Shirley Scott – Superstition CD (Soul Brother)

Shirley Scott (1934 – 2002) and known as ‘The Queen Of The Organ’. She began her career as a side musician playing with Eddie Lockjaw Davis in the 50’s and early 60’s, and played on numerous albums with her husband Stanley Turrentine on Blue Note throughout the 60’s.

‘Superstition’ from 1973 was the last of the three albums Shirley recorded for Cadet and certainly the funkiest she ever made. It features a magnificent band including Ramon Morris, Jimmy Owens, Ron Carter, Jimmy Ponder, Grady Tate and Derf Reklaw amongst others. It was produced by Esmond Edwards who would go on to produce Reuben Wilson’s classic ‘Got To Get Your Own’ for the same label a couple of years later.

‘Hanky’s Panky’ was very popular on the London Jazz Dance scene in the late 80’s to mid 90s. It is this track which has made the album a collectors item for three decades, however there are many other great tracks on the album. ‘Liberation Song’ is also a great original track, on which Shirley’s organ is very prominent. The incredible up-tempo covers of ‘Superstition’, ‘Last Tango in Paris’ and ‘People Make The World Go Round’ take well known songs to another place, and feature some really good playing from all the musicians.  With fantastic grooves and playing throughout this has to be one of Cadet’s finest albums. – Soul Brother