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Brenda
Russell was born in Brooklyn, New York, like me. Well, she was probably
a lot cuter than me. She moved to Toronto when she was 12. She and her husband, Brian Russell, worked as Canadian musicians before moving to Los Angeles, California, in 1973. They were session musicians and produced their own recordings. After their divorce, Brenda signed with A&M, releasing two albums: Brenda Russell [80, A&M, 8; 34:39] and Love Life (1981), my first Brenda Russell album. I'll be honest. I bought it because of the jacket. I never heard of her, had no idea what she'd sound like. She looked gorgeous, so I took a chance. I've read criticisms of Love Life but, frankly, it's a fine album - relaxing, and not in a bad sense. It's music you can play when you want to unwind or undress. Her songs are very melodic, pretty. Her playing and singing are fine. She writes most of her material. I could tout some of the best songs, like "Something I Like To Do" or "It's Something," but what would be the point? It's out-of-print. |
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I'd say Brenda grew as an artist, while developing her unique style. Two Eyes (1983)
is one album I do
not have on tape, having been under the foolish impression that Warner would release it on CD.
They didn't.
Maybe some day I can get a turntable and CD recorder.
CLICK BLUE BOX ABOVE FOR REVIEW |
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click | While her recording career simmered, Brenda was sizzling behind the scenes. She was known in the Industry, if not by the record-buying shmucks. So she'd pop up every so often, as on the nifty "Totally Academic" on the Soul Man soundtrack (1986). One of my favourite Brenda songs (a co-composition), "Beware of What You Want," is on Anita Pointer's solo album (1987). Not only did she contribute a song ("Dinner with Gershwin") to the Donna Summer classic, All Systems Go, but she worked with the great Linda Lewis on an album Americans can read about. So she was doing well producing. | |||
| That changed with 1988's Get Here [88, A&M, 8; 35:28]. "Piano in the Dark" was a major hit. Pretty good for a song that was a far cry from most top-forty piffle. The album has several great songs. "Gravity" was my favourite, with an outstanding, upbeat video. Strangely, the title song was not a hit until the early nineties, when Oleta Adams covered it. Brenda toured and we saw her in Mountain View. She was totally entertaining. I'd go see her anytime, anywhere. | |||
 | Kiss Me With the Wind[90, A&M, 11; 51:35] was another fine album. It includes her own rendition of "Dinner with Gershwin" and another of my favourites, "Justice in Truth," an absolutely beautiful song. Soul Talkin' [93, EMI, 10; 47:13] is one of those albums that grows on you. I like "10,000 Words" and "No Time For Time," but it's solid all the way through. She's teamed with amazing background singers including Mary Wilson (the Supremes), Maxayn Lewis (Maxayn) and Rita Coolidge. On the beautiful "Matters of the Heart," Micha [sic] Paris is listed as vocal inspiration, but I know she means Mica. | |||
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During the nineties, she worked on many projects, including something with Carole King and
something to do
with "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," though I haven't been able to figure out what. In 1999,
Brenda got her groove back with her movie debut in "Liberty Heights" portraying a singer.
Her new album, Paris Rain, was released secretly in July 2000. It's worth looking for.  
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BrendaRussell.com
Wilson & Alroy reviews good biography, but you'll have to type in "Brenda Russell" and hit Search. |
August,
2000
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