By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 07:00 am:

"Love Makes A Woman" by the late Barbara Acklin was recorded on this day (March 25) in 1968. Produced by Carl Davis, and with a soulful and brassy Sonny Sanders arrangement, the single reached #3 on Billboard's soul chart and #15 on the Hot 100. The session was done at Universal Recording at 46 E. Walton St. on the Near North Side of Chicago. One of the greatest hits in the history of Chicago Soul.

By TonyRussi (68.18.49.228) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 07:56 am:

A great record for sure.Hard to believe its been that long ago.

By fayette (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 08:20 am:

i didn't know barbara expired

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 10:00 am:

Barbara Acklin left us in November 1998.

A month before she passed she called me at my office to let me know she was going to Nebraska to get some rest, visit some friends and return to Chicago to resume singing and writing. At that time I had started working with a new label so we exchanged addresses. I wished her well and told her to keep in touch.

By Thanksgiving she was gone.

On a brighter note, recently I found the original session tape of "Love Makes A Woman" which Brunswick is planning on creating a 5.1 mix for the SACD format. I'll keep you all posted as to the progress of that project.

Respectfully,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Michael/Cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 10:20 am:

I also did not know she had died. She was a great writer as well as singer. I loved the piano/rhythm of "Love Makes A Woman." I believe she wrote songs for the Chi-Lites in addition to her own records.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 10:45 am:

Cleoharvey:
Here's a list of tunes Barbara wrote for the Chi-lites (with Eugene Record):
"Have You Seen Her"
"Toby"
"Stoned Out Of My Mind"
"Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was"
"Help Wanted (Heroes Are In Short Supply)"
"Being In Love"
"Someone Else's Arms"
"Too Good To Be Forgotten"
"You Don't Have To Go"
"Just Two Teenage Kids"

As well as the following for others:
"Whispers" & "Growing Tall" - Jackie Wilson
"Just Another Heartache" & "What Happened" - Artistics
"Suddenly" - Tony Drake
"Show Me The Way To Go" & "From The Teacher To The Preacher" - Barbara with Gene Chandler

Kevin Goins - KevGo
(PS - The arranger for "Love Makes A Woman" was William "Sonny" Sanders, who was Brunswick's in-house arranger and, prior to that, arranged the Reflections' "Just Like Romeo & Juliet")

By Michael/Cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 11:23 am:

KevGo:

Thanks my friend, you are a veritable fount of information. I knew that she had written a lot of songs but did not realize the extent! WOW!!

By stephanie (64.63.221.249) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 01:30 pm:

Did you all know Phoebe Snow did a version of Love Makes a Woman it was a single and it got airplay its really good.
Steph

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 01:34 pm:

Stephanie:
I remember Phoebe's version of "Love Makes.." and Barbara liked her rendition. Barbara also liked Swing Out Sister's take on "Am I The Same Girl".
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By FRANCIS T (195.92.67.69) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 01:55 pm:

Reading various comments about the death of Barbara Acklin I am reminded of how many of our heroes are moving on.The uk magazine IN THE BASEMENT carries an ever increasing obituary section.Very depressing.The mag is probably the best soul magazine anywhere and interviews some fantastic "forgotten artists".I have no interest in the mag incidentally- I just rate it.

More mag info www.basement-group.co.uk

Back to Barbara .What an artist.!Other greats include the Gene Chandler Teacher to Preacher and Raindrops on CAPITOL.

A sadly missed artist.

Francis T

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 02:12 pm:

Francis:
Barbara loved the Capitol sessions she did with Willie Henderson and "Raindrops" is indeed a "lost soul" classic.

Music researcher David Nathan interviewed Barbara prior to her passing. I hope he will someday publish the interview on his website or in Blues & Soul Magazine if he hadn't done so already.

You're right on about the obituaries. We really need to appreciate our legends while they are with us and not wait for their death for the tributes to start.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.91) on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 09:59 am:

Yet another great artist that never got the credit she deserved.
Barbara appeared in the uk around the mid/late 80's.And did a few all-nighters over here.
'Love makes a woman'was another huge dancer on the rare soul scene.I also like the instrumental of it by young holt unlimited also on Brunswick.
other tracks by Barbara,
am I the same girl/be by my side/Brunswick(no.55399)
after you/more ways than one/Brunswick(no.755421)
I did it/I'm living with a memory/Brunswick(no.55440)
The old matchmaker/I've got you baby/Brunswick(no.55355)

Also
Love makes a woman/Come and see me baby on Dua Records(no.1015)
and the outstanding
I'm not mad anymore/nobody cares on the Special Agent record label(no.203).
Mel.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 10:56 am:

Mel:
When I first met Barbara in 1995, she told me about her trip to Europe & how suprised she was that many UK fans knew her songs - the hits and the "obscurities". She really enjoyed her time there and was looking forward to going back.

Thanks for sharing your insights. As you & the rest could tell, Barbara held a very special place in my heart as an artist and a person. She is sadly missed.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.81) on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 11:09 am:

Right-on Kev,