Betty Davis:
The Original Funk Goddess
This post is all about Betty Davis and her groundbreaking 1973 self-titled debut album. It is raw funk, fearless lyrics, and a whole lot of attitude. She was way ahead of her time, and this album is proof.
Not feeling like reading? That's alright! 😎 Here's "Ooh Yeah" to get you in the mood. 🔊
I can easily say that Betty Davis is the reason why I wanted to create this website.
She was the funk icon: an electrifying performer, a powerful song writer, and an ex-model with stunning looks, a fierce attitude, and a great taste in fashion and style.
Years ago, I had bookmarked an interview she had given to "Rags,” a counterculture fashion magazine then published monthly by Baron Wolman in San Francisco. There she was in Betsey Johnson high-heeled sneakers and a custom-made sheep coat, and the heading was “This is as funky as I can get!” When she sadly passed away in 2022 and left me with this need to delve into the funk archives, for a long time I wanted to name the site “How Funky Can You Get?" as an ode to Betty Davis (it would be hard for branding and logo, therefore the change).
She is said to have written her first song when she was 12, and her true passion was music. Finding herself drawn to the emerging funk and soul sounds in the late 1960s, she had ventured into songwriting and recording.
The story is: it is 1967, and Betty (nee Marby) meets jazz legend Miles Davis. The two embark on a whirlwind romance and marry the following year. The marriage does not last long, but it both solidifies her presence in the music world and also influences Miles Davis' own musical direction. MD gets introduced to the works of Jimi Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone through her, and they inspire him to explore a new, more experimental sound (his subsequent jazz-rock fusion phase and the album “Bitches Brew”). MD also gets a wardrobe makeover, and his elegant suits get replaced with the flamboyant clothing styles of the era.
In 73, Betty Davis releases her debut album, "Betty Davis," and it becomes a game-changer for funk music.
This self-titled debut album is produced by Greg Errico (of the Family Stone's) and released by Just Sunshine label. All songs composed and performed by Betty Davis - but there is a gang rooting for her in the album: from the Pointer Sisters and Sylvester to members of Graham Central Station and Tower of Power!
The lyrics are unapologetic and include bold, unfiltered expressions of female empowerment. It is a celebration of sexuality and independence. This unconventional nature faces resistance then, with some radio stations refusing to play her songs due to their explicit content.
The album doesn’t achieve massive commercial or chart success at the time of its release, but it gains recognition over the years and is considered a cult funk classic now.
This is a short (30-minute) but powerful album that steadily flows from one song to the next. I do love "If I’m In Luck I Might Get Picked Up", and "Stepping in Her I. Miller Shoes", but my one favorite would be “Ooh Yeah” in this album – In "Ooh Yeah," Betty Davis' vocals take center stage, showcasing her signature blend of power and style.
Gülben - 02/2024
🎥 Betty: They Say !'m Different - 2017 Documentary
📖 John Ballon writes about Betty Davis at AllAboutJazz
🎶 Genre: Funk
For other Funk content on site: CLASSIC GROOVE FUNK
For all archive: FUNK ARCHIVE
