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Light in the Attic

Betty Davis - Self Titled Vinyl Record

Betty Davis - Self Titled Vinyl Record

Regular price $28.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $28.99 USD
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Release Notes
  • Betty’s classic full-length debut!
  • LP available on Standard Black Wax and Coke Bottle Clear Wax
  • Expanded vinyl edition featuring 20-page booklet including rare photos, lyrics and new 2022 liner notes by Danielle Maggio interviewing Betty
  • Vinyl plated at RTI
  • CD housed in a digipak and featuring expanded booklet

One can hardly imagine the genre-busting, culture-crossing musical magic of Outkast, Prince, Erykah Badu, Rick James, The Roots, or even the early Red Hot Chili Peppers without the influence of R&B pioneer Betty Davis. Her style of raw and revelatory punk-funk defies any notions that women can’t be visionaries in the worlds of rock and pop. In recent years, rappers from Ice Cube to Talib Kweli to Ludacris have rhymed over her intensely strong but sensual music.

There is one testimonial about Betty Davis that is universal: she was a woman ahead of her time. In our contemporary moment, this may not be as self-evident as it was thirty years ago – we live in an age that’s been profoundly changed by flamboyant flaunting of female sexuality: from Parlet to Madonna, Lil Kim to Kelis. Yet, back in 1973 when Betty Davis first showed up in her silver go-go boots, dazzling smile and towering Afro, who could you possibly have compared her to? Marva Whitney had the voice but not the independence. Labelle wouldn’t get sexy with their “Lady Marmalade” for another year while Millie Jackson wasn’t “Feelin’ Bitchy” until 1977. Even Tina Turner, the most obvious predecessor to Betty’s fierce style wasn’t completely out of Ike’s shadow until later in the decade.

Ms. Davis’s unique story, still sadly mostly unknown, is unlike any other in popular music. Betty wrote the song “Uptown” for the Chambers Brothers before marrying Miles Davis in the late ‘60s, influencing him with psychedelic rock, and introducing him to Jimi Hendrix — personally inspiring the classic album ’Bitches Brew.’

But her songwriting ability was way ahead of its time as well. Betty not only wrote every song she ever recorded and produced every album after her first, but the young woman penned the tunes that got The Commodores signed to Motown. The Detroit label soon came calling, pitching a Motown songwriting deal, which Betty turned down. Motown wanted to own everything. Heading to the UK, Marc Bolan of T. Rex urged the creative dynamo to start writing for herself. A common thread throughout Betty’s career would be her unbending Do-It-Yourself ethic, which made her quickly turn down anyone who didn’t fit with the vision. She would eventually say no to Eric Clapton as her album producer, seeing him as too banal.

In 1973, Davis would finally kick off her cosmic career with an amazingly progressive hard funk and sweet soul self-titled debut. Davis showcased her fiercely unique talent and features such gems as “If I’m In Luck I Might Get Picked Up” and “Game Is My Middle Name.” The album Betty Davis was recorded with Sly & The Family Stone’s rhythm section, sharply produced by Sly Stone drummer Greg Errico, and featured backing vocals from Sylvester and the Pointer Sisters.

Shipping Policy

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Returns & Exchanges

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At HiFi LoFi, we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction with every purchase. To maintain transparency and provide you with a smooth shopping experience, our return policy is designed to be straightforward.

Returns Accepted Only for Incorrect Items Shipped:

We understand that mistakes can happen, and in the rare instance that you receive the wrong item, we are happy to facilitate a return. Our return policy is specifically limited to cases where the item you receive is not the one you ordered.

How to Initiate a Return:

Contact Us Promptly: If you believe you have received the wrong item, please contact our customer service team within 7 days of receiving your order. You can reach us at hflf.online@gmail or call us at 206-695-2869.

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Return Shipping: We will cover the cost of return shipping for the incorrect item. Please follow the provided instructions for returning the item in its original condition and packaging.

Conditions for Returns:

Returns are only accepted for incorrect items shipped.
The item must be in its original condition, unopened, and with all original packaging.

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