Margie Joseph - Margie Joseph (1973)

Margie Joseph was never a huge name in soul -- she never became as famous as Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, or Tina Turner. But she is a talented, charming singer with a recognizable delivery; although greatly influenced by Franklin, Joseph has a softer, more girlish delivery. Unfortunately, she has rarely enjoyed the sort of promotion she deserves -- not at Stax, not at Atlantic. Joseph moved from Stax to Atlantic in 1972, recording this self-titled LP the following year. Produced by Arif Mardin, Margie Joseph offers an enjoyable mix of Northern and Southern soul styles. Much of the album is devoted to covers, and the songs that Joseph embraces range from Ellington Jordan's "I'd Rather Go Blind" and Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" to Brook Benton's "I'll Take Care of You." Joseph also picks a Dolly Parton song, putting a soul spin on "Touch Your Woman." Some people might be surprised to learn that Joseph recorded a tune by a country star, but then, a lot of country was very pop-minded in the early '70s. And besides, Parton is very much a crossover artist, not a hardcore honky-tonker a la Kitty Wells. This decent, if imperfect, LP has been out of print since the 1970s, but it's worth obtaining if you can track down a copy. © Alex Henderson