Lea Roberts -

Lea Roberts is an American soul singer who cut five singles between 1969 and 1972, followed by the 1973–75 UA albums Excuse Me, I Want to Talk to You and Lady Lea. In 1982, she reappeared on Skies Unlimited with My Silent Place.

Profile

Lea Roberts was born Leatha Roberta Hicks on April 15, 1946, in Dayton, Ohio. At age 23, she signed with Minit, a division of Liberty Records, which linked her with arranger Horace Ott and producer George Butler, a recent soundman for Ferrante & Teicher.

Pre-1973 Solo Singles

In July 1969, Lea Roberts debuted with the Minit single “Prove It,” an Ott number backed with the Sam & Dave cover “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,” written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. A companion promo pressing placed “Prove It” on both sides. She returned with the 1970 Minit single “Love on My Mind” (b/w “Stay With Me”), cut with the Butler/Ott team.

In December 1970, Lea reappeared on United Artists with “Fifty-Fifty” (b/w “Don’t Let Me Fall in Love Alone”), followed in May 1971 with “Can’t Get Enough of You” (b/w “You and I”). She capped her pre-album UA run with the March 1972 single “Mr. Preacher Man” (b/w “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me”).

Excuse Me, I Want to Talk to You

Lea Roberts released her debut studio album, Excuse Me, I Want to Talk to You, in 1973 on United Artists.

Excuse Me contains eleven titles dominated by Edward Clay songs. Wade Marcus arranged and produced the album apart from the Bobby Womack cover “(If You Don’t Want My Love) Give It Back” and its Clay-written flip “Coming Back Home,” recorded with Nick Venet. Chuck Rainey adds bass on “Find a Place.”

“Find a Place” surges out of the early restraint with a tougher lead. “Maybe I Don’t Show It” pleads through relationship uncertainty inside a rich, contained arrangement. “I’m Losing My Mind” broods through instrumental interludes and sharp vocal outcries. “I Know” darkens the lead with harder vocal outcries. “I Take My Fire With Me” testifies through mountain-and-valley imagery and a hymn-like line. “Let It Shine” steadies the close with church-toned vocal lines.

A1. “(If You Don’t Want My Love) Give It Back” (3:06) – Womack, DeWitty; originated on Womack’s 1971 third solo album Communication.
A2. “Excuse Me” (2:37) – Clay
A3. “Coming Back Home” (3:28) – Clay
A4. “Jeremy” (2:45) – Devens
A5. “Find a Place” (2:57) – Clay
A6. “Maybe I Don’t Show It” (3:38) – Barber

B1. “I’m Losing My Mind” (4:12) – Clay
B2. “I Know” (3:22) – George
B3. “Ivory” (3:07) – Robinson
B4. “I Take My Fire With Me” (2:57) – Clay
B5. “Let It Shine” (3:54) – Clay

Lloyd Ziff designed the sleeve for Excuse Me, I Want to Talk to You, which features photography by Steinbicker/Houghton and liner notes by Vernon Gibbs.

In May 1973, United Artists lifted sued “(If You Don’t Want My Love) Give It Back” (b/w “Coming Back Home”), which reached No. 94 on the R&B chart.

UA followed with 1973 single issues of “Excuse Me (I Want to Talk to You)” (b/w “Maybe I Don’t Show It”) and “I Know” (b/w “Ivory”), concluding the run in early 1974 with “Let It Shine” (b/w “Find a Place”). Therefore, eight of the album’s ten songs appeared on 7″ sides.

Lady Lea

Lea Roberts released her second studio album, Lady Lea, in 1975 on United Artists.

Lady Lea includes covers of songs by Free (“All Right Now”), Syreeta (“I’m Goin’ Left”), the Bee Gees (“Lost in Your Love”), Johnny Duncan (“You’re Gonna Need a Man”), Neil Sedaka (“Don’t Let It Mess Your Mind,” “Laughter in the Rain”), and Jerry Butler (“She Will Break Your Heart”), the last two arranged by Gene Page.

“Laughter in the Rain” eases into a smooth, controlled lead of the joyous Seventies lovers anthem. “She Will Break Your Heart” draws each phrase through a poised vocal line. “I’m Goin’ Left” turns Roberts toward a separate vocal stance.

A1. “All Right Now” (3:11) – Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers; originated on the 1970 Free album Fire and Water.
A2. “Laughter in the Rain” (3:14) – Sedaka, Cody
A3. “All Over Again” (3:17) – Marmelzat, Proffer
A4. “Lost in Your Love” (4:43) – Barry Gibb; originated on the 1974 Bee Gees album Mr. Natural.
A5. “I’m Goin’ Left” (3:08) – Wright, Stevie Wonder; originated on the 1974 Motown release Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta.

B1. “Loving You Gets Better With Time” (3:50) – Marmelzat, Proffer, Burch
B2. “Don’t Let It Mess Your Mind” (3:31) – Sedaka, Cody
B3. “She Will Break Your Heart” (3:37) – Carter, Mayfield, Butler; originated as “He Will Break Your Heart” on Butler’s 1960 solo debut.
B4. “You’re Gonna Need a Man” (3:48) – Goldsboro
B5. “Chained to This Memory” (3:42) – Marmelzat, Proffer

Roberts recorded Lady Lea with producers Denny Diante and Spencer Proffer. Beverly Parker designed the cover with photography by Doug Metzler.

United Artists issued “Laughter in the Rain” in August 1974 (b/w “She Will Break Your Heart”), which reached No. 69 R&B and No. 9 Bubbling Under Hot 100.

“All Right Now” followed in April 1975 (b/w “All Over Again”) and reached No. 92 Hot 100 and No. 54 R&B. In June 1975, “Loving You Gets Better With Time” appeared as a single (b/w “Chained to This Memory”).

My Silent Place

Lea Roberts released her third studio album, My Silent Place, in 1982 on Skies Unlimited Records.

My Silent Place contains eight titles, five with music by producer-pianist Michael Eldridge. Rob Mullins arranged and conducted the album, which pairs pianists Mullins and Ellyn Rucker with guitarist Kelli Ethridge, bassist Marty Ruddy, drummers John Merola and Ron Moewes, saxophonist Laura Newman, and flugelhorn soloist Jeff Jarvis. John Clemmons joins Yvette Stewart on backing vocals and takes the male lead on “I Won’t Fall in Love.”

“My Silent Place” raises a dramatic lead line. “Another Lonely Night” cedes its later section to an extended saxophone break. “I Won’t Fall in Love” places John Clemmons at the front of the vocal part.

A1. “My Silent Place” (4:14) – Garasun, Eldridge
A2. “Free” (3:20) – Stewart
A3. “Together” (5:48) – Eldridge
A4. “Love Can Break You” (4:20) – Trees

B1. “Another Lonely Night” (3:17) – Merola, Mullins
B2. “You Can Never Forget” (4:18) – Garasun, Eldridge
B3. “I Won’t Fall in Love” (2:47) – Van Treuren, Eldridge
B4. “Days Gone By” (4:43) – Wyatt, Eldridge

Roberts recorded My Silent Place with producer Michael Eldridge. Rob Mullins arranged and conducted the sessions.

Discography: