Brenda Holloway at 60

Happy birthday to the great Brenda Holloway, a lost Motown goddess. Brenda never really made it big but she should have with her effortlessly powerful and versatile voice.

Brenda had her first hit in 1964 with 'Every Little Bit Hurts' (which has been covered by loads of people from Petula Clark to the Clash) and supported the Beatles on tour in America in 1965. She had a few hits over the next few years and still earns a living from writing 'You've Made Me So Very Happy' with her sister Patrice (covered by Blood, Sweat and Tears and a host of others).

She was only with Motown for a few years before retiring, getting married and singing in the church choir but her voice was kept alive on the Northern Soul scene and she started recording again in 1987 and a collection of her re-recorded classics and covers, along with new material was released in 2003 ('My Love Is Your Love'). A few years earlier she released 'It's A Woman's World,' an album of new material.

It's her Motown years that provide the evidence for the richness and power of her voice and this work is collected on her 'The Motown Anthology' which supposedly comprises all her Motown recordings, including those not previously released. I say supposedly because it doesn't include my favourite Brenda track, 'Trapped (In A Love Affair)' which is available on another Motown compilation of rare tracks from the '60s. The collection shows the wide range of material she could tackle but this also suggests a lack of direction - if she'd had the proper direction who knows what she might have achieved? Still, it's an excellent collection and everyone should own a copy.

I've never seen Brenda. I had the chance to see her at a Northern Soul convention in a holiday camp in Great Yarmouth a couple of winters ago but couldn't face the thought of it. She should be on at the Royal Albert Hall or the Royal Festival Hall. Or even the Jazz Cafe. I live in hope.

In the meantime I'll be listening to my CDs and joining in on the choruses, from the glories of 'When I'm Gone' and 'You've Made Me So Very Happy' to the whimsical 'Land of a Thousand Boys' and 'Play It Cool, Stay In School'.

Happy birthday Brenda!