Elkie Brooks released two days away in 1977. She was a popular figure on the UK touring circuit in the 70s being very down to earth, especially as she married her Sound Engineer!
Over the years, this is one album that surprisingly never made it to silver disc (other than on a short lived & rare double album), although all of the hits were decanted onto her numerous compilation albums. One track stuck in my mind though- she covered Do right woman, Do right man and I recalled from my cassette version that it was rather good.
A few years ago, I spotted the record on vinyl at eBay and bid for it, curious to see if I was perhaps improving it over time. As it happened, my memory was true, it was a great version. Not perfect, but very nearly so.
I’ve found a live version on YouTube, it wasn’t there last time I looked around. I reckon this is up there with the Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick versions. She might not be the Queen of Soul but she is certainly a Princess.
Thirty years ago (give or take eight months), I turned on my black and white portable telly in our rather shabby rented house in Coventry and caught Top of the Pops. Peaking at number three was hairy pop-eyed balladeer Dean Friedman singing a pillow duet with an unnamed very sassy looking blonde lady in a sparkly jacket. It was an unexpected juxtaposition- Dean sings high whilst she had an exquisite, husky, “come to bed” type of voice.
Roll the clock forward a quarter of a century and I got an unexpected email from a BBC researcher working for programme series called I love the 1970s. (I have blogged about it before in (almost) famous for fifteen minutes.) When the programme was aired, there was a snippet of Lucky Stars and these was the mystery blonde, wearing a very sparkly blue jacket. I hadn’t remembered what she was wearing and the impact of the glitter was lost somewhat on my portable telly the first time round. So, who was she? Her name was Denise Marsa and she had gone on to make a cracking solo album in 1997 that got rave reviews but crashed and burned. She set up a not for profit company called WO30 records, aimed at helping talented women no longer in the first flush of youth (Women Over 30!)
When Marsa decided to record and release her debut CD, SELF. She describes the experience as the beginning of her second life. It was during this time that Marsa began designing multi media marketing materials for KeyMedia and handling publicity and promotions for her own release. It was merely an extension of her creative abilities. It was not long before others were asking her to work with them on their visions. With a keen eye on marketing, and the ever changing tides of trend, KeyMedia Group provides a creative way to do business.
In 2005 Marsa was a featured panelist on the How to Become a Successful Entrepeneur for the NYU Office of Career Services during the Universities career week program. Denise spent two years in the Fine Arts & Theater Department at the University of Arizona and several semesters at Trenton State College, studying English
Literature and Psychology.
With her worldwide experience in many facets of media, Marsa brings to the table exceptional instincts, astute professionalism, the ability to handle all aspects of a PR and marketing campaign along with passion, commitment and creativity. Her impressive list of clients has praised both the results of her efforts and the integrity in which she presents the work.
When Marsa is not devoting her time to clients, she is working vigorously for her new non-profit venture WO30 Records, the country’s first non profit record label for women recording artists over 30! She can also be spotted walking her best friend, a 13 year old sheltie Ceasar Augustus Hamilton around the West Village in Manhattan.
DENISE MARSA – MUSIC BIOGRAPHY
Internationally-renowned singer, composer, recording artist, producer and artists’ advocate Denise Marsa is perpetually on the brink of another breakthrough. She was the uncredited “mystery lady” on Dean Friedman’s Lucky Stars, a 1978 duet which peaked at #3 on the British and Australian charts and was one of the most-played radio hits of its era. Her identity was revealed long before the tune was showcased on Virgin/EMI’s best-selling 2004 compilation “Love Is…The Album,” along with tracks by John Lennon, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and Nicole Kidman. She also sang lead on The Flirts’ Helpless (You Took My Love), a 1984 dance sensation that reached the Top Ten on Billboard’s International Charts and was reissued on the all-female band¹s 2002 retrospective “The Best Of The Flirts.” Having since composed scores for films (The Ten Rules–2002–a multiple award-winning short) and TV (Showtime Extreme’s ChromiumBlue.com –2003-4), she has now embarked upon a whole new direction, not only in her own work but as a crusading supporter of underrepresented women recording artists.
Denise Marsa was born in Trenton, NJ but her family moved to Tucson, AZ when she was ten years old. Encouraged by her parents, she wrote songs, performed in summer stock and won local talent shows while still a small child. Self-taught, she eventually mastered piano, guitar and electronic keyboards, as well as a working knowledge of bass and percussion. She soon moved to New York City where she performed at the Max’s Kansas City Easter Rock Festival, sharing the stage with The Ramones, Blondie and Talking Heads. She toured with Dean Friedman to support Lucky Stars, appearing at top-notch venues like Queen Elizabeth Festival Hall, Hammersmith Odeon, plus she appeared on syndicated radio and “Top of The Pops” and other major TV shows. She also achieved an important milestone as a songwriter when she was invited to sign a co-publishing deal with Warner Brothers’ Music, UK and then Warner/Chappell Music in Los Angeles. During the years that Marsa was living and working in the UK and Los Angeles before finally returning to her beloved New York City, her works attracted interpreters in Israel, Japan, Argentina, Switzerland and Greece.
Marsa founded the Los Angeles-based KeyMedia Music Group in 1998, wryly naming it for two “key” people who had been entrusted with developing her career but left their companies midway through her contract, thus leaving her stranded. Finally in full control of her own destiny, she put out a well-received solo album called “Self,” performing in Los Angeles at The Troubadour, Cafe Largo, The El Rey Theater and The Roxy. She soon dedicated a lot of energy to discovering, nurturing, producing and managing emerging talent. She also went into hyper-drive as a producer, collaborating with staffers at studios around the world, while continuing to plumb the heights and depths of her soul as a composer. One notable result of her latter endeavors has been a beautiful, touchingly anthemic ballad called City Skies. The lyrics never mention the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but for many who have heard it in pre-release versions, the song nonetheless honors the deep reserves of hope, courage and toughness demonstrated by New Yorkers over the ensuing years.
Now back in New York, Marsa’s present enterprise is a label-production company devoted to creating opportunities for seasoned, adult female musicians.
Denise is great at everything she does but to my ears where she really excels is when she sings slow, bluesy gospel-like numbers. She wrote a song called City Skies about the unconquerable spirit of New York (which will start to play when you visit her myspace page) although I feel that version is a little twee as it has small kids singing in it. (The St. Winifred’s school choir effect!) However, rooting around, I found a superb version filmed at an event held last year called Rock the Boat, with Denise at Piano, a guitarist and two vocalists.. The camerawork is disappointing (you can’t see too much of Denise for much of it because she is at the back!) but the singing is outstanding. I can’t embed it but you fin find it on this page, then clicking on Denise Marsa, the fourth in the list of Videos of performers. Take a look, you won’t be disappointed. It is a real spine tingler and she even throws in a tongue in cheek Bob Dylan impression…
You can find more song snippets at her website, the aforementioned myspace music, her YouTube channel and you can now download songs from “Self” and others from the WO30 record store. I’d recommend two tracks in particular- Steady and The Gift, a snip at $0.99 each.
In the meantime, here is the viddy thingy she did for “Self” called The land had a dream. Be warned, it is very catchy!
