They Say I'm Different

It's pretty safe to say that Betty Davis was one of a kind in the '70s. Her music combined funky grooves with raw sexuality. Her vocals weren't particularly strong, but her message could not have been clearer. I can't say I love every song here, but I can say that this is worth checking out for a look back at a vital feminist voice that the music industry didn't know what to do with then -- or now. Davis deserves to better known, but until that happens, her legacy has been sealed by serious music collectors. You know who you are.

This is an incredibly funky and hard rocking album. As far as comparisons go, Betty Davis is an original. Sure, there are echoes of Sly Stone, reminds me a bit of some of the early Parliament albums too minus the vocal harmonies and horn charts, but she is in a class by herself. Tempo changes and transitions that are unexpected. Lyrics that are funny as all. Vocals, at least on this album, are less about the range and harmonies and more about the attitude. Her backing band is also first rate.All of her studio albums are worth owning, and listening too, but for an introduction "They Say I'm Different" is a great place to start and my favorite of her albums. This particular version has some great bonus tracks too. Surprised it took me so long to find this album, but I'm glad that I did. Just a great album.

Donde estaba esta mujer??????Es increíble la calidad de su música...lastima que se perdió desde los años 60,y nos privo de todo su genio.Sus discos son infaltables!

Despite the "freaky" outfit on the cover, Betty Davis' "They Say I'm Different" eschews the space alien/psychedelic/glam/absurdist themes of contemporaries like Parliament & co. If those groups are the Bob Dylans of funk, Betty Davis (one-time wife of Miles Davis) is the Janis Joplin. The music has the simplicity and punchiness of blues, the vocals are screamy and guttural, and the lyrics are choc-a-bloc with sexuality ("He Was a Big Freak"), 70s slang ("Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him"), and gutsy self-possession ("Don't Call Her No Tramp").Davis' alternate screaming and cooing is complemented by rich, swampy timbres from the backing band, which does without the brightness of horns - there is a muted trumpet line towards the end of track 1, but that's about it. The rhythm section is instead filled out by guitar, organ, clav, and acoustic piano, riffing and oodling above the bass and drum parts. The groove stays loose through both slow-stewing tracks like "Special People" and more propulsive numbers like "Git In There".This particular edition (I bought mine from amazon) comes in an attractive digipak and has a generous (30 page) album booklet, and apparently with this CD release, Davis is finally getting the royalties.This album is truly excellent. For those like myself who have a distaste for lengthy jams and meaningless lyrics, but still enjoy funk's danceability and punchiness, They Say I'm Different is a revelation. And aside from sheer sexual strength, tracks like "70s Blues" and "Don't Call Her No Tramp" have genuine emotional resonance.

I don't know what turned me on more;the sonic sexuality of her vocals or fine face and frame. I do know this; the tight rhythms and viciously vibrant bass-lines of this album made me a fan.Check out the gritty groove of "Your Mama Wants You Back"( I'm on my way,baby). It will raise the hairs on the nape of your neck! Serious,sensuous,solid funk,B-funk,the real bomb, with an undercurrent of blues(on the cut"They Say I'm Different" she pays tribute to variuos blues artists). This album is the aural equivalent of sensuality; unapologetic in its in-your face sexiness; unabashed in its examination of taboo subjects(He Was A Big Freak, Don't You Call Her No Tramp); unrelenting in its musical audacity. When you consider that she was broaching these subjects and producing this funky blues-rock sound in the mid-1960,s it makes what she was doing even more incredible! Betty Davis,ahead of her time, but always on time,with her music and her mischievousness.

Loved that the liner notes were by Oliver Wang of Soul Sides. This is one of my favorite albums of all time & having it on vinyl now is so awesome! Great songs, seriously check her out!

Serious quality control issues here. The music is great but this pressing is faulty. The actual music on the disc on the CD is the "Betty Davis" album... It's the third copy I get, from separate sources, and the third that plays "If I'm in luck I might get picked up" when inserted of a CD player. I'm giving up on it.

When I slapped this cd on I was blown away. It's an amazing mix of super greasy blues and tight funk. She 's the real funky ass deal (don't let her disco diva costume fool you). Davis's singing is incredibly powerful and I can't really think of another woman r&b singer to compare her to. At times I was reminded of Captain Beefheart's Clear Spot record. Check out the 28 second album sound clips if this sounds like your bag and I think you'll be clicking add to cart shortly after.

Nobody talks about Betty Davis. When people discuss 70s funk they mention Sly and they mention Stevie and of course James and Funkadelic but Betty's legacy has been unfairly forgotten. So thanks to the good people at Light In The Attic records for reissuing Betty's razor sharp self-titled debut and this, her uncompromising follow up. 'They Say I'm Different', featuring all original material written and produced by Betty herself, is packed full of gritty, hard-edged and pioneering funk. Featuring members of Sly and the Family Stone, the playing is second to none and Davis' voice wails, growls and purrs. Like Prince, Karen O and Madonna all wrapped up in one and light years before all of them. She was fearsome, she was sexual and she did everything her own way. I have no idea what happened to her or why her first two albums aren't renowned classics but I'd recommend you snap up both her albums while they're still in print.

I bought the CD "The Columbia Years" upon release as I'd never heard of Betty Davis and was equally intrigued by the fact she was once married to the enigmatic Miles Davis. I was really impressed by that CD and wanted to hear more and this CD did not disappoint. This is definitely for those who like a lot of funk in their soul music. I like this CD and I want to hear more from this talented woman whose music was way ahead of its time. Its hard to accept that after collecting and listening to different genres of music for over 50 years that this lady slipped under the radar. most of her material is from the late 60's through the 70's and if she's still alive,she too must be in her 70's

I didn’t favour Ms Davis at the time of this album’s release but saw a recent documentary and thought I’d buy this. A good addition to my collection; if a little late.

Can't believe this is from so long ago. How did I miss such a voice for so long! Great.

Seriously where has this woman been all my life. So far I only own the first two Betty Davis records and they are both brilliant. It’s like Miles Davis’s Dark Magus mixed with Sly and the Family Stone. I had never even heard of her until they played a clip of her in a Miles Davis Documentary. So a couple of years ago I picked up her first two CD’s and been a huge fan ever since. If you like 70’s funk you owe it to yourself to check this lady out. I would love to learn more about Mrs Davis but there isn’t much out there. But at least we have the four albums she did!

Kann mich meinen Vorrednern nur anschließen. Über Johnny Guitar Watson, Billy Cobham, Stanley Clarke, etc zum Funk-Jazz gekommen, kann ich auch nicht verstehen, warum ich nie etwas von Betty Davis hörte. Erst jetzt über eine Miles Davis Doku aufmerksam geworden, 3 CDS und ne Doppel-LP bestellt, gehört - begeistert !!!Betty Davis ist das Urweib - man hört ihr bei jedem Akkord an, dass sie sie selbst ist, in jeder Faser ihrer Seele und ihrer Stimmbänder.Der Sound ist ausgesprochen gut, keine Mätzchen, nix aufgedicktes, keine Weichzeichner - Eben auch einfach ehrlich.Instrumentierung recht minimalistisch Bass, Percussion, Guitar, etwas Rhodes gelegentlich.Ideal lebendiger Groove für diese Ausnahmestimme!Andreas Baumeier

è un bel disco funky...è arrivato nei tempi previsti. Come al solito perfetto il sistema di spedizione Amazon. Non ho dato 5 stelle perché dopo un po' stanca

gran disco y en una gran presentación...muy recomendable se escucha impresionante....no dejen de considerarlo para echar patrulla !!! !!! !

Betty davis est la reine du funk.Ses compos sont originales, on sent les histoires vécues, la sensibilité de cette panthere à la voix si spéciale.A la basse, Larry Graham est implacable, forçant les autres musiciens à se mettre au niveau de cet album fulgurant.Après ça, tout vous paraitra moins brillant.

Custodia non rigida, ma in cartoncino. Consegna Amazon ok, album piaciuto

Scoperta per caso in un negozio di dischi a milano.... un miscuglio di funky con chitarre hard rock e voce che graffia con grinta e sensualità!!! Una bella scoperta e infatti mi son preso tutti i suoi album disponibili su amazon e introvabili in italia.

Se volete sapere cos'e' il funk, chiedetelo a Ms. Davis.

Tolle Platte - ohne wenn und aber

Et dire que cela à presque 50 ansCet Album est Excellent, il est à conseiller aux amateurs de funkA Bientôt

She's wild and authentic. When you want to hear something special you have to listen to this cd. This is a good priced one.