Yu-Ma/Go Away Little Boy - Marlena Shaw, Goffin, G.
I Think I'll Tell Him - Marlena Shaw, Bell, Thom
Rhythm of Love - Marlena Shaw, Hirsch, Ken
Moonrise - Marlena Shaw, Nelson, K.
I Wonder - Marlena Shaw, Tragesser, Billy [1
Shaw Biz/Suddenly It's How I'd Like to Feel/Shaw Biz (Reprise) - Marlena Shaw, Golde, F.
I'm Back for More - Marlena Shaw, Stover, Ken
Sweet Beginnings - Marlena Shaw, Bettis, John
More - Marlena Shaw, Shaw, Marlena
Walk Softly - Marlena Shaw, McCoy, Van
No One Yet - Marlena Shaw, Shaw, Marlena
Pictures and Memories - Marlena Shaw, Bryant, Mary Hollan
Love Dancin' - Marlena Shaw, Allan, G.
Touch Me in the Morning - Marlena Shaw, Masser, Michael
Marlena Shaw doesn't take no mess. Tough as nails except where it counts, she says what she means and doesn't need to say it twice. Marlena knew what she wanted and stepped forward to get it. Her dusky voice ripened at Col... more »umbia in a songbook that smolders with the embers of old flames. With no nonsense and no niceties, she sings "Go Away Little Boy" for all the men who don't have the courage to satisfy a real W-O-M-A-N. The myth and mystery of Marlena Shaw.« less
Marlena Shaw doesn't take no mess. Tough as nails except where it counts, she says what she means and doesn't need to say it twice. Marlena knew what she wanted and stepped forward to get it. Her dusky voice ripened at Columbia in a songbook that smolders with the embers of old flames. With no nonsense and no niceties, she sings "Go Away Little Boy" for all the men who don't have the courage to satisfy a real W-O-M-A-N. The myth and mystery of Marlena Shaw.
Strong, sensual and soulful stylings - sassy & powerful
09/10/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Marlena Shaw is the voice behind the sampled vocals of the Blueboy club hit "Remember Me", which were lifted from her 1960's hit "Woman of the Ghetto". Shaw who still performs today, had a few chart successes in the late 60s through to the late 70s, and it was in this latter part of her career that she released several now out of print albums through Columbia, highlights of which are revived here. She slides easily from cabaret tinged jazz, to pop, soul, and disco, and elements of each of these genres can be experienced through this collection. The set is highlighted by what became her signature tune in live performances, a very personalised rendition of the King/Goffin composition "Go Away Little Boy", in which she really struts her stuff as a woman of substance, who no man is gonna take advantage of. While it is through tracks of similar substance that the sassy power of Shaw's vocal style really shines, she manages to give credibility to a couple of late night disco classics, including a strong reworking of the Diana Ross hit "Touch Me in The Morning"."
TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING, MARLENA!!
Claude Bouchard Jr. | Frederick, MD | 10/29/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Oh my goodness! Somebody at Columbia finally had the brains to issue the FULL-LENGTH version of Marlena's "Touch Me in The Morning" on CD. Until now, this song was repeatedly cropped and butchered in one way or another for whatever reason. Back in 1987, Columbia issued a various artists classic disco 2-LP set titled "Let's Dance". Liner notes went on and on about how disco had become an oft-disregarded and much-maligned musical form...yet they themselves shortened some of the songs when it was time to issue on CD; they even chopped off almost 2 minutes (count 'em!) from "Touch Me In The Morning". Heresy! It's taken far too long but I'm glad this incredibly superb (and outrageously underrated) song has finally seen justice. Buy this CD, skip to track 14 and I dare you not to feel anything when Marlena sings this hauntingly gorgeous melancholy song."
Two 1979 12" remixes
Constantin Declercq | 10/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Besides "Yu ma/Go away little boy", this awesome collection features two 1979 excellent 12" mixes in Linda Clifford's soulful disco style : "Love dancin'" (7:50) and "Touch me in the morning" (7:15). Until then they were quite impossible to find -even on vinyl."
New Discoveries
Timothy A. Dillinger | Nashville, TN United States | 02/14/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I thought that I considered myself an R&B Buff, but imagine my surprise a few weeks ago as I was driving home from work and heard the incredible voice of Marlena Shaw for the first time. I immediately came to Amazon.com and ordered this CD...and all I can say is that it is an essential piece of any soul/R&B/jazz/disco lovers collection. From her signature "Go Away Little Boy" to the disco rendition of "Touch Me In The Morning", Marlena is pure magic...This is the first of many more Marlena disc that will be added to my collection."
"...Oh Baby...This Time I'm Gonna Be Sweeter..."
Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 02/08/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Here's the breakdown (64:10 minutes):
1. Yu-Ma/Go Away Little Boy [co-written with Gerry Goffin and Carole King]
2. I Think I'll Tell Him
3. Rhythm Of Love
4. Moonrise
5. I Wonder
6. Shaw Biz/Suddenly It's How I'd Like To Feel/Shaw Biz (Reprise)
7. I'm Back For More
8. Sweet Beginnings [Leon Ware cover]
9. More [Marlena Shaw song]
10. Walk Softly [Van McCoy cover]
11. No One Yet [Marlena Shaw song]
12. Pictures And Memories
13. Love Dancin' [Linda Clifford/Gladys Knight cover]
14. Touch Me In The Morning [Diana Ross cover]
Tracks 1, 2, 8, 10 and 12 are from the album "Sweet Beginnings", 1977 on US Columbia 34458
Tracks 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 are from the album "Acting Up", 1978 on US Columbia 35073
Tracks 6, 11, 13 and 14 are from the album "Take A Bite", 1979 US Columbia 35632
This April 1999 Columbia/Legacy CD was compiled by LEO SACHS and has detailed liner notes by BARRY WALTERS. The original master tapes were remastered by TOM RUFF at the Sony Music Studios and the sound is sweet - really clear - very little hiss on any of the songs - punchy when it needs to be - subtle and soft too when the strings kick in - typical of the high standard across the entire LEGACY range.
Musically this is very Studio 54/Philadelphia International territory - and despite the "sass" in the subtitle - this compilation is often very mellow. There are funky floor filling tunes on here like "Sweet Beginnings", "More", "Pictures And Memories" and "No One Yet" which late Seventies Three Degrees, Isaac Hayes, Gladys Knight and Ronn Matlock fans will love. Highlights also include the witty and perceptive "get out of my life - oh no - come back" lyrics of the opener "Yu-Ma/Go Away Little Boy", while the lovely bedroom ballad "Moonrise" features sweet Alto Sax fills by SELDON POWELL. It should also be noted that "Touch Me In The Morning" is the ultra-rare full-length 12" disco mix at 7:19 minutes. And although it doesn't state it on the rear sleeve either, the Linda Clifford cover of "Love Dancin'" is the rare 12"extended version at 7:56 minutes also - two big draws for those who like their club classics.
Part disco, part soul diva, part jazz-vocal and very Seventies - there's a lot on here to enjoy - and Shaw's vocals are a discovery worth making.
"Go Away Little Boy" is a really good compilation culled from 3 hard-to-find albums."