Denise Ora Allen
b. July 16th, 1934 in LeFlore (Mississippi)
d. January 8th, 2018 in Nashville (Tennessee)
MEMPHIS HERE I COME
P-Vine
1967 - 1969
TRAPPED BY A THING CALLED LOVE
Westbound
Janus
1970 - 1972
La carrière de Denise LaSalle va vraiment décoller lors de sa collaboration avec le label Westbound d'Armen Boladian. Sous la supervision du producteur Willie Mitchell, dans les Royal Studios de Memphis, elle délivre une poignée de pépites de la Soul sudiste où sa voix fait merveille : "Trapped by a thing called love", "Now run and tell that", "Hung up strung out", "Good goody getter", "Do me right", "It's too late".
Denise LaSalle's career truly took off during her collaboration with Armen Boladian's Westbound label. Under the supervision of producer Willie Mitchell, at the Royal Studios in Memphis, she delivered a handful of Southern Soul gems where her voice shone : "Trapped by a thing called love", "Now run and tell that", "Hung up strung out", "Good goody getter", "Do me right", "It's too late".
ON THE LOOSE
Westbound
1972 - 1973
Ce second recueil de ses morceaux Westbound avec le producteur Willie Mitchell possède aussi son lot de chansons remarquables comme "A man size job", "What it takes to take a good woman", "Harper valley PTA" et ses accents Country, "Breaking up somebody's home" et ses accents Blues, "There ain't enough hate around".
This second collection of his Westbound tracks with producer Willie Mitchell also has its share of remarkable songs such as "A man size job", "What it takes to take a good woman", "Harper valley PTA" and its Country accents, "Breaking up somebody's home" and its Blues accents, "There ain't enough hate around".
HERE I AM AGAIN
Westbound
HERE I AM AGAIN - PLUS
Ace
1975
SECOND BREATH
ABC
1976
THE BITCH IS BAD
ABC
1977
UNDER THE INFLUENCE
ABC
1978
Dans ce troisième album pour ABC (qui vient d'être racheté par MCA), Denise propose un programme de Soul sans grande originalité. On peut néanmoins retenir les puissants "P.A.R.T.Y" et "Under the influence" ou encore "Feet don't fail me".
In this third album for ABC (which had just been acquired by MCA), Denise offers a rather unoriginal soul program. However, the powerful tracks "P.A.R.T.Y" and "Under the influence" as well as "Feet don't fail me" are worth noting.
UNWRAPPED
MCA
1979
Malgré une carrière en perte de vitesse, Denise continue sa collaboration avec ABC/MCA. Elle tente de mélanger sa Soul cuivrée à des éléments Disco mais l'inspiration n'est pas au rendez-vous. Même sa version du "Da ya think I'm sexy" de Rod Stewart et un long medley de reprises ne convainquent pas.
Despite a career that was losing momentum, Denise continued her collaboration with ABC/MCA. She attempted to blend her brassy soul sound with disco elements but inspiration was lacking. Even her version of Rod Stewart's "Da ya think I'm sexy" and a long medley of covers failed to impress.
I'M SO HOT
MCA
1980
Encore une fois, le programme Soul n'est pas très original mais contient quelques bons moments comme "I'm so hot", "Try my love", "Tear for tear", l'irrésistible "Come ta ya ha dance" ou encore le dansant "May the funk be with you" (que Denise écrit avec son mari James "Super" Wolfe).
Once again, the Soul program is not very original but contains some good moments such as "I'm so hot", "Try my love", "Tear for tear", the irresistible "Come ta ya ha dance" or the danceable "May the funk be with you" (which Denise wrote with her husband James "Super" Wolfe).
GUARANTEED
MCA
1981
Finalement, MCA - qui n'a jamais correctement promue Denise - ne renouvelle pas son contrat. Voici donc son dernier album pour le label qui - malgré "Tighten up on your good thing" et "Got myself a handyman" - reste probablement son plus faible.
Ultimately, MCA — which never properly promoted Denise — did not renew her contract. This is therefore her last album for the label which — despite "Tighten up on your good thing" and "Got myself a handyman" — remains probably her weakest.
A LADY IN THE STREET
Malaco
1983
Suite à sa rupture avec MCA, Denise LaSalle se concentre à l'écriture et la composition pendant deux ans. Grâce à cette activité, le label Malaco lui propose un contrat d'enregistrement qui va redonner un second souffle à sa carrière. Son style est désormais orienté vers une Soul-Blues excitante : "Lady in the street", "This bell was made for ringing", "Don't mess with my man", "I was tellin' him about you" et une superbe reprise de "Down home blues".
Following her split with MCA, Denise LaSalle focused on writing and composing for two years. Thanks to this activity, the Malaco label offered her a recording contract that would give a second breath to her career. Her style was now oriented towards an exciting Soul-Blues : "Lady in the street", "This bell was made for ringing", "Don't mess with my man", "I was tellin' him about you" and a superb cover of "Down home blues".
RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME
Malaco
1984
Pour son second album chez Malaco, Denise poursuit dans la même veine entre Soul-Blues et Soul sudiste avec une constante inspiration. On apprécie le beau duo avec Latimore sur la chanson titre "Right place right time" mais aussi "Treat your man like a baby", "Boogie man", "Your husband is cheating on us", "Why does it feel so right" ou encore la reprise du "Bump and grind" de Z.Z. Hill.
For her second album on Malaco, Denise continues in the same vein blending Soul-Blues and Southern Soul with a constant sense of inspiration. Highlights include the nice duet with Latimore on the title track "Right place right time" but also tracks like "Treat your man like a baby", "Boogie man", "Your husband is cheating on us", "Why does it feel so right" and her cover of Z.Z. Hill's "Bump and grind".
LOVE TALKIN'
Malaco
1985
Pour ce nouvel opus, Denise donne un intéressant programme dans la directe continuation des deux albums précédents. On peut ressortir une poignée de bons titres comme "Talkin' in your sleep", "Someone else is steppin' in", "Give me yo' strongest whiskey", "Love talkin'". Sa sympathique reprise de "My tu-tu" n'est pas présente sur toutes les éditions.
For this new album, Denise delivers an interesting set of songs, a direct continuation of her two previous albums. Several standout tracks include "Talkin' in your sleep", "Someone else is steppin' in", "Give me yo' strongest whiskey", "Love talkin'". Her nice cover of "My tu-tu" is not included on all editions.
RAIN AND FIRE
Malaco
1986
Avec son équipe habituelle, Denise propose une tracklist accrocheuse avec l'excellent "It be's that way sometimes", "I'm sho' gonna mess with yo' man", "It takes you all night" et de belles reprises du "Shame shame shame" de Shirley Goodman et du "Dip bam thank you mam" d'Ann Peebles.
With her usual team, Denise offers a catchy tracklist including the excellent "It be's that way sometimes", "I'm sho' gonna mess with yo' man", "It takes you all night" and nice covers of Shirley Goodman's "Shame shame shame" and Ann Peebles' "Dip bam thank you mam".
IT'S LYING TIME AGAIN
Malaco
1987
Malgré quelques bons titres comme "It's lying time again" ou "It makes me so mad", le programme manque de compositions percutantes et originales.
Despite some good tracks like "It's lying time again" or "It makes me so mad", the program lacks catchy and original compositions.
HITTIN' WHERE IT HURTS
Malaco
1988
Dans cet album, Denise et son équipe de musiciens et de producteurs optent pour des arrangements plus modernes (la reprise de "Bring it on home to me" de Sam Cooke). Malheureusement, l'inspiration n'est pas vraiment au rendez vous même si on peut ressortir "Eee Tee" et "If you can't do me right", plutôt convaincants.
In this album, Denise and her team of musicians and producers opt for more modern arrangements (hear the cover of Sam Cooke's "Bring it on home to me"). Unfortunately, inspiration isn't quite there although "Eee Tee" and "If you can't do me right" stand out as rather convicing tracks.
BLUES FROM THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL
Malaco
July 1989
Lors d'une tournée des artistes Malaco en Europe, Denise chante sur la scène du fameux festival de Montreux. En bonne forme, elle chante un vibrant medley de "Lady in the street / Down home blues" et une bouillante version de "Don't mess with my tu-tu".
During a Malaco artists tour through Europe, Denise sang on stage at the famous Montreux festival. In great form, she performed a vibrant medley of "Lady in the street / Down home blues" and a fiery version of "Don't mess with my tu-tu".
STILL TRAPPED
Malaco
1990
On retrouve dans cet album une tracklist inspirée et puissante. On apprécie, en particulier, les percutants "Wet match", "Trapped...1990", "A real sad story", "Drop that zero", "I'm loved" et une belle reprise du "Love and happiness" d'Al Green.
This album features an inspired and powerful tracklist. Highlights include the hard-hitting tracks "Wet match", "Trapped...1990", "A real sad story", "Drop that zero", "I'm loved" and a nice cover of Al Green's "Love and happiness".
LOVE ME RIGHT
Malaco
1992
Voici un bon programme de Soul sudiste contemporaine avec une poignée de compositions originales : "Don't jump my pony", "Long dong silver", "When we're making love", "I'm not that kind of girl", "Too many hungry mouths around the table", "Fast hands and a dirty mind". On peut signaler la curieuse et inattendue reprise du "Another one bites the dust" de Queen.
Here's a great program of contemporary Southern Soul with a handful of original compositions : "Don't jump my pony", "Long dong silver", "When we're making love", "I'm not that kind of girl", "Too many hungry mouths around the table", "Fast hands and a dirty mind". Also worth noting is the curious and unexpected cover of Queen's "Another one bites the dust".
STILL BAD
Malaco
1994
Denise continue sa fructueuse collaboration avec Malaco creusant le même sillon Soul-Blues. Comme d'habitude, elle délivre de bons morceaux comme "Right side of the wrong bed", "Soft hearted woman", "Dial 1-900 get some", "Risky business", "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings" et une nouvelle version de "The bitch is bad".
Denise continues her fruitful collaboration with Malaco exploring the same Soul-Blues vein. As usual, she delivers good tracks like "Right side of the wrong bed", "Soft hearted woman", "Dial 1-900 get some", "Risky business", "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings" and a new version of "The bitch is bad".
SMOKIN' IN BED
Malaco
1997
Après presque 15 ans de collaboration, voici le dernier album publié sur le label Malaco. Encore une fois, les compositions goûteuses font la différence : "Smokin' in bed", "Juke joint woman", "Blues party tonight", "Why Am I missing you", "The night we called it a day".
After almost 15 years of collaboration, here is the last album released on the Malaco label. Once again, the tasteful compositions make all the difference : "Smokin' in bed", "Juke joint woman", "Blues party tonight", "Why Am I missing you", "The night we called it a day".
GOD'S GOT MY BACK
Angels in the Midst
1999
Après une longue collaboration avec Malaco, Denise LaSalle reprend son indépendance et propose un disque de Gospel, aidé de son mari James Wolfe, sur son propre label. On apprécie la tracklist inspirée (Denise a composé une grande partie des titres comme à son habitude) : "God's got my back", "Still talkin' 'bout a man", "Satan's trying to track me down", "Rest in me", "Calvary".
After a long collaboration with Malaco, Denise LaSalle has returned to her independent roots and released a gospel album, with the help of her husband James Wolfe, on her own label. We appreciate an inspired tracklist (Denise composed many of the songs as usual) : "God's got my back", "Still talkin' 'bout a man", "Satan's trying to track me down", "Rest in me", "Calvary".
THIS REAL WOMAN
Ordena
1999 / March 2000
Ce double CD parait sur la propre marque de Denise LaSalle, Ordena. Un programme consistant enregistré à Memphis avec la collaboration de Willie Mitchell. Denise - qui produit elle-même - propose, bien sûr, ses nouvelles compositions mais aussi une poignée de reprises d'anciens succès : "This real woman", "Lick before you stick it", "A love reputation", "I just wanna make love to you", "In a midnight mood", "This bedroom's on fire". Il y a aussi quatre titres issus des séances Gospel de "God's got my back" et la version originale de "Trapped by a thing called love".
This double CD is released on Denise LaSalle's own label, Ordena. A consistent program recorded in Memphis with the collaboration of Willie Mitchell. Denise — who produced it herself — offers, of course, her new compositions but also a handful of covers of old hits : "This real woman", "Lick before you stick it", "A love reputation", "I just wanna make love to you", "In a midnight mood", "This bedroom's on fire". There are also four tracks from the Gospel sessions of "God's Got My Back" and the original version of "Trapped by a thing called love".
STILL THE QUEEN
Ecko
2002
WANTED
Ecko
2004
PAY BEFORE YOU PUMP
Ecko
2007
Désormais septuagénaire, Denise démontre encore son bonne forme vocale avec ce troisième album pour le label Ecko. Elle délivre un bon album de Soul-Blues aux arrangements modernes avec des titres accrocheurs comme "Pay before you pump", "I need a working man", "Mississippi woman", "Walkin' on Beale Street and cryin'", "You don't live here anymore".
Now in her seventies, Denise still demonstrates her excellent vocal form with this third album for the Ecko label. She delivers a solid Soul-Blues album with modern arrangements and catchy tracks like "Pay before you pump", "I need a working man", "Mississippi woman", "Walkin' on Beale Street and cryin'", "You don't live here anymore".
MISSISSIPPI WOMAN STEPPIN' OUT
JSP
May 2007
Un concert de Denise LaSalle capturé sur la scène d'Ecaussinnes en Belgique. Même si sa voix a faibli, Denise propose une bonne tranche de Soul sudiste reprenant ses morceaux les plus renommés dans une chaude ambiance. A ses côtés, on remarque Vasti Jackson (guitares) et Joe Krown (claviers).
A Denise LaSalle concert captured on stage in Ecaussinnes (Belgium). Even though her voice has weakened, Denise delivers a good slice of Southern Soul performing her most famous songs in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Alongside her are Vasti Jackson (guitars) and Joe Krown (keyboards).
24 HOUR WOMAN
Malaco
2010
A 75 ans, Denise fait son retour chez Malaco. Avec ses musiciens habituels, elle propose un programme intéressant mais peu original. On peut retenir "Cheat receipt", "24 hour woman", "I'll be your kitten baby", "Older woman", "You hit one over the fence".
At 75, Denise returns to Malaco. With her usual musicians, she offers an interesting but not particularly original program. Highlights include "Cheat receipt", "24 hour woman", "I'll be your kitten baby", "Older woman", "You hit one over the fence".