Any Viola Wills fans out there?

[blueskies]

An underrated singer, I think. http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/w/wills_viola_ifyoucoul_101b.jpg [[http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/w/wills_viola_ifyoucoul_101b.jpg) Please noteThis image is a general representation of the album cover, but the actual product may differ slightly in terms of color shading, logo placement, borders, or other small details. If the item offered is a used, second-hand item, please note that there may be some cosmetic differences as well.
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If You Could Read My Mind [[with bonus tracks) Viola Wills [[http://www.dustygroove.com/browse.php?kwfilter=Viola+Wills&incl_oos=1&incl_cs=1&format=all)
Around July 22, 2013 [[delayed)

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One of the only early full albums from Viola Wills – a soul singer who'd been bubbling under for years, but hardly ever got her time in the sun! Most tracks here are older numbers, redone in a sweet disco groove – and the sound is surprisingly strong, and hardly what you'd expect from the retro gimmick – thanks to tight instrumentation from a core combo that includes keyboards from Nick Straker and bass from Dennis Bovell! Viola's vocals are quite strong, and without the overdone qualities of later years – and titles include "Secret Love", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Something About You", "Let Me Be Your Rock", "Up On The Roof", "Don't Ever Stop Loving Me", and "That Same Old Feeling". © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.

[roger]

Loved her version of "If You Could Read My Mind" .. Mariachi meets Disco!! :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td-dHFctxo8

Roger

[roger]

But IMHO her true classic is this little ditty from 1985/6 ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SUim31tpRg

It even managed to sneak into the lower end of the U.K. charts ..

Roger

[roger]

And here is an early release from her [[late 1960s?) , produced by BARRY WHITE ..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2SDb2MmnT4

Roger

[splanky]

Always loved her voice just could never get behind a lot of the music she was paired with.
If anybody ever needed a jazz funk makeover it was Viola, IMO. Though I know that notion
probably won't sit well with a lot of folks...Sue me...

[robb_k]

I liked "You're Out of My Mind" very much, as well as all her cuts for Barry White on Bob Keane's labels.

[jillfoster]

I love Viola... I adore her look, she looks like a sculpture or something.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z4sgtjKa4g

[LadyLola]

Such a great singer.

[mark speck]

Her work with Barry White on the Bronco label was fantastic...I had that CD of Barry's earliest productions, but it seems to have disappeared on me. I think she also was a background singer on Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, if I'm not mistaken? I don't have that CD here with me, so I can't check.

Best,

Mark

[marv2]

This is the song that I will remember her most for. Just upbeat and nice music!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=746lOmgpw74

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I've been a devoted fan of Viola Wills since the '80s. I love her early dance tracks before it turned "House" -- especially her long version of "Stormy Weather". The vocal harmonies are great and the sax and drums are hot! I've amassed a large number of her recordings over the years -- "Dare To Dream" being among the prettiest. Have you guys ever heard Viola's medley of "Both Sides Now"/"Ebb Tide"/"Over The Rainbow"?

[Bluebrock]

Agree with you all. A fine singer capable of performing soul, disco and no doubt other genres too. I especially agree with roger. I just adore her version of "if you could read my mind". I love the original by Gordon Lightfoot and Viola put a whole new slant on it. Also recall a disco version in the film "fifty four" about the famous disco starring Ryan Phillippe and Mike Myers I think? I think Ultra Nate was one of the divas involved?

[jack020]

plus Jocelyn Enriquez & [[Dutch Dance diva) Amber!

[Bluebrock]

plus Jocelyn Enriquez & [[Dutch Dance diva) Amber!

I shall take your word for that jack020. It was at the finale of the film and was very enjoyable!