As the story goes, upon Holland-Dozier-Holland's split from Motown, they set up a couple of labels of their own – Invictus and Hot Wax. Laura Lee, having just come off of Chess Records, joined Hot Wax and, in 1972, dropped Women's Love Rights on the world. Though it didn't race up the album charts, it did capture some feminist hearts... including Jane Fonda's as she rallied the country around women's liberation.
Dubbed “a jubilant 10-track affair … Featuring lots of strident funk-soul anthems and a handful of deep soul ballads,” by the Shfl. They also call it “an underrated proto-feminist soul gem.” While AllMusic.com tags it as a “perfectly timed manifesto and rallying cry for downtrodden women.” Empowerment. Outspokenness. Passion. Guts. Let's go, Laura Lee.
Listen, this record landed four Top 40 R&B chart hits and struck such a nervy chord that even Robert Christgau was forced to write mostly positive words about this project: “The title hit actually mentions 'women's liberators and men sympathizers,' a Black-music first, and unlike 'Respect,' say, it lays out a critical analysis as well as asserting a prerogative.”
Classic R&B is the spiritual bedrock of every liberation music, and women's should be no exception.
Hear the whole episode March 18 at 6 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm PT.
