"That's How Heartaches Are Made" by Baby Washington (1963)

This glorious album came from the early days of R&B when American black artists had limited audience at home but were worshipped in Europe, particularly UK where singles by New York's "Sue Records" had cult status. Music acts like Inez and Charlie Foxx, Ike and Tina Turner, Barbara Lynn and Righteous Brothers were all at some point recording for them and they (along with singers like Maxine Brown) paved the way for soul explosion in the late 1960s. It was Dusty Springfield who championed this particular lady as her all-time favourite singer and out of curiosity I checked album that trough the years became one of my favourites as well.

Its very interesting that whispery and willowy Springfield was enamoured of sound so drastically removed from hers - just as in another era small-voiced Billie Holiday admired majestic "Queen of the Blues" Bessie Smith, at first listener is struck with huge difference between two completely opposite kinds of instrument. Frankly, I would assume that Springfield owes much more to young Dionne Warwick who at the same time dazzled with the strings of delicate hits but it seems that privately British diva was enchanted with massive voice of this young lady whose sweet face belied impossibly mature, dark voice. Baby Washington might have looked like a doll but hers was the powerful roadhouse voice not unlike that of Darlene Love - instantly recognisable and exceptionally heavy, it was dark, chocolate sound that completely sweeps the unsuspected listener in warm cloak. Although I have collected her other work (even with girl group The Hearts) this particular album seems to represent her moment of glory, with classic early 1960s hit "That's How Heartaches Are Made" being perhaps the most famous of all. Another personal favourite is haunting "You And The Night And The Music" that Washington completely re-imagines from its past and creates something uniquely hers (another curiosity, also stolen from jazz repertoire is "Doodlin" previously recorded by everybody from Ray Charles to fantastic Lambert, Hendricks & Ross). As opposite to many other early R&B albums of the time, this one sounds excellent even today and I have been listening Washington for many years since - seems she still have cult following, despite being largely neglected by recording industry. UK's "Ace Records" released the whole album on a CD titled "The Sue Singles" (along with other tracks recorded at the same time) in 1996. and its my highest recommendation.