THERE was life to Candi Staton before Young Hearts Run Free, that most exhilarating of 1976 disco anthems.
Old hearts will run freer for this re-introduction to the sweetest of Candi grooves from 1968 to 1974. Damon Albarn's time team at his Honest Jons label has dug up 26 elusive singles and album tracks - all songs of love's pleasures and pains - recorded by Canzella Maria Staton for Fame Records of Muscle Shoals, Alabama back when soul had soul.
Raised on gospel, she was spotted by Fame owner Rick Hall, who was seeking a blues singer to duplicate his success with Etta James. Staton recalls how Hall used to "work me until my throat was absolutely irritated to get the sound he wanted." Thank you for suffering for your art, Candi, because this Southern-fried soul is ballsy and bruised, sensual and sassy, righteous and right there whenever you need it, happy, horny or sad.
Updated: 08:58 Thursday, February 19, 2004
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