Respecta.is - The Ultimate Hip Hop Portal

Following the 1972 release of her groundbreaking From A Whisper To A Scream album, Esther Phillips who had enjoyed hits as a child star (Little Esther) in the 50s and as a R&B/jazz stylist in the 60s was experiencing a career rejuvenation with Creed Taylor s Kudu label after kicking a long-time drug addiction and a spell in rehab. Keeping with the same basic formula of surrounding the distinctive soulful vocalist with redoubtable arranger Don Sebesky, top class label mates Hank Crawford, George Benson, Eric Gale and Ron Carter and all-star players (James Brown alumni Maceo Parker and rhythm arranger Pee Wee Ellis, Billy Cobham, Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Ralph MacDonald and Gordon Edwards), producer Taylor provided the perfect setting for Esther s interpretative skills. The result was the best-selling Alone Again Naturally, a Top 20 jazz and Top 30 R&B album in 1973.