VIA PRESS RELEASE | Loleatta Holloway (born in Chicago,1946) was an American R&B-Disco singer known for her massive hit songs such as “Hit and Run,” “Love Sensation,” and “Relight My Fire,” all of which have been sampled extensively worldwide. Billboard magazine ranked her as one of most successful dance artists of all-time.
Holloway first began her career singing gospel music, then in the early ’70s, she met her future producer, manager (and husband) Floyd Smith which kick-started her impressive recording career. Shortly after Holloway signed with the Atlanta-based soul music label Aware where she recorded two albums: Loleatta (1973) and Cry to Me (1975). Later, in the mid ’70s she signed with top Philadelphia arranger and producer Norman Harris’ Gold Mind/Salsoul Records, where she recorded many more top charting hit singles and launched her career as a disco act.
From then on (and until this day) Holloway’s songs (which became DJ favorites) were heavily remixed and sampled on a multitude of tracks from renowned acts such as Whitney Houston, Bobby Byrd, Raekwon, Flo Rida, Pitbull, Ice Cube…and MANY others. Loleatta Holloway passed away at the age of 64 on March 21, 2011 leading to a wave of tributes and condolences from across the globe (Holloway also had a huge following in Europe and Japan).
Her second album (Cry to Me from 1975), which we are presenting you today, is a total classic…both the album (and the title track) peaked in the R&B and Billboard Hot Soul Singles charts. Cry To Me was produced by Floyd Smith and it features tracks penned by some of the most talented songwriters of the time…Sam Dees (Gladys Knight, Bo Diddley, Aretha Franklin) wrote five of the tracks on the album and his arrangements provide the perfect backdrop for Loleatta’s emotive, dramatic and powerful vocals. Curtis Mayfield also contributes the magnificent “Just Be True” track and Jo Armstead (Ray Charles, Syl Johnson, Tina Turner) wrote the beautiful “Casanova” song.
This record is a soul masterpiece extraordinaire…fantastic piano plays accompanied by chiming guitars, swirling strings, a powerful rhythm section and gospel tinged backing vocals. Loleatta’s vocals are devastatingly sad, as she sings about her relationship breaking up and the pain and sadness it’s caused her. She just sings her heart out… it’s almost impossible to listen to the album without getting caught up in the emotion. Loleatta roars defiantly, using all of her strength to deliver this classic slice of Southern Soul music.
Originally released in 1975, Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the first official reissue of Loleatta’s classic Cry to Me album. Remastered from the original master tapes by Ginn Music Group-Aware Records and it features the original album cover designed by Ruby Mazur (Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra, John Lee Hooker). This reissue comes as a deluxe 180g vinyl edition with obi strip.
