Presenting Cissy Houston Explained

Presenting Cissy Houston
Type:studio
Artist:Cissy Houston
Cover:Presenting_Cissy_Houston.jpg
Released:September 1970
Recorded:1969
Length:01:09:03
Next Title:Cissy Houston
Next Year:1977

Presenting Cissy Houston is the debut album by American soul singer/backing vocalist and former Sweet Inspirations lead singer Cissy Houston, originally released on Major Minor Records in 1970 in the United Kingdom.[1] Her contract was sold to Janus Records the same year.[2] They released the album in the United States as Cissy Houston in 1970.[3] The 2012 CD re-release on Cherry Red Records incorporates bonus tracks from later recordings.[4]

Background

The album features a pop/soul cover version of "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself", written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, as well as covers of Bobby Darin's "I'll Be There" (which became a top 20 R&B hit for her), Melanie's "Any Guy", Sam & Dave's "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby", The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" (at #31 on the R&B chart), and The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road". The CD bonus tracks include her 1972 version of "Midnight Train to Georgia", which was later covered with huge success by Gladys Knight & the Pips.

Track listing

Side One
  1. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – 2:15
  2. "Didn't We" (Jimmy Webb) – 3:31
  3. "I'll Be There" (Bobby Darin) – 2:58
  4. "Any Guy" (Melanie Safka) – 3:14
  5. "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" (Isaac Hayes, David Porter) – 3:14
Side Two
  1. "Be My Baby" (Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector) – 3:25
  2. "This Empty Place" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - 2:31
  3. "The Long and Winding Road" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:49
  4. "He/I Believe" (Al Stillman, Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jack Richards, Jimmy Shirl, Richard Mullan) – 3:18
CD reissue bonus tracks
  1. "Darling, Take Me Back" (Larry Weiss) – 2:52
  2. "Hang On to a Dream" (Tim Hardin) – 4:07
  3. "Love You" (Ed Townsend) – 3:15
  4. "Making Love" (Bert Keyes, Myrna March) – 2:58
  5. "It's Not Easy" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:44
  6. "Midnight Train To Georgia" (Jim Weatherly) – 3:56
  7. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 3:29
  8. "Only Time You Say You Love Me" (Phillip Mitchell) – 3:33
  9. "I'm So Glad I Can Love Again" (Norma Toney) – 3:38
  10. "Nothing Can Stop Me" (Tony Hester) – 4:49
  11. "Don't Wonder Why" (Leonard Caston) – 3:16
  12. "Down in the Boondocks" (Joe South) – 2:11

Personnel

Charts

Singles

YearTitle
1970"I'll Be There"5420
1971"Be My Baby"9231

Reception

In the All Music Guide to Soul book, critic Richie Unterberger opines that "although the material consisted of fairly well-worn soul, rock, and pop tunes, the state-of-the-art arrangements and gospel-ish vocals made them sound fresh."[2]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.discogs.com/Cissy-Houston-Presenting-Cissy-Houston/release/3107003 Presenting Cissy Houston (Major Minor)
  2. Book: Bogdanov . Vladimir . Unterberger . Richie . All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul . 2003 . Hal Leonard Corporation . 9780879307448 . 321 . Revised . 22 June 2014.
  3. http://www.discogs.com/Cissy-Houston-Cissy-Houston/release/4425147 Cissy Houston album
  4. http://www.discogs.com/Cissy-Houston-Presenting-Cissy-Houston/release/4415470 Presenting Cissy Houston (Cherry Red)

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