Denise LaSalle -

Denise LaSalle (1934–2018) was an American soul singer and songwriter from Northeast Mississippi who debuted (at 33) with the 1967 single “A Love Reputation.” She scored a breakout hit with her 1971 single “Trapped by a Thing Called Love” on Westbound Records, followed by the 1972–73 R&B hits “Now Run and Tell That,” “A Man Sized Job,” and “What It Takes to Get a Good Woman.”

Between 1972 and 1981, LaSalle cut three albums each for Westbound, ABC, and MCA. In 1982, she became a staff writer for Malaco Records, her label for fifteen years and ten studio albums.

Background

She was born Ora Denise Allen on July 16, 1934, in Sidon, Leflore County, Mississippi; the youngest of eight children borne to sharecroppers Nathaniel A. Allen Sr. and Nancy Cooper. When she was seven, her family moved to Belzoni in neighboring Humphreys County, where she sang in a church choir.

At 13, she followed her oldest brother to Chicago, where she married his Campbell Soup Co. co-worker, Artic Craig, at age 22. By 1963, she worked as a barmaid at Mix’s Lounge and befriended singer/pianist Billy “The Kid” Emerson, whose 1955 Sun Records a-side “Red Hot” later became a hit for rockabilly singer Robert Gordon.

Early Singles

Emerson first got LaSalle a (fruitless) one-year contract with Chess Records, then set up Tarpon, which issued her 1967 debut single “A Love Reputation” (b/w “One Little Thing”), a regional hit. She resigned with Chess for the 1968 singles “Count Down (And Fly Me to the Moon)” (b/w “A Promise Is a Promise”) and “Private Property” (b/w “I’ve Been Waiting”). LaSalle wrote “Count Down” and co-wrote the latter two sides (with Emerson) under the name O.D. Craig.

In 1969, she established Crajon Records with her second husband, Bill Jones. Crajon launched with her fourth single, “Too Late to Check Your Trap” (b/w “Heartbreaker of the Year”), also issued on the sub-label Peace Records (b/w “The Right Track”).

LaSalle signed with the Detriot-based R&B label Westbound Records for her May 1970 single “Heartbreaker of the Year” (b/w “Hung Up, Strung Out”). In July 1971, Westbound issued her followup, “Trapped By a Thing Called Love” (b/w “Keep It Coming”), which reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 13 on the Hot 100.

Trapped by a Thing Called Love

Denise LaSalle released her debut album, Trapped by a Thing Called Love, in January 1972 on Westbound.

The album presents her brand of Southern soul with steady, late-night pacing framed by Gene “Bowlegs” Miller’s symphonic charts and Willie Mitchell’s Hi Records-styled arrangements. The set balances LaSalle’s sharp, swaggering originals with select R&B covers.

LaSalle wrote eight of the album’s twelve tracks, including “Now Run and Tell That,” “Heartbreaker of the Year,” “Hung Up, Strung Up,” and the title song, an advance-released hit. She co-wrote “Keep It Coming” with Martha Stubbs. She also covers recent songs by the Detroit Emeralds (“Do Me Right”), Carole King (“It’s Too Late”), and the Barbara Lynn oldie “If You Should Lose Me.”

Her material ranges from biting, hard-edged numbers like “Good Goody Getter” and “Catch Me If You Can” to confessional ballads such as “The Deeper I Go (The Better It Gets).” She also reinterprets the Lynn and King hits with personalized spins.

A1. “Trapped by a Thing Called Love” (2:36)
A2. “Now Run and Tell That” (3:19)
A3. “Heartbreaker of the Year” (2:48)
A4. “Good Goody Getter” (3:19)
A5. “Catch Me If You Can” (3:03)

B1. “Hung Up, Strung Up” (2:37)
B2. “Do Me Right” (2:50) was a 1971 R&B hit for the Detroit Emeralds, written by members Abrim Tilmon and James Mitchell.
B3. “The Deeper I Go (The Better It Gets)” (2:23)
B4. “If You Should Lose Me” (2:37) originated as “You’ll Lose a Good Thing,” a 1962 hit for Barbara Lynn; also recorded in 1962–64 by Dee Dee Sharp and Aretha Franklin.
B5. “Keep It Coming” (2:32)
B6. “It’s Too Late” (3:10) is the ubiquitous recent Carole King hit, also recorded in 1972 by Billy Paul, The Isley Brothers, and The Stylistics.

Sessions took place under Crajon Enterprises at facilities supervised by Bob Scerbo with arrangements by Miller and Mitchell, who produced Trapped by a Thing Called Love in sequence with 1971/72 titles by Ace Cannon, Al Green, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, and O.V. Wright.

Trapped by a Thing Called Love features cover photography by Joel Brodsky with art direction by David Krieger.

Westbound promoted the released with “Now Run and Tell That” (b/w “The Deeper I Go (The Better It Gets)”), which reached No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart.

Trapped by a Thing Called Love reached No. 38 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart.

On the Loose

Denise LaSalle released her second album, On the Loose, in April 1973 on Westbound.

The album continues her brand of Southern soul with thick, brass-lined arrangements by Gene “Bowlegs” Miller and string charts by James Mitchell. Backed by the Hodges brothers rhythm section and Rhodes–Chalmers–Rhodes on harmonies, LaSalle frames hard-edged blues tales with elements of gospel, country, and contemporary R&B.

LaSalle wrote three numbers (“A Man Size Job,” “Your Man and Your Best Friend,” “Making a Good Thing Better”) and co-supervised the sessions with Bill Jones. She also interprets outside material, including songs by O.B. McClinton (“What It Takes to Get a Good Woman”), Ann Peebles (“Breaking Up Somebody’s Home”), Leon Haywood (“There Ain’t Enough Hate Around”), Bill Withers (“Lean on Me”), Otis Clay (“I’m Satisfied”), and the country crossover standard “Harper Valley P.T.A.”

Her own numbers emphasize biting betrayal narratives, while the Peebles and Haywood covers tap into blues-soaked social realism. “Lean on Me” and “Harper Valley P.T.A.” broaden the set with soul-styled versions of recent and country-rooted material. “I’m Over You” closes the album in resilient tone against orchestral backdrops.

A1. “A Man Size Job” (2:49)
A2. “What It Takes to Get a Good Woman (That’s What It’s Gonna Take to Keep Her)” (2:59) is a contribution by black country singer/songwriter and clergyman O. B. McClinton.
A3. “Harper Valley P.T.A.” (3:36) was a much-covered 1968 hit for country singer Jeannie C. Riley, written by Tom T. Hall.
A4. “What Am I Doing Wrong” (3:14)
A5. “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” (3:31) originated as a single by Ann Peebles from her 1971 album Straight From the Heart, written by Al Jackson Jr. and Tim Matthews.

B1. “There Ain’t Enough Hate Around (To Make Me Turn Around)” (3:40) originated as a June 1972 single by Leon Haywood, co-written with Drifters alumnus Jimmy Lewis.
B2. “Your Man and Your Best Friend” (3:01)
B3. “Lean on Me” (4:07) was a 1972 hit for Bill Withers.
B4. “Making a Good Thing Better” (3:09)
B5. “I’m Over You” (2:49) is a contribution by LaSalle’s “Keep It Coming” co-writer Martha Stubbs.
B6. “I’m Satisfied” (2:53) originated as a 1966 Otis Clay a-side, written by guitarist Maurice Dollison (aka Cash McCall).

Sessions took place in Memphis under Crajon Enterprises, where arranger Willie Mitchell’s Hi Rhythm group (Teenie Hodges, Charles Hodges, Leroy Hodges, Howard Grimes) provided the instrumental core, supplemented by keyboardist Marvell Thomas on keyboards and steel guitarist Leo LeBlanc.

On the Loose features photography by Joel Brodsky with art direction by David Krieger.

“A Man Size Job” first appeared in September 1972 as an advance single (b/w “I’m Over You”) and reached No. 4 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart. Westbound promoted the album’s April 1973 release with “What It Takes to Get a Good Woman” (b/w “Making a Good Thing Better”). In September, Westbound lifted “Your Man and Your Best Friend” (b/w “What Am I Doing Wrong”).

Stopgap Activity

Between On the Loose and her third album, Denise LaSalle issued two singles and several outside co-writes.

In December 1973, she released “Don’t Nobody Live Here (By the Name of Fool),” a new original backed with the earlier “Good Goody Getter.” Recorded with “Bowlegs” Miller, the song reappeared two years later on her third album.

In May 1974, LaSalle issued a standalone single: “Get Up Off My Mind,” a Bill Jones co-write backed with “The Best Thing I Ever Had,” a co-write with keyboardist Earl Randle (credited as E. Randoe).

Meanwhile, LaSalle co-wrote “You Flunked Out,” a 1973 Crajon a-side by The Sequins, and both sides of Lonnie Polk’s 1974 Mercury single “I Can Make You Happy” (b/w “I Kiss It and Make It Better”).

In September 1974, LaSalle released “Trying to Forget,” another taster from her delayed third album, backed with “We’ve Got Love (The Good Part About It),” an exclusive track written by Jimmy Lewis.

Here I Am Again

Denise LaSalle released her third album, Here I Am Again, in December 1975 on Westbound.

The album extends her brand of Southern soul with sessions divided between Detroit, Memphis, and Muscle Shoals. Gene “Bowlegs” Miller frames LaSalle’s material with taut horn charts, while David Van De Pitte and James Mitchell provide string settings that lend a polished contrast to the blues-soaked rhythms.

LaSalle wrote seven of the album’s ten tracks, including the title song, “Share Your Man With Me,” and the earlier singles “Trying to Forget” and “Don’t Nobody Live Here (By the Name of Fool).” She co-wrote one track each with Francis Miller (“Married, But Not to Each Other”) and Rufus Pearson Jr. (“Hit and Run”). She also sings material by Goga/George (“Stay With Me a While”) and recent collaborator Earl Randle (“Any Time Is the Right Time”).

Her songs balance earthy confessionals and biting narratives. “Here I Am Again” sets strings and horns against a slow, rising backdrop. “I Wanna Do What’s on Your Mind” rides a shuffle pace with salacious bite, while “Don’t Nobody Live Here” swells with rootsy orchestration. “Stay With Me a While” drifts with a soft, spacious feel, and “Trying to Forget” deals in anguished, late-night tones.

A1. “Here I Am Again” (3:21)
A2. “Married, But Not to Each Other” (3:40)
A3. “Share Your Man With Me” (2:59)
A4. “I Wanna Do What’s on Your Mind” (3:22)
A5. “Trying to Forget” (3:26)

B1. “My Brand on You” (2:55)
B2. “Stay With Me a While” (3:04) is an otherwise unrecorded song by Jimmy George (a Dobie Gray sideman) and Jack Alan Goga (a Sixties Four Tops writer and later double-murderer).
B3. “Any Time Is the Right Time” (3:36)
B4. “Don’t Nobody Live Here (By the Name of Fool)” (3:52)
B5. “Hit and Run” (2:55)

Sessions occurred at facilities in Detroit, Memphis, and Muscle Shoals with production by Crajon Enterprises. Miller arranged most of the tracks, with Van De Pitte handling the opening pair. Richard Becker and Richard Resebrough engineered the recordings with remix by Richard Rosebrough and Ron Capone. Howard Craft mastered the album.

Players include guitarists Donald Austin, Michael Toles, and Robert White; bassists Van De Pitte and Errol Thomas; drummers Pistol Allen and Terry Johnson; keyboardists Earl Van Dyke and Marvell Thomas; and horn sections from the three cities. The Detroit Symphony and Memphis Symphony appear on string parts.

Here I Am Again features photography by Joel Brodsky, whose images grace contemporary albums by Junie Morrison, Spanky Wilson, and the Ohio Players.

“My Brand on You” first appeared in March 1975 as a third advanced single (b/w “Any Time Is the Right Time”). In September, “Here I Am Again” appeared as the fourth advance single, backed with the 1970 track “Hung Up, Strung Out.”

In March 1976, Westbound lifted “Married, But Not to Each Other,” the fifth and final Here I Am Again a-side, backed with “Who’s the Fool,” a standalone LaSalle original. The single reached No. 16 on the Billboard R&B chart.

Second Breath

Denise LaSalle released her fourth album, Second Breath, in September 1976 on ABC.

The album pairs LaSalle’s direct, rhythm-driven funk-soul with orchestrated Detroit arrangements by David Van DePitte, balancing tough vocal declarations with brassy accents and string embellishment.

LaSalle wrote six songs, including “Freedom to Express Yourself,” “Get Your Lie Straight,” “I Get What I Want,” “Second Breath,” “Hellfire Loving,” and “Two Empty Arms.” Her sister Brenda LaSalle supplied “I’m Back to Collect.” The program also features “Sit Down and Hurt Awhile,” co-written with Rick Taylor, and “Sweet Soul” by Fred Freeman and Harry Nehls.

A1. “Freedom to Express Yourself” (4:00)
A2. “Get Your Lie Straight” (4:00)
A3. “Sweet Soul” (2:56)
A4. “I’m Back to Collect” (5:30)

B1. “I Get What I Want” (2:55)
B2. “Second Breath” (3:15)
B3. “Hellfire Loving” (3:00)
B4. “Sit Down and Hurt Awhile” (4:40)
B5. “Two Empty Arms” (3:35)

Sessions took place at United Sound Systems in Detroit with producers Ordena Enterprises and Soultastic. Jim Vitti and Peter Bishop engineered the recordings, assisted by remix engineer Ron Capone.

LaSalle sang with backing vocals by Charles Chalmers and the Rhodes sisters (Donna and Sandra). The instrumental core features drummers Jerry Jones, bassists Rod Chandler and guest Bruce Nazarian, rhythm guitarists Kenny Ray Kight and Robert White, and pianist Earl Van Dyke. Guest Bob Babbitt played lead guitar on select cuts. Leo Le Blanc contributed steel guitar to “Two Empty Arms.” Horns were supplied by Angelo Carlisi, George Troia, Johnny Trudell, Lanny Austin, Lawrence Nozero, Maurice Davis, Michael Skrzynski Jr., Thomas Bowles Sr., and the Detroit Horns. Strings came from the Detroit Symphony.

Second Breath features art direction by Earl Klasky with design by Cabalka Studio and photography by Antonin Kratochvil.

ABC lifted two singles: “Hellfire Loving” (b/w “I Get What I Want”) in October 1976 and “Freedom to Express Yourself” (b/w “Second Breath”) in March 1977. The latter reached No. 10 on the Billboard Dance chart.

The Bitch Is Bad!

Denise LaSalle released her fifth album, The Bitch Is Bad!, in December 1977 on ABC.

The album presents LaSalle’s blend of Memphis soul and orchestrated funk, with brassy accents, string reinforcement, and disco-inflected rhythms framing her expressive delivery.

LaSalle wrote seven of the album’s eight songs. She co-wrote “Love Addict” with guitarist James “Super” Wolf.

Songs divide between emphatic declarations (“The Bitch Is Bad,” “Before You Take It to the Streets”), romantic pleadings (“Love Me Right,” “Fool Me Good”), and rhythm-centered numbers (“Move Your Body,” “A Love Magician”). The closer “One Life to Live” places her voice against slow, thickly layered instrumentation.

A1. “The Bitch Is Bad” (4:13)
A2. “Love Me Right” (6:14)
A3. “Before You Take It to the Streets” (3:19)
A4. “Fool Me Good” (3:59)

B1. “Move Your Body” (3:57)
B2. “A Love Magician” (3:57)
B3. “One Life to Live” (5:30)
B4. “Love Addict” (4:13)

Sessions occurred at Ardent Studio in Memphis with LaSalle producing for Ordena Enterprises and Soultastic. Ron Capone engineered and remixed the recordings.

The band includes bassist Ray Griffin, drummers Blair Cunningham and Terry Johnson, conguero Johnny Weaver, pianist Marvell Thomas (who also played organ and clavinet), and guitarists Kenny Ray Knight and Michael Toles, the latter adding talkbox. Horns feature tenor saxophonists Bill Easley and Lewis Collins, trombonists Ken Spain and Bill Flores, and trumpeters Ben Cauley and Paul Hill. Strings were provided by the Memphis Symphony, with backing vocals by Hot Buttered Soul. Lester Snell arranged the material.

The Bitch Is Bad! features art direction and design by Earl R. Klasky with photography by Gary Heery.

“Love Me Right” first appeared in November 1977 (b/w “Fool Me Good”) and reached No. 10 on the Billboard R&B chart. In April 1978, “One Life to Live” became the second single (b/w “Before You Take It to the Streets”).

Under the Influence

Denise LaSalle released her sixth album, Under the Influence, in August 1978 on ABC.

The album continues her Memphis-based sound with orchestrated strings, bright horn charts, and extended rhythm workouts, placing her voice against both fast-paced numbers and slow-burning ballads.

LaSalle wrote six of the album’s eight tracks. Pianist Marvell Thomas contributed “Let’s Stay This Way,” while LaSalle co-wrote the title track with guitarist James “Super” Wolfe.

Songs balance celebratory themes (“P.A.R.T.Y. [Where It Is],” “Feet Don’t Fail Me”), long-form funk workouts (“Workin’ Overtime”), and measured testimonies (“No Matter What They Say,” “You Ought’a Thank Me”). The ballad “Let’s Stay This Way” contrasts with the assertive title cut and the playful “Talking ’Bout My Best Friend.”

A1. “P.A.R.T.Y. (Where It Is)” (4:56)
A2. “Feet Don’t Fail Me” (5:12)
A3. “No Matter What They Say” (3:41)
A4. “Let’s Stay This Way” (4:10)

B1. “Workin’ Overtime” (8:28)
B2. “Under the Influence” (3:18)
B3. “You Ought’a Thank Me” (3:41)
B4. “Talking ’Bout My Best Friend” (3:19)

Sessions occurred at Ardent Studio in Memphis with LaSalle producing for Ordena Enterprises. Ron Capone engineered and remixed the recordings.

The band features bassist Errol Thomas, drummer Blair Cunningham, percussionist Ishmu, and guitarists Kenny Ray Kight and Michael Toles. Marvell Thomas played piano, Rhodes, and clavinet, while horns were supplied by the Memphis Horns (Ben Cauley, Edgar Matthew, Andrew Love, Jack Hale, James Mitchell, and Lewis Collins) with strings by the Memphis Symphony. David Van De Pitte arranged rhythm, strings, and horns.

Under the Influence features art direction by Richard Germinaro and Stuart Kusher with photography by Earl Miller and Gary Heery.

ABC issued two singles: “Workin’ Overtime” (b/w “No Matter What They Say”) in October 1978, and “P.A.R.T.Y. (Where It Is)” (b/w “Under the Influence”) in January 1979.

Unwrapped

Denise LaSalle released her seventh album, Unwrapped, in May 1979 on MCA.

Unwrapped blends studio tracks with a live medley, pairing LaSalle’s original material with covers old soul and recent pop hits. The Memphis Horns and Detroit strings support both rhythm-driven songs and expansive medley passages.

LaSalle wrote the first three songs and closes the live segment with her 1971 hit “Trapped by a Thing Called Love.” Studio tracks range from assertive funk workouts (“Think About It,” “Keep On Dancin’, Rock”) to extended soul explorations (“Too Little in Common to Be Lovers”). Side two contrasts a Rod Stewart cover with the live medley, which threads together three classic R&B numbers over nearly fifteen minutes.

A1. “Think About It” (5:26)
A2. “Keep On Dancin’, Rock” (4:27)
A3. “A Miracle, You and Me” (3:30)
A4. “Too Little in Common to Be Lovers” (6:33) originated as a 1974 Truth Records a-side by The Newcomers, written by Stax staffers Carl Hampton and Homer Banks (aka Banks & Hampton).

B1. “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” (5:14) was a recent No. 1 hit by Rod Stewart, co-written by his drummer, Carmen Appice.
B2. Medley (14:52) recorded live at The Players Palace Entertainment Center, Jackson, Tennessee.
— a. “Make Me Yours” originated as a 1967 single by Bettye Swann (aka Bettye J. Champion).
— b. “Precious Memories” was written by fellow soul singers Dave Crawford and Jackie Moore (credited here as Jane Moore)
— c. “Trapped by a Thing Called Love”

Sessions occurred at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with Denise LaSalle producing. Strings, background vocals, and congas were recorded at The Sound Suite in Detroit. Mark Calice engineered strings, horns, and background vocals; William C. Brown III handled recording and remix engineering.

The band features Ray Griffin on bass, Blair Cunningham on drums and percussion, Jerry Paul on congas, Marvell Thomas on Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and synthesizer contributions by Carl Marsh. Lead guitar comes from Kenny Ray Kight and Michael Toles. Horns were provided by the Memphis Horns with strings from the Detroit Symphony. David Van De Pitte arranged the horn, string, and rhythm sections. Backing vocals were delivered by Brandye, with emcee work by James “Super” Wolfe.

Art direction and design concept were managed by Stuart Kusher, with photography by Gary Heery.

MCA issued “Think About It” (b/w “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”) in June 1979.

I’m So Hot

Denise LaSalle released her eighth album, I’m So Hot, in April 1980 on MCA.

The album balances originals with reinterpretations of classic R&B, pairing LaSalle’s assertive vocal style with polished horn charts and layered string arrangements. Her rhythm section emphasizes tight, shifting patterns, while the tracks alternate between sultry confessionals and dance-oriented performances.

LaSalle wrote the first three and last three songs, collaborating with guitarist James “Super” Wolf on the closeout track, “May the Funk Be With You,” a duet with singer Ollie Nightingale. She also tackles songs by Gene Chandler (“Tear for Tear”) and Gladys Knight & the Pips (“Giving Up”).

The songs divide into three categories: assertive originals with lyrical confrontation (“I’m So Hot,” “You’ll Never Get Your Hooks in My Man”), dance-oriented tracks with rapid rhythmic shifts (“Come Ta Ya Ha Dance,” “May the Funk Be With You”), and the two reinterpreted R&B classics, which LaSalle delivers with sharp tonal contours and controlled phrasing.

A1. “I’m So Hot” (4:57)
A2. “Try My Love” (5:08)
A3. “You’ll Never Get Your Hooks in My Man” (5:23)
A4. “Tear for Tear” (4:14) originated as a 1962 single by Gene Chandler; written by members of doo-wopsters The Leaders (Carl Spencer, Ted Cooper) and covered since by Walter Jackson.

B1. “Giving Up” (4:38) originated as a March 1964 single by Gladys Knight and the Pips, written by Van McCoy and covered since by The Ad Libs, The Hassles, Donny Hathaway, Zulema, and Shirley Brown.
B2. “Come Ta Ya Ha Dance (We Came to Earth to Dance)” (5:39)
B3. “Sometimes” (4:40)
B4. “May the Funk Be With You” (4:52)

Sessions occurred at Ardent Studios in Memphis and The Sound Suite in Detroit, with rhythm and background vocals recorded at Ardent. Denise LaSalle and Ordena Productions produced the album. Engineers included David Boyer and William C. Brown III, with remix engineering handled by Brown and John Pace.

I’m So Hot features the arrangements of Marvell Thomas (rhythm) and David Van De Pitte (strings and horns), supported by bassist Dywane Thomas, drummer James Robinson, guitarists Kenny Ray Kight and Michael Toles, and Syndrums programmer John Toney. LaSalle used five backing vocalists: Bertram Brown, Terry Bartlett, Vaneese Thomas, Vince Williams, and William Sumlin.

Art direction came from Kathe Schreyer with photography by Charles William Bush.

MCA lifted “I’m So Hot” as a single backed with the earlier “A Miracle, You and Me.”

Discography: