Dee C Lee: Records that changed my life
BY READERS DIGEST
14th Mar 2024 Records That Changed My Life
2 min read
Soul singer and former member of The Style Council Dee C Lee returns with her first album in 25 years, Just Something, this month. These are the records that changed her life
Diana Ross, Touch Me in the Morning
Released in 1973, I would have been 12 or 13 when
I got into Diana Ross directly though my mum’s love for her music. Diana Ross
has always been one of my mum's favourite artists.
"One of my earliest musical memories is listening to this album and I remember it made me want to sing"
One of my earliest musical memories has to be
listening to this album and it was one of the first albums I remember hearing
that made me want to sing.
Her effortless class and poise as a vocalist
on this album stands out for me and has stuck with me ever since. My particular
favourite take from this album has to be “My Baby (My Baby, My Own)”.
Earth, Wind & Fire, All ‘n All
This album is apparently the eighth studio album from Earth, Wind & Fire,
but for me it was a first. The tracklist includes two of my all-time favourites
on it—"Runnin’” and “Magic Mind”.
"One of the first serious albums I bought, and after hearing it I had to go and see the band live"
It's one of the first serious albums I bought,
and after hearing it I had to go and see the band live. I can still remember
the excitement of seeing and hearing the tracks come alive! I’d already been
blown away by the album and so to see this incredible band performing them live
was an eye opener for me.
I remember standing, rooted to the spot, in total awe with my jaw wide open, after
everyone (including the band and crew) had left the building.
Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life
Another one of the first albums I ever bought and
one of the all-time classics to this day, I think many will agree.
"Another one of the first albums I ever bought and one of the all-time classics to this day"
He’s an incredible artist who has been around so many years and who is
still making great music today. But for me it’s the early 1970s work that
really resonates with me musically.
It’s difficult to tell you which is my favourite track from this legendary
album, but today anyway I’d have to go with “As”. That will probably have changed again by tomorrow. It’s hard to pin
down a favourite when you have an album as legendary as this one.
Donald Byrd, Places and Spaces
When I first heard Donald Byrd records playing at the clubs I had started
frequenting—around the age of 15 or 16 years old—it was a pivotal musical
moment. That was mainly because the
female vocalists that Donald was working with showed me a different vocal
style to anything I had previously heard before. Both atmospheric and ethereal—it
has stuck with me ever since.
"I had the opportunity to work with Donald and he told me I reminded him of the girls he used to work with years ago"
In an
amazing twist of fate, a few years later I was given the opportunity to work
with Donald—who kept telling me my vocals reminded him of the girls he used to
work with back in the day. This was a fall on the floor moment for me, as it
was these vocalists that had inspired my own vocal style.
Dee C Lee's Just Something (Acid Jazz Records) is released March 22
Banner photo: Dee C Lee, credit Ben Meadows
*This post
contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a
purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Keep up with the top stories from Reader's Digest by subscribing to our weekly newsletter
