with her and her music on the "Miles - Electric" DVD. ----- Here is some extra information, taken from http://www.angelfire.com/...davis.html (check out the link, there is a music sample on there (did not check if it works). The song is "Git in There", which is NOT one of my faves. You could try "My Man, Your man", "Funk", "He Was A Big Freak" (to Miles Davis), "Steppin In Her I.MIller Shoes", "They Say I am Different", and especially "Shut Off The Light".) Ever since Vibe magazine ran one of those "Props" articles on the former Mrs. Miles Davis, everyone's been clamoring for more info on this "Nasty Gal" of funk. The problem is that there isn't much info to be had.
I've learned that she had a career as a fashion model and singer in the early 60s prior to her Miles Davis (and Jimi Hendrix) affiliations. And even though she and Miles divorced before 1973, Ms. Betty Mabry kept her famous last name and released three fabulously funky discs from '73-'75. (A CD of unreleased 1979 tracks has recently been issued. 2 versions have been put out, Crashin' From Passion and Hangin' Out in Hollywood.) I hear Betty these days is living in Pennsylvania, happy to be out of the spotlight, despite a persisting rumour that she died a drug addict years ago. Nothing could be further from the truth, but listening to her records, you wouldn't know it. Betty doesn't really sing; she screams and snarls. She takes no prisoners. She writes songs called "Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him" and "If I'm in Luck, I Might Get Picked Up." It's her wild-woman approach to funk 'n blues that makes her albums fetch the highest collectors' prices of rare groove/funk records. And on the album I managed to find a bargain on ($40!), Betty looks like Angela Davis in space on the front cover, and an Egyptian goddess in day-glo eyeshadow on the back. I guess that makes her a space goddess. Indeed. | |
- E-mail - orgNote -  Report post to moderator |
no one? hey, you might miss something...  | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Betty Davis is one of my all time favorite artists...I have her first three releases and they are each outstanding. There is no one else even close to her... BTW I got hip to her through that Electric Miles DVD as well. Its a shame they glossed over her on the Miles Davis Story DVD. I definitely feel you! 
 [Edited 1/2/06 14:54pm] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Yep, when I hard the beginning of "Shut off the light" for the first time on this dvd, and her voice screaming and shouting and bursting with raw energy, I said to myself: "Okay, I have to have this, AT ONCE!"
It's a pity that there is hardly any information found about her. Bwtf, this music is definitive killer. And I would have never known here, if i had not found this miles dvd. Just the beginning of "He was a big freak", when she screames... and the music rushes into the place... awesome. A sweet black girl with such a exciting voice... Some black "community" blamed her for her lyrics and song titles like "If I am in luck I might get picked up". Well, this is funk, I guess...  | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
SenseOfDoubt said: Yep, when I hard the beginning of "Shut off the light" for the first time on this dvd, and her voice screaming and shouting and bursting with raw energy, I said to myself: "Okay, I have to have this, AT ONCE!"
It's a pity that there is hardly any information found about her. Bwtf, this music is definitive killer. And I would have never known here, if i had not found this miles dvd. Just the beginning of "He was a big freak", when she screames... and the music rushes into the place... awesome. A sweet black girl with such a exciting voice... Some black "community" blamed her for her lyrics and song titles like "If I am in luck I might get picked up". Well, this is funk, I guess... Very true indeed. She even fired back at the NAACP who called her a disgrace to the black race. She snaps on their asses on Dedicated to the Press...I love that song. The NAACP has always been led by a bunch of pretentious assholes that havent even addressed the fact that Colored is still in their moniker. It's funny how so many of us black people scream outrage and racism, yet think that even trying to be anything non mainstream, liberated or tangibly real is somehow distasteful. It irks the hell out of me..lol. BTW, check out my blog on the link in my signature, I wrote a piece about Betty Davis that I think you may enjoy. It's in the November archives. [Edited 1/2/06 15:18pm] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Just read your article - hope you don't mind but I had to bookmark your site. English is not my mother-language (you might have recognized it, if so, it would be sad...), but after all i think to be able judging your english as more than well-written. Keep it up! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
SenseOfDoubt said: Just read your article - hope you don't mind but I had to bookmark your site. English is not my mother-language (you might have recognized it, if so, it would be sad...), but after all i think to be able judging your english as more than well-written. Keep it up!
Thanx, and no I don't mind you bookmarking the site, I update it periodically whenever something moves me. Your english is fine and I didn't notice that it's not your mother language. I'm sure your english is 100% better than any other language I speak..  | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
YES BETTY BETTY BETTY...THIS IS !!!! ...FUNK Y'ALL !!!!! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Betty Davis was/is the true queen of funk. Larry, Gregg Errico, The Pointer Sisters, and Neal Schon tear shit up on her debut. She also fucked Miles, Jimi, and Sly around the same time and they were all cool with it. Madonna is cool but she ain't got shit on Betty. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |