Best From Artist 70 - Thelma Houston

**paul** · December 1st, 2003, 01:26 AM

Well, a few weeks back Marky prompted me to do ABBA :D
This week, I gotta dedicate to Nicky. :D
First, in a thread picking top male/female artist he mentioned Thelma. I've thought of doing Thelma a few times in the past but passed on her for whatever reason. This time when he mentioned her, I thought of two songs I really loved and decided this would be her week.
Secondly, Nicky gave a positive recommendation about "Gemm." This is relavent because I went looking for my Thelma album (cassette) with my "Best" picks and could not find it so off to "Gemm" I went.
So anyway my picks are I'd Rather Spend A Bad Time With You and You Used to Hold Me So Tight.

**K-Bee** · December 1st, 2003, 02:40 AM

"You Used To Hold me So Tight" is definetely my fav track too. And I even spend like 10 years not knowing that thelma actually were the artist :lol:

**Com King** · December 1st, 2003, 05:59 AM

I really love Thelma, but I'm going to bound myself to 3 picks :

1) You used to hold me so Tight
2) I'm here again
3) Don't leave me this way

**Forrrce** · December 1st, 2003, 06:17 AM

'Don't Leave Me This Way'
'I'm Here Again'
'96 Tears'
'If You Feel It'
'Generate Love'

**Boogie Child** · December 1st, 2003, 11:54 AM

"Saturday Night, Sunday Morning"
"Don't Leave Me This Way"
"If You Feel It"
"You Used to Hold Me So Tight"

**Nano** · December 1st, 2003, 04:07 PM

I'll go with Thelma's version of "96 tears" (and old fave of mine), but I don't know that many hits of her, so I'll look out for those titles mentioned above. I think she's a terrific singer.

**markydefad** · December 1st, 2003, 04:45 PM

My list:

"Don't Leave Me This Way" (Her classic)
"96 Tears" (shoulda been a much bigger hit)
"Saturday Night, Sunday Morning" (didn't appreciate this much back in tha day--but I like it now)
"Love Masterpiece" (from "TGIF" soundtrack-- some hate this--I like this hyper-fast pop number)]
"I've Got The Music In Me" (her version of the Kiki Dee number--on an early 80's big band type LP)

**QUINNY** · December 1st, 2003, 04:55 PM

I always preferred her version of Don't leave Me this Way, You Used To Hold Me (So Tight) was a brilliant, brilliant record and I always had a soft spot for her version of Jumpin' Jack Flash. It was her and not Cissy, eh?

**keefelc** · December 1st, 2003, 10:19 PM

One of my favorites of Thelma was her followup album to "Anyway You Like It," - "The Devil In Me"!

**NickNack** · December 1st, 2003, 10:28 PM

Don't Leave Me This Way
I'm Here Again
Saturday Night, Sunday Morning
I Can't Go On Living Without Your Love
Moonlight Serenade

Damn, this woman could sing! :D

Quinny: "Jumpin' Jack Flash" :-? --- Are you thinking of Aretha or is this an lp cut from Thelma?

Marcio** · December 1st, 2003, 10:48 PM

"There's No Such Thing As Love"
(1972 :D )

**Rodmann2** · December 2nd, 2003, 01:14 AM

Damn!, Thelma Houston can sing! Sometimes I just sit in amazement while listening to her records because of the way she caresses the lyrics. Not only can this woman belt but she can also sing so kittenish and sexy! Here are a few of my favs:

DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY (1976) - Of Course! It's a classic that I never get sick of hearing.

SWEET LOVE I'VE FOUND (1977) - I'm hooked on this midtempo number from Thelma's first duet album with Jerry Butler. Perfect phrasing by Thelma on this one!

IF YOU FEEL IT (1981) - This is probably my second favorite track by Thelma after the Jerry Butler duet. Great tune!

For some reason I've never been able to get into YOU USED TO HOLD ME SO TIGHT. I want to like it soooo bad but I just don't! Maybe it'll grow on me one of these days. By the way, has anyone out there heard Thelma's first hit from 1974 called YOU'VE BEEN DOING WRONG FOR SO LONG? I've always wondered about this one but I've never heard it or seen a copy in my local shops. How is it?

**QUINNY** · December 2nd, 2003, 03:32 AM

NickNack: I just seem to remember Thelma doing Jumpin' Jack Flash and remember liking it. Or was it Cissy (I doubt it, but I could have wires crossed). I can't say I was too much of a fan of Aretha's version though.

**paul** · December 5th, 2003, 12:28 PM

Well I received Thelma's album from Gemm. Two things. Nicky you're right. The quality was very good. I'm reminded again how good vinyl can sound. Who needs SACD. Next, I'm going to pick I'd Rather Spend The Bad Times With You as my sole pick. This song is just soooo gooood.