Search - Barbara Lewis :: Hello Stranger / Workin' On A Groovy Thing

Contains Barbara's first and last albums for Atlantic in the

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 02/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Collectables has rounded up the first and last Atlantic albums of the smooth and soulful songstress Barbara Lewis. This two-fer offers the first straight reissues of her Atlantic albums in CD format.



Hello Stranger (1963) consists solely of Lewis' own compositions. There's lots of organ accompaniment to be found here, as well as lush background harmonies courtesy of The Dells. The gems include her debut single "My Heart Went Do Dat Da," the Shirelles' knock off "My Mamma Told Me," and the minor hit "Puppy Love," but the crown jewel of course is the sumptuous title track (top 3 pop, #1 r&b). A charming sense of innocence permeates throughout (appropriately so, as Lewis was a teenager when she wrote these songs).



Far more sophisticated and musically varied is Lewis' Workin' On A Groovy Thing (1968). Comprised primarily of her final Atlantic singles (including the chart favorites "Make Me Your Baby" and "Make Me Belong To You") plus superb remakes like the title track (a hit for Patti Drew and, later, The 5th Dimension), and Deon Jackson's "Love Makes The World Go Round," Workin' On A Groovy Thing reveals that Lewis' voice had grown significantly in confidence and style since her initial recordings.



Twelve of the twenty-four tracks found on this two-fer are also available on Rhino's definitive Hello Stranger: The Best Of Barbara Lewis. Perhaps that makes it seem less than essential to non-Lewis diehards, but everything found here is truly first-rate. Hopefully, Collectables will offer another two-fer in the near future that includes It's Magic: Lewis' excellent album of standards.

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