She wrote hit songs for R&B giants the Clovers, Clyde McPhatter and the Cookies, she recorded with some of the best musicians and arrangers of her era, she recorded almost three dozen sides during the period covered by this Jasmine collection and she went on to enjoy a more successful second career in the Latin music market, as Elena Madera. Yet despite making records for a decade and a half, almost nothing definite is known about Carmen Taylor, whose early life is a succession of 'may have's. No photos of her from the 1950s are known to exist - our glamorous cover shot is from the early 60s - and sadly most people with whom she would have worked are no longer around to share their memories of her. Fortunately music lasts longer than memories and Jasmine's "Oh Please!" brings together all the surviving masters that Carmen is known to have cut between 1950 and 1962, for the first time in one collection. Carmen sadly never had a hit - and when you heard some of the recordings here you will have to wonder why that was so - but at her considerable best she could hold her own with any of her more successful contemporaries such as her former Atlantic label mates Ruth Brown and La Vern Baker. A quality collection from a quality artist who deserved a far greater level of success than she achieved, and a must for all fans of great female rhythm and blues.

Track List

1. Can't Understand It - Julian Dash and His Orchestra
2. Cry - Carmen Taylor
3. All Over Again - Carmen Taylor
4. Please Tell Me Why - Carmen Taylor
5. Let Me Know That You Love Me - Carmen Taylor
6. Lookin' for You - Carmen Taylor with the Leroy Kirkland Orchestra
7. I'm Comin' Back to You - Carmen Taylor with the Leroy Kirkland Orchestra
8. Lovin' Daddy - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra
9. Ding Dong - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra
10. Big Mamou Daddy - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra
11. Mama Me and Johnny Free - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra
12. Freddie - Carmen Taylor and the Boleros
13. Ooh! - Carmen Taylor and the Boleros
14. No More No Less - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra Directed By Kelly Owens
15. Let Me Go Lover - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra Directed By Kelly Owens
16. Really True - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra
17. It Takes Two - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra
18. You Never Really Loved Me - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra
19. Love Is Everything - Carmen Taylor with Orchestra
20. I Was Only in Your Mind But Not Your Heart - Carmen Taylor
21. The Bride Should Have Been Me - Carmen Taylor
22. Teenage Ball - Carmen Taylor
23. Oh Please - Carmen Taylor
24. Why Did You Leave Me Alone - Carmen Taylor
25. So What - Carmen Taylor
26. Willie B - Carman (Sic) Taylor with the 'Big Tootin' Buddy Lucas Band
27. Love Me Baby - Carmen Taylor

UPC > 604988329520

Format > New CD

Label > Jasmine Records

Release Date > Release Date: 7.18.25

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