Azie Mortimer

Listen/Download Azie Mortimer – Prove It

Greetings all.

How about a little sister funk to get you through the middle of the week?

I have my man Tony Crampton to thank for this very tasty slice of vinyl as he dropped it on me last year out of the goodness of his heart (along with a few other killers).

Always happy to pick up another 45 on the mighty Okeh label, I was also happy to finally hear the voice of Azie Mortimer.

Her name was very familiar but I had never heard her music.

Mortimer’s discography (mostly 60s) was not extensive, and from what I can tell she spent a fair amount of time recording as a jazz singer, which makes ‘Prove It’ all the more surprising.

Hailing from the late end of the Okeh catalog (it was released in late 1969 or early 1970 and is the second to last single they issued) ‘Prove It’ is a funky mover (dig that thick and juicy wah wah guitar). Mortimer has a rich, sexy voice and the production by Don Clay is excellent.

Clay was a Chicago-based writer/producer that worked for a variety of local labels (including Chess) during the 60s. According to Robert Pruter’s excellent ‘Chicago Soul’ Clay worked as Azie Mortimer’s road manager and producer in the late 60s, taking what was basically a singer with a jazzy inclination and pushing her (wisely it seems) to do harder, more soulful material for his own Number One label (which also featured sides by Roy Hytower among others) and then for Okeh.

She only recorded two 45s for Okeh (and only one more after that that I’m aware of).

I’d love to know more about her.

I hope you dig the tune and I’ll be back on Friday.

 

Peace

Larry

 

 

 

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

 

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

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PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

3 Responses to “Azie Mortimer – Prove It”

1. rntcj says:

   April 3, 2012 at 5:58 pm

   Hi Larry,

   Posted a comment in “About” section (in error) for this 45 RPM. Please check it out.

   Thanx.

   Ciao! For now.
   rntcj

2. Gail says:

   April 4, 2012 at 4:31 am

   Love Azie Mortimer – check out “Haunted” and also her version of Fred Hughes’ You Can’t Take It Away – awesome! Great post as always Larry:)

3. the family cat says:

   April 7, 2012 at 6:35 pm

   One single issued here on London early 60s called LIPS