Kicking off the album is a cover of Ron Davies’s ‘It Ain’t Easy’ (as made famous by Bowie on Ziggy Stardust – dang and I said I wasn’t gonna’ mention him), Lennear goes for a more uptempo groove and offers up a fine vocal-shredding performance… Lennear’s talents as a muse did not end there as Bowie’s ‘Lady Grinning Soul’ is also said to be about her – but let’s not get bogged down in ‘who did what with who’ as that undermines Lennear’s own musical talents – she was much more than just a pretty trophy for the boys!Īlthough the entire LP is reportedly produced by Ian Samwell, who had previous form working with America and the Small Faces, the second side was given over to New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint, resulting in a long player that is, to use a well-worn footballing cliché, ‘a game of two halves’ – side one is the slightly rockier sounding and over on side two sweaty funk ‘n’ soul is the order of the day – NICE! It was while working as one of Russell’s ‘Shelter People’ (a loose conglomerate of musicians that played on numerous Russell productions) she began to move in more lofty circles and can be found singing back-up on George Harrison’s ‘Concert For Bangla Desh’ – was it here that she caught the ear (and eye) of a certain Mick Jagger who is said to have written ‘Brown Sugar’ in her honour? Ike, & Tina, Mick Jagger and Claudia Lennear
#CLAUDIA LENNEAR PHEW FULL#
Classic Allen Toussaint produced 1973 vinyl LP, full sales info hereĪlthough the 1973 long player ‘Phew!’ would be her sole album release Lennear has quite the musical pedigree, beginning her career as a backing singer/dancer with Ike & Tina Turners ‘Ikettes’ before also lending her not inconsiderable voice to music from Delaney & Bonnie, Humble Pie and Leon Russell amongst others.
Dick’s Picks: How about this gritty slice of 1973 vintage sister-funk from the little known Claudia Lennear….
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