| The David Nathan Pages |
| ESTHER PHILLIPS: THE QUEEN OF THE BLUES November 1973, Phone interview conducted by David Nathan (in London) Esther Phillips was enjoying a much-earned career rejuventation following the 1972 release of her first Kudu album, "From A Whisper To A Scream." After a few years of tough times (including a spell in rehab during which she kicked a drug habit that had sidelined her career more than once, she seemed ready to reach a new plateau... (c) 2007, David Nathan/SCI Enterprises, All rights reserved |
Its always a very gratifying and rewarding experience o see an artist in whom you have particular faith and in who you strongly believe,
finally begin to show signs of obtaining the success you’ve always though was their due. We all have out personal favorites but far too
many literally fall by the wayside in this very fickle business, and frequently sink into oblivion as a result of bad management, wrong
record deals and so on. Then again, there are those whose personal burdens weight them down and whose careers and never able to
flourish as a result.
Being completely frank, there are those who had marked Esther Phillips in such a manner more or less an artist who had little change of
ever really making it big. Not every entertainer has the will or strength to conquer setback and setback in both their personal and public
lives, but thankfully Miss Phillips had made in over and much to my own delight, is at last getting what’s long been due – public
recognition for her great talent.
In a career which has spanned no less that 25 years, from her beginnings with the Johnny Otis Show at the tender age of thirteen
through periods in which she enjoyed great success (“Release Me”, “And I Love Him”) to times when she was subject to such personal
stress and illness that she had partially quite Esther Phillips has finally and unquestionably arrived and unhesitatingly I say now, she
won’t be leaving....
...".Disc jockeys round the country put Kudu on to me – they told them I was free from contracts, so we signed a deal initially for one
album. That was “From a Whisper To A Scream” and it did so very well that we went on to sign a three-year contract. I think it would be
true to say that I am happier with Kudu than with any other company – they are interest in making good records and they won’t spare
any expense in the effort”.
The success of the album (which will undoubtedly be equaled by its successor “Alone Again Naturally”, which has just been issued in
the States) was due more than anything to the exceptional quality of the material, the excellent musicians used and the freer, looser
approach on the part of Miss Philips. Indeed listening to her Kudu material, one is reminded of the same spirit of unbounding freedom
which filled Aretha Franklin’s first Atlantic recordings – is many ways, this is the equivalent change for Esther Phillips. But the secret of
the exceptionally superb material she’s used on Kudu lies with none other than Esther herself...
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| ESTHER PHILLIPS 1973 Interview (EP-73-2007) Conducted by David Nathan, (c) 2007, David Nathan/SCI Enterprises |
