Like Little Milton, I have amassed a few Ella Washington singles over the years. Very much championed by John Richbourg, her secular recording career spanned 1965 to around the end of 1972 in which time she released 13 singles and one album. I have copies of over half of those singles now.
She has a wonderful voice, a good range, and she can really let rip. She does have a bit of a lisp which is more or less noticeable on her various recordings and can be a bit of an acquired taste (for instance it does detract a bit from her performance on the B side of this 45 - If Time Could Stand Still - to my mind), but it does make her sound really down home I think.
This was one of her last secular releases. The sound of Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals is all over this record. More of Fame and Muscle Shoals in a few days time.
Ella Washington - Too Weak To Fight 1972
You can, of course, read more about her and her career over at Sir Shambling's site.
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