LaVern

LaVern Baker's debut full-length cemented her reputation as not only one of the premier female singers of the time but as one of the greatest singers of all, period. LPs from this era customarily offered a few hot singles padded with filler, but, in accordance with Atlantic’s standards, LaVern maintains high quality from top to bottom. In its early years, Atlantic’s specialty was skirting the border between the mainstream American pop charts and the unbridled performances of the chitlin’ circuit. No one toyed with this divide quite like LaVern Baker. A song like “I’ll Never Be Free” features a tight arrangement and white backup singers, yet it still manages to transmit an irrepressible air of sexual anxiety. “Lots and Lots of Love” and “Of Course I Do” demonstrate Baker’s assertive, aggressive vocal presence, which rivals even the most macho male singers. But her debut proves she had range, and her ability to tell a story in song comes out in the ballads, especially “You’ll Be Crying,” “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” and “Harbor Lights,” the last of which was picked up by Elvis Presley on his inaugural sessions for Sun Records.