Ella Washington - Nobody but Me (1987/2021) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Ella WashingtonTo date Garry Cape's label has given us five cd’s encompassed by the subtitle “The Legendary John Richbourg Sessions”. Pete Nichols has reviewed the latest one by Willie Hobbs in his inimitable style but here I look at an earlier release by the ever reliable Ella Washington.

The Sound Stage 7 catalogue was never oversubscribed with female singers. However, with their two mainstays, Ann Sexton being the other, they recorded two of Southern Souls’ finest. This excellent compilation contains the bulk of her nine 45’s, tracks issued on her one and only album together with several unissued recordings. The highlights, of which there are many, are as follows.

The CD opens in memorable style with one of my personal favourites, Bobby Womack’s “I Can’t Afford To Lose Him”. Bobby’s guitar intro pulls you into this hypnotic mid paced masterpiece with Ella’s superb vocal hinting of what is to come. We don’t have to wait long because track two gives us the deep gem “Starving For Love” with Ella showing her considerable vocal talent off to great effect.

TRACKLIST

1. Ella Washington - Sit Down and Cry
2. Ella Washington - He Called Me Baby
3. Ella Washington - The Grass is Always Greener (On the Other Side of the Fence)
4. Ella Washington - I Want to Walk Through This Life with You
5. Ella Washington - All the Time
6. Ella Washington - Stop Giving Your Man Away
7. Ella Washington - I'm Losing the Feeling
8. Ella Washington - Doin the Best I Can
9. Ella Washington - Starving for Love
10. Ella Washington - He'll Be Back
11. Ella Washington - Too Weak to Fight
12. Ella Washington - Nobody but Me
13. Ella Washington - Sweet Talking Candy Man
14. Ella Washington - (You're Gonna) Cry Cry Cry



Thanks to the Original customer.