I'd seen the Little Ann "Deep Shadows" LP for a little while, and finally did what I usually do: look up some of the tunes online before I buy the record. And what I found was amazing, although there aren't many youtube vids featuring her. What there is, though, is worth a listen, so I got the record (good thing, it's now out of print) and tracked down a couple singles.
Her voice isn't particularly amazing, but her style is as compelling as her back story. (This isn't the same Little Ann who recorded doo wop with Tarheel Slim). She recorded the single "Deep Shadows" in 1969 for the Ric Tic label, then went back to the studio to record a full LP. The recording was never released because the single didn't go anywhere. Fast forward 20 years, two British soul collectors were going through producer and musician Dave Hamilton's vaults, and they stumbled on the unreleased record. They released a coupe of singles, and then in 2009 Finish label Timmion released the full LP. the track abov, "Lean Lanky Daddy" gets my vote for pick of the LP (and it's a single on British northern soul label Kent). Killer lyrics, upbeat and uptempo.
Some of her other stuff is a little more melancholy, but killer nonetheless.
She went to a northern soul reunion party in 2003, and was able to taste the fame that eluded her during her short career. She died a couple of years later. On the inner sleeve of the LP, it states her philosophy:
"If it doen't work out, I tried."
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