Erma Franklin - Her Name Is Erma 1962

Erma Franklin's sole Epic LP was the only album she'd issue before 1969, although she had several non-LP singles for Epic and Shout in the interim. As with the early work of her sister Aretha Franklin, it left the impression that she and/or her label didn't quite know how to harness her vocal talents. There was some passable pop with a tinge of rock and R&B that was far more notable for the vocals than the material; sub-Shirelles style music ("What Kind of Girl (Do You Think I Am?)", and far too much in the way of orchestrated standards that took her away from the R&B sensibilities that were her greatest strengths. Only occasionally does she get the chance to really let go; "Each Night I Cry" has some thrilling, earthy, gospel-jazz inflections, and the similarly mildly bluesy "It's Over" is sung with comparable fire. Some of this is fairly good, but overall it leaves you shaking your head a bit at the waste of talent ready to burst out if given half the chance. AMG.

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