Syreeta - The Rita Wright Years - Rare Motown 1967-1970 Rita Wright

£14.11

Genre:
60s Soul
Label:
Kent
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDTOP 455

The complete Motown masters of Rita Wright, better known as 1970s chartbuster Syreeta, including 18 previously unissued.

When issued on the Gordy label in early 1968, ‘I Can’t Give Back The Love I Feel For You’ introduced the hitherto unknown Rita Wright, who had gravitated from being a member of Motown’s office staff to the recipient of a dramatic Ashford/Simpson song and an even more spellbinding Holland-Dozier production, to which she brought an impassioned delivery that made the song her own. Despite its status as a favourite among connoisseurs, the record stiffed and Syreeta (to give Rita her real name) disappeared back into the company bullpen for several years, leaving those who had enjoyed her record wondering what had happened to her.

Syreeta recorded prolifically in the years between that single and her re-launch in 1972 as the protégée of Stevie Wonder, her husband. She cut stacks of demos for other Motown acts, including the song ‘Love Child’, recorded just a few days before the Supremes’ version. She was also given several chances to record with notable producers, but nothing impressed the company’s quality control department enough for a follow-up to be released. As you will hear, these tracks were not canned due to being in any way inferior to those issued by other Motown artists.

Syreeta may well have cut other tracks during the period covered by this CD but at the time of compilation these are the only 24 tracks mixed by Motown engineers at the time of recording, with the exception of ‘Love My Lovin’ Man’ which was mixed in 2016. Her most successful post-1970 recordings have been kept in print on and off since their initial issue but “The Rita Wright Years” offers the first overview of the period leading up to her 70s success.

Tony Rounce

Share

Track listing

Show

Side 1

Delivery & Returns

Show

We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

Show

★★★★★

Record Collector

Customer reviews

Show

Customers who bought this item also bought