1973
Betty Davis:
The Woman Who Changed Miles Davis - The Raw Funk of '73
This is all about Betty Davis and her debut album from 1973; fearless lyrics and an unmistakable confidence - music the mainstream wasn’t ready for!
Not feeling like reading? That's alright! 😎 Here's "Ooh Yeah" to get you in the mood. 🔊
The Inspiration Behind FUNKretrospect
I can easily say that Betty Davis is the reason why I wanted to create this website.
She is the ultimate funk icon: she is an ex-model and uses her great taste in fashion and style to present her looks on stage. She is also a dynamic performer and a strong song writer due to her fearless personality.
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, ‘I’m Going To Bake That Cake of Love,’ when she was only 12. Finding herself drawn to the emerging funk and soul sounds in the late 1960s, she keeps writing and recording.
Miles Davis and the Birth of a New Sound
The story is: it is 1967, and Betty (nee Marby) meets jazz legend Miles Davis. The two madly fall in love 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. Miles Davis 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.
Unapologetic and Unfiltered
In 73, Betty Davis releases her debut album, Betty Davis, and it becomes a defining statement 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 commercial or chart success at the time of its release, but it gains recognition over the years.
It is a short (30-minute) but powerful album that carries its energy through every track. 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, showing her signature blend of power and style.
Gülben - 02/2024
