"Oh No Not My Baby: The Best of Maxine Brown" by Maxine Brown

Just like Baby Washington and the rest of early 1960s songbirds, this silky-voiced siren worked all over the music map with frustrating lack of hit singles, although she almost made it with "All in My Mind" that gave her ticket for prestigious New York-based label "Scepter Records" that promoted artists like Dionne Warwick, The Isley Brothers and Tammi Terrell among others. What came out of this collaboration was only one sizable success but the one she will be forever associated with - irresistible slice of early 1960s pop by redoubtable Carole King/Gerry Goffin team called "Oh No Not My Baby" that singer had to rescue from previously unsuccessful attempt by much bigger hit-makers The Shirelles - I always wondered how this song ever came her way, since Brown would not have access to such material in the first place and it seems fairly possible that someone at "Scepter Records" felt that the song had potential.

Maxine Brown herself clearly had gospel background - she might have recorded music very much in the vein of young Dionne Warwick but you can clearly hear gospel in her passion and exuberance. When initially I got this compilation, I was a little confused with such versatility, because it comes almost as a curse - its clear the vocals are excellent and more than capable but on the other hand, she comes as tamer predecessor to subsequent soul divas who would really get thing going later in the decade. Now its perhaps time for some re-evaluation, because in hindsight, even without big hits this music has its magic - singer is always spot on, while its hard to find fault with numbers by Ashford & Simpson. Unfortunately, nothing matches the sheer beauty of classic "Oh No Not My Baby" but what slipped between the cracks is still worth checking out. Perfect example of gifted vocalist who had all that matters - talent, looks, attitude - but is known only to devoted fans. It actually sounds better than I remember first time around. Personally I don't find her any less interesting than Warwick who simply had better luck with songwriting team.