I Can't Let Go (Uk) [LP], Evie Sands, Vinyl

"I Can't Let Go" is the first ever compilation of Brooklyn singer Evie Sands' 60s recordings, featuring all 15 tracks from her first eight singles on the vinyl version. The CD edition boasts a further 11 cuts, featuring her complete 45s from 1963-1970. Singing from her pre-teens and first working in the studio at a tender age, Sands' powerful and mesmerising voice belied her youth and featured on classic 45s cherished by soul and rock collectors alike, as well as girl group and femme pop aficionados. After fledgling releases on ABC and Gold, Sands teamed up with the writing, arrangement and production team of Chip Taylor and Al Gorgoni in 1965 for a series of excellent, and frequently astounding records on the Blue Cat, Cameo and A&M labels, culminating in her much admired first LP. Along the way she cut the original (and definitive) versions of 'Take Me For A Little While', 'I Can't Let Go', northern soul floor filler 'Picture Me Gone', and the stately 'Angel Of The Morning', and watched on in disbelief as they all became hits for other artists. Finally achieving a sizeable hit of her own in 1969 with 'Any Way That You Want Me', she followed a short retirement in the early 70s with a well-received comeback LP, "Estate Of Mind" and a brace of US Top 50 hit singles. Honing her production and writing skills along the way led to a veritable who's who of pop royalty queuing up to work with her and record her songs; Barbra Streisand, Dusty Springfield, Karen Carpenter, Dionne Warwick and later Missy Elliot all covered Sands' compositions and Elvis very nearly did too