Marie Knight That's No Way To Treat A Girl Marie Knight came into the world way back in 1925 and though she enjoyed a recording career that stretched over 61 years, she savoured little actual commercial record success.

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A montage of Marie related bits ........

 

Marie's Musicor NS biggie was produced by Stanley Kahan.

Stanley had started out in the 50's working with the likes of Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, April Stevens (he wrote "Talk To Me" in the 50's which Billy Eckstine also cut for Motown in 1966). In the 1960's, in addition to working with Marie Knight, he produced tracks for Junior Lewis, Chuck Jackson ("Any Other Way"), Sammy Ambrose ("THis Diamond Ring") and more.

He was back working with Chuck Jackson in the late 70's, producing Chuck's version of "When The Fuel Runs Out". He also worked with Dutch Robinson ("Can't Get Along Without You") and Nancy Wilson around the same time.

March is always a bad month to be in New York; cold, windy with lots of snow.

 

Back in 1962, Marie was wise enough to head back to her birth state to play gigs at the Knight Beat Club (not named after her) in Miami ............

A few weeks later & she hit the chitlin circuit with vengeance. Touring with the likes of Clyde McPhatter, Ben E King, Gene Chandler, the Impressions and more ......................

............... here's some shows she undertook at the Royal in Baltimore ................

In 1966, Marie was one of the artists that Musicor were giving a push to in their trade ads .............

... even though they never released a 45 on her after "You Lie So Well" that escaped around October 1965 ..............

video no longer works

Her 1959 45 release (a duet with Rex 'Queen of the Go Go' Garvin) .........

 

 

A year earlier (1958) and she was on Baton Records ................

 

 November 1951 and she had a 'Sepia' record out (according to her label) ......

This was her track cut in association with world boxing champ 'Jersey Joe' Walcott ....

 

Her very R&B-ish Addit 45 cut ........

In 1966, Marie was one of the artists that Musicor were giving a push to in their trade ads .............

... even though they never released a 45 on her after "You Lie So Well" that escaped around October 1965 ..............

Great stuff Roburt, very interesting, thanx for all the info.

Regarding Marie's "You Lie So Well" 45, For me it is coupled with one of her finest, the sublime "A Little Too Lonely"

steve

https://youtu.be/-N7ly2lsXm8

That's No Way To Treat A Girl, Main Hall, Wigan Casino.....sounded just so fantastic.

Aid.

That's No Way To Treat A Girl, Main Hall, Wigan Casino.....sounded just so fantastic.

Aid.

No what you mean, used to love it, but i must admit since the Kent cd release i really like the extended version.

DJ

Thought I saw on a BBC4 documentary that she also hung around with Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the 50's?

Dave

Thought I saw on a BBC4 documentary that she also hung around with Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the 50's?

Dave

She did. They toured together for 3/4 years (late 40's / early 50's) & even recorded together -- they performed gospel stuff as would be expected.

I skirted over much of her gospel period but did make a mention of this ..............

.... In 1950, together with Rosetta Tharpe, she sang before an audience of thousands of gospel fans at a big show in Washington.

She did. They toured together for 3/4 years (late 40's / early 50's) & even recorded together -- they performed gospel stuff as would be expected.

I skirted over much of her gospel period but did make a mention of this ..............

.... In 1950, together with Rosetta Tharpe, she sang before an audience of thousands of gospel fans at a big show in Washington.

Thanks - will have to revisit that doc - Rosetta Tharpe's guitar playing in particular mind blowing

she gets covered in the excellent Rosetta Tharpe biography which came out a few years back.

I always liked Marie Knight's take on "Cry Me A River".

no way to treat a girl is one of my all time faves, pure, pure quality

It seems that Marie was signed to a record deal in 1949 by The Major Distributing Company (New York).

Billboard notes that she was due to have a release on their Lee label in December 1949.

However I don't believe she ever had anything out on the label and tracks she cut in 1949 eventually escaped (in the 80's) on an MCA album that attributed the cuts to Decca Records.

A group that did have releases on Lee Records were the Shadows. Ed Levy (of Major Distributing) was the group's manager & he seems to have created Lee Records to have a label to release their records on.

By a strange co-incidence both Marie Knight & the Shadows were both having releases on Decca by 1953; though the Shadows had got their deal with the company via Paul Kapp (brother of Dave who started Kapp Records).

A few extra facts on Marie to update the above .....

When she was touring with Jersey Joe Walcott in January 1952, the revue (booked by Glaser's Assoc Booking Agency) was pulling in $1,500 a night. The backing singers on the tour were named the Knightingales, reinforcing Marie's position on the package.

In 1954 she was said to be involved in a love affair with Sonny Carter, the singer with the Joe Thomas Band -- this could have been a front to deflect gossip about her long affair with Rosetta Tharpe. But by 1955, Marie & Rosetta split following a big argument, so the earlier story may have been true. Marie immediately went out as a solo act playing night clubs performing jazz & blues numbers. In 1959, it was reported that she was making good money from her regular night club gigs.   

While in Miami for some night club gigs in March 1962 (see Knight Beat ad above), she did a guest solo gospel spot at a Sunday service in a local church.

In Feb 62 she was signed up by Queens Artists Booking Agency and was expected to be signed to a deal with Columbia Records (here deal with Okeh must have expired, however she next turned up on Diamond Records). Later that year (62) she undertook a 23 day long tour of Sweden along with King Coleman, Lester Young & others. 

Brilliant thread.

Brilliant gospel mover from Marie Knight - recorded 1955. The similarities in style and vocal delivery between Marie and Sister Rosetta are very apparent. They made for a very exciting match.

 

Another ad for the Marie + Rex 45 from March 1959 ......

 

 

 

Her "Who Rolled The Stone Away" goes for a goodly sum ($150).

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Roburt said:

Her "Who Rolled The Stone Away" goes for a goodly sum ($150).

Picked up a copy in lovely condition not so long ago for quite a bit less than that. 

Absolutely fantastic thread Roburt, thank you very much.   

Lovely singer, she moved in the right circles and deserved more credit.