Title:  Stand By Your Man
Company: Fame
Catalog: ST-4202
Year: 1970
Country/State: Hanceville, Alabama
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --

As far as I'm concerned, Candi Staton has a voice that could stop a truck (to say nothing of her stunning looks) ... That voice, tough yet vulnerable, is an amazing gift that allows her to handle virtually any musical genre. Since hearing her early 1970s work when I was a child, she's literally become one of my favorite artists.

 

Her second album for Fame Records, 1970's "Stand By Your Man" found Staton continuing her collaboration with producer Rick Hall. Propelled by that wonderfully raspy voice, the results made for what was simply classic Southern soul. All hyperbole aside, you knew that anyone who good take a sappy piece of country crap like Tammi Wynette's 'Stand By Your Man' and turn it into a spunky soul workout was special and Staton repeatedly displayed those gifts throughout the album. While virtually every one of these ten tracks was worthwhile, Staton seemed to reserve special affection for material written by George Jackson. Tracks like 'I'm Just a Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin')', the breezy 'Too Hurt To Cry', and 'Freedom Is Just beyond the Door' were unbelievable. That's not to downplay the other material, including a mesmerizing cover of Harlan Howard's 'He Called Me Baby', her collaboration with Clarence Carter 'Sweet Feeling', or the bluesy Staton original 'To Hear You Say You're Mine'. Elsewhere the album was notable for spinning off three singles:

- 1970's 'Standi By Your Man' b/w 'How Can I Put Out the Flame (When You Keep the Fire Burning)' (Fame catalog number P-1472) # 4 R&B; # 24 pop
- 1970's 'He Called Me Baby' b/w 'What Would Become of Me' (Fame catalog number P-1476) # 9 R&B; # 52 pop
- 1970's 'Mr. and Mrs. Untrue' b/w 'Too Hurt To Cry' (Fame catalog number P-1478) # 20 R&B; # 52 pop (the 'B' side hit # 109 pop)

Just a shade less impressive than "Candi Staton", but a worthy addition to any soul collectors stash. Wonder if anyone else shudders when they read the liner notes that include the following: " ... an intense, serious look, lips slightly parted, warm and generous ... smiling with soft and steady eyes, an intense inner glow - a categorically, breaktakingly beautiful girl. A black girl."

"Stand By Your Man" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Stand By Your Man (Bill Sherrill - Tammi Wynette) - 2:53
2.) How Can I Put Out the Flame (When You Keep the Fire Burning) (George Jackson - R. Moore) - 3:10
3.) I'm Just a Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin') (George Jackson - E. Harris) - 3:08
4.) Mr. and Mrs. Untrue (Toni Wine- Joey Levine) - 3:26
5.) Too Hurt To Cry (George Jackson - E. Harris) - 2:53

(side 2)
1.) He Called Me Baby (Harlan Howard) - 2:47
2.) Sweet Feeling (Clarence Carter - Candi Staton - Rick Hall - M. Daniel) - 2:42
3.) To Hear You Say You're Mine (Candi Staton) - 3:06
4.) What Would Become of Me (Barbara Wyrick) - 2:45
5.) Freedom Is Just beyond the Door (George Jackson - E. Cage Jr.) - 2:47

Courtesy of YouTube I found a related Staton performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCY6k4tUULw
'Stand By Your Man'

Staton also has a nice website at:

http://www.candi-staton.com/