May 27th – Marie Knight – Cry Me A River

Gospel singer Marie Knight enjoyed considerable success in the 40s and 50s, often as a duet partner with Sister Rosetta Tharpe.  She also made some secular recordings in the 50s and 60s although her career waned shortly thereafter.

This song is hardly obscure but I love how she turns it into something completely different from the original. Surely this was the inspiration for Joe Cocker’s more famous version from 1970?

 

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