Denise LaSalle "Trapped By A Thing Called Love" [1/17/2024-Org]

[Motown Eddie]

Denise LaSalle's seminal debut record for Westbound Records, released in 1972, introduced the world at large to a storming force in blues. At Westbound, Denise refined her Chicago Blues roots and recorded Trapped By A Thing Called Love, adding contemporary and soulful arrangements to her flawless songs. The result garnered huge hits, a massive fan base, and put Ms. LaSalle on track to being crowned "Queen Of The Blues." It remains an undisputed classic of the genre. The album has been remastered by Dave Gardner for its first pressing in more half a century, as part of Org Music's ongoing Westbound Records reissue series.

Tracklist
1. Trapped By A Thing Called Love
2. Now Run And Tell That
3. Heartbreaker Of The Year
4. Good Goody Getter
5. Catch Me If You Can
6. Hung Up, Strung Out
7. Do Me Right
8. The Deeper I Go [The Better It Gets]
9. If You Should Loose Me
10. Keep It Coming
11. It's Too Late

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNNDT296/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon Canada
Available for pre-order soon:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DNNDT296/?tag=imwanca-20

Amazon UK
Available for pre-order soon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DNNDT296/?tag=imwan-21

[daviddesper]

Eddie:

Thanks for sharing the news. When I first heard about Westbound's plans to re-issue some of its catalog, I of course hoped that Denise would be included at some point. So I am happy to be seeing this and I hope it will help some younger folks develop an appreciation for her, which in turn might help her other products sell.

Sadly this one does not have any bonus tracks and is instead just the basic album, so of course I already have it. But it's a start!

If there are in fact others out there who want to further acquaint themselves with this soul sister, her two follow-up albums on Westbound, On the Loose and Here I Am Again, were both better than this debut in my opinion.

She then experimented with disco, as a lot of artists felt almost forced to do, and some of those on the ABC family of labels were better than others.

But finally her perfect fit came along in the early 80s when she signed with Malaco and became more of a soul/blues artist. She recorded a string of great albums for that label, all of which are still readily available on most of the usual websites. The two best albums from that period [[again my opinion) were Right Place Right Time and Love Talkin', which were released back to back in 1984 and 1985 I believe.

She wrote a lot of her own material and one of her most clever songs was on the RPRT album. It was called Your Husband is Cheating on Us. It tells the story of her [[Denise) being the "other woman", only to find out that there is now ANOTHER "other woman," so Denise feels it is her obligation to go to the wife and let her know what her husband has been up to. It is a classic southern soul song with very witty lyrics.

In the early 2000s, she left Malaco and signed with Ecko Records. That in my opinion was a disaster, and she eventually returned to Malaco for one final album. She was still writing and working on more material when she passed away in 2018.

Sorry to get carried away, but she was definitely a favorite of mine. So if any of you liked singers like Candi Staton, Ann Peebles, Millie Jackson, Carla Thomas, etc. there is a good chance you could warm up to her. So take a chance if you ever see one of her albums or CDs during your travels, especially the ones released on Malaco.

[reese]

Eddie:

Thanks for sharing the news. When I first heard about Westbound's plans to re-issue some of its catalog, I of course hoped that Denise would be included at some point. So I am happy to be seeing this and I hope it will help some younger folks develop an appreciation for her, which in turn might help her other products sell.

Sadly this one does not have any bonus tracks and is instead just the basic album, so of course I already have it. But it's a start!

If there are in fact others out there who want to further acquaint themselves with this soul sister, her two follow-up albums on Westbound, On the Loose and Here I Am Again, were both better than this debut in my opinion.

She then experimented with disco, as a lot of artists felt almost forced to do, and some of those on the ABC family of labels were better than others.

But finally her perfect fit came along in the early 80s when she signed with Malaco and became more of a soul/blues artist. She recorded a string of great albums for that label, all of which are still readily available on most of the usual websites. The two best albums from that period [[again my opinion) were Right Place Right Time and Love Talkin', which were released back to back in 1984 and 1985 I believe.

She wrote a lot of her own material and one of her most clever songs was on the RPRT album. It was called Your Husband is Cheating on Us. It tells the story of her [[Denise) being the "other woman", only to find out that there is now ANOTHER "other woman," so Denise feels it is her obligation to go to the wife and let her know what her husband has been up to. It is a classic southern soul song with very witty lyrics.

In the early 2000s, she left Malaco and signed with Ecko Records. That in my opinion was a disaster, and she eventually returned to Malaco for one final album. She was still writing and working on more material when she passed away in 2018.

Sorry to get carried away, but she was definitely a favorite of mine. So if any of you liked singers like Candi Staton, Ann Peebles, Millie Jackson, Carla Thomas, etc. there is a good chance you could warm up to her. So take a chance if you ever see one of her albums or CDs during your travels, especially the ones released on Malaco.

A lot of nice info here.

I wasn't a huge fan. For me, Denise was one of those artists of whom I would buy a hits collection or a live album. I also bought the dvd pairing her with Shirley Brown.

There was a nice profile of Denise in David Freeland's book LADIES OF SOUL. I gather she really wanted to become a gospel artist and stop singing secular music. There was a gospel album but I have no idea how it was received.

[daviddesper]

Funny you should bring that up because I had some correspondence directly with Denise at the time she released a gospel album entitled God's Got My Back. I think that was around 1999. She said that she was leaving Malaco because she wanted to do gospel and they did not agree. So she released it on her own label I think.

Either it did not sell well or she simply changed her mind, because her next venture was the series of soul albums she did with Ecko from roughly 2000 to 2010 give or take. Those can still be found but as mentioned, they just don't measure up to her Malaco soul stuff.

After her death, the DVD you mentioned came along, as well as a live album with just Denise. Very recently I read about another gospel album but as near as I can figure it is just an expansion of the one from 2000 and it may have been released by some of her family members.

Also very recently, like just last year, an artist who had sang back up for her released a CD featuring cover versions of her songs. I think that lady's name is Arianna Woodruff or something like that. The album can be found simply by searching under Denise's name. It was "OK" but certainly not as good as the real thing!

Glad to have you aboard as a fan, although it sounds like you were not as rabid as I was!

[reese]

Glad to have you aboard as a fan, although it sounds like you were not as rabid as I was!

A fan, yes. I also enjoyed reading Denise's book.But as rabid as you, no.

But I must confess: after I bought the DIVAS IN THE DELTA dvd, I ended up becoming a huge fan of Shirley's, buying all of her cds.

[Motown Eddie]

Eddie:

Thanks for sharing the news. When I first heard about Westbound's plans to re-issue some of its catalog, I of course hoped that Denise would be included at some point. So I am happy to be seeing this and I hope it will help some younger folks develop an appreciation for her, which in turn might help her other products sell.

Sadly this one does not have any bonus tracks and is instead just the basic album, so of course I already have it. But it's a start!n, Ann Peebles, Millie Jackson, Carla Thomas, etc. there is a good chance you could warm up to her. So take a chance if you ever see one of her albums or CDs during your travels, especially the ones released on Malaco.

Thanks Dave; And Ace Records does have two Deniese LaSalle CDs available for those who are interested.

Trapped By A Thing Called Love/On The Loose [first two Westbound albums on one CD]
Denise LaSalle - Trapped By A Thing Called Love / On The Loose - Ace Records

Making A Good Thing Better [Complete Westbound Singles]
Denise LaSalle - Making A Good Thing Better - Ace Records

[heikki]

Hi!

Please find here my short interview with Denise after the release of "God's Got My Back."

Best regards
Heikki

[Motown Eddie]

Hi!

Please find here my short interview with Denise after the release of "God's Got My Back."

Best regards
Heikki

Great interview with Denise LaSalle. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Best Regards to You & Yours.

[lockhartgary]

A lot of nice info here.

I wasn't a huge fan. For me, Denise was one of those artists of whom I would buy a hits collection or a live album. I also bought the dvd pairing her with Shirley Brown.

There was a nice profile of Denise in David Freeland's book LADIES OF SOUL. I gather she really wanted to become a gospel artist and stop singing secular music. There was a gospel album but I have no idea how it was received.

Are you referring to the album "God's Got My Back"? I live in Jackson, TN where Denise and James "Super" Wolfe were living when the album was released. She actually did a concert at the church I was attending back in 1999 or so. I remember the church being pretty full.

[reese]

Are you referring to the album "God's Got My Back"? I live in Jackson, TN where Denise and James "Super" Wolfe were living when the album was released. She actually did a concert at the church I was attending back in 1999 or so. I remember the church being pretty full.

Yes. That's the one. In David Freeland's book, she mentioned the album and it sounded as if she really wanted to switch over to gospel.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I'm a fan of Denise LaSalle's music. [[Not a devout fan like you, David, but I love certain tracks by her, i.e., "Man-Size Job", "Now Run And Tell That", "Married But Not To Each Other", etc.) I have Denise's CD "Making A Good Thing Better: The Complete Westbound Singles [[1970-1976)" featuring 26 tracks. Most of her music I like a lot, but not enough to buy her entire catalog. I saved that kind of dedication for Millie Jackson and Candi Staton [[Pop/Soul CD's only, not Gospel).

NOTE: David, I just realized that I inadvertently left out Denise's 2-CD set "My Toot Toot: The Definitive Anthology", which I also have.

[daviddesper]

She and Millie are kind of similar.......but I guess Millie is more blatant and sexual than Denise. Since you didn't mention any of her Malaco albums, if you should ever get the chance, you should try one of them. The Westbound and ABC stuff was good, but she was sooooo much better while at Malaco.

[Stax_of_Motown]

I like her music, probably due to the backing of the Royal Studios musicians.
On her final Westbound album "Here I Am Again +", which was recorded in Memphis, Detroit and Muscle Shoals, my favourite track "Stay With Me Awhile" is a Jobete written by Jack Goga & J. George, but a Memphis recording. Cannot find any Motown recording with this title. Anyone any info / theory about this?

[Philles/Motown Gary]

She and Millie are kind of similar.......but I guess Millie is more blatant and sexual than Denise. Since you didn't mention any of her Malaco albums, if you should ever get the chance, you should try one of them. The Westbound and ABC stuff was good, but she was sooooo much better while at Malaco.

David, I'll check out Denise's Malaco material.

Millie has her moments of being just a little bit naughty, which I find clever and humorous, but that's not the reason why I love all of her Spring albums. My reason for being a Millie Jackson completist is because of her top-notch productions by Raeford Gerald and later by Brad Shapiro. I also love her back-up girl group, Brandye. In fact, Millie's first few albums weren't dirty at all. Tracks like "My Man, A Sweet Man," "Ask Me What You Want", "It Hurts So Good", "How Do You Feel The Morning After", "Get Your Love Right", and "A House For Sale" were all great soul songs of which some were highly Motown-ish. And, of course, I love Millie's voice.

[daviddesper]

I agree. I did not like her because she could be raunchy. She was just a good soul singer. But it did entertain me more when she got down and dirty. For example, I like that song about Leftovers......when the wife comes looking for her husband and she and Millie get into it.

Since you mentioned Brandye, I assume you have their CD. The song One Woman's Trash could have been a hit for them.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I agree. I did not like her because she could be raunchy. She was just a good soul singer. But it did entertain me more when she got down and dirty. For example, I like that song about Leftovers......when the wife comes looking for her husband and she and Millie get into it.

Since you mentioned Brandye, I assume you have their CD. The song One Woman's Trash could have been a hit for them.

Yeah, Millie is/was the Queen of Confrontation! Her "Caught Up" and "Still Caught Up" albums were a real hoot at the time! Better yet, the songs and production quality were solid and instantly likeable. For me, they've stood the test of time beautifully.

I think I bought the Brandye album back when it first came out, but was disappointed that it didn't have the same appeal to me as Millie's albums.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I agree. I did not like her because she could be raunchy. She was just a good soul singer. But it did entertain me more when she got down and dirty. For example, I like that song about Leftovers......when the wife comes looking for her husband and she and Millie get into it.

Since you mentioned Brandye....

David, are you familiar with Millie's "Free And In Love' album from 1976? It was the first album release after "Caught Up" and "Still Caught Up". If I remember correctly, there are no dirty tracks on this one. Let me tell you, there are two dynamite tracks that make this one of my all-time favorite albums of Millie's.

"A House For Sale" [[A perfect example of why I love Millie & Brandye together)
https://youtu.be/ruYT9n0KLVE?si=u0qW1GMA_sZ3u0sw

And can't leave out:

"There You Are"
https://youtu.be/ekuiXqwzPX8?si=Lrqm1XG8LldBSUxP

["If I introduce myself to him, the man just might think I'm forward and loose!" [[Millie -- forward & loose? Nah, never! HaHaHa!!!]

[daviddesper]

I have that album buried somewhere, but I haven't played it in years. I think I remember House for Sale but the other one doesn't sound familiar.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I have that album buried somewhere, but I haven't played it in years. I think I remember House for Sale but the other one doesn't sound familiar.

ALL of Millie's Spring albums have been reissued on CD, including her hard-to-find "Hard Times". Some of them twice, in fact.