Marie “Queenie” Lyons - Soul Fever

Premium Southern soul from lost cult diva

Since her belated “discovery” following the club scene success of the moody single See & Don’t See, it’s been generally assumed that Marie Lyons must have been a James Brown associate. Presumably his hands guided these late 60s recordings because she was a fine soul stylist and recorded for DeLuxe, a subsidiary of the King label Brown once called home – but there is no evidence to support this. In fact, biographical details on Lyons are almost non-existent and, though she may indeed be a true prodigy, one can’t help but think there are illuminating facts about her to be uncovered and a story to be told.

DeLuxe pushed three singles from this rare album, including a storming version of Fever, but Lyons vanished completely once it was released. Certain reissue labels are lazier than others, however (some songs on this superb album aren’t even credited to the correct writers, her origins seem guessed at) and, though musically this is a must-have soul album, it’s a pity that it’s been bootlegged already and this legitimate reissue stands as the lesser achievement.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Vampi Soul | VAMPICD 096

Reviewed by Daddy Bones
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