Bettty Davis was clearly a straight, bad sista. On this re-mastered, re-release, “They Say I’m Different”, from Light In The Attic Records (which was originally her debut), Betty Davis is laid bare. Basically, this chick had more punk aesthetic before punk even existed, than the legions of so called punk rockers that have followed since. She reportedly introduced Miles to Jimi, and you can hear traces of both clearly on this release. Full of ripping funk cuts, and sass-laden vocals, with a screech and wail that ranks up there with Janis, and a moan that evokes Tina in her heyday, this outing was clearly a symbolic battering ram over the heads of it’s 1973 listeners. Betty Davis owns these tracks. Over a bed of funk-rock that’s as tight as can be, Betty seduces with taunts and coos. She’s infinitely sexy, and grippingly intoxicating. Hearing this music that was so ahead of it’s time is a reminder of the importance of powerhouses like Stevie, Jimi and Miles. All around the same time, these separate beams of light shined so bright on the music world, with such originality, that they made an un-deniable mark on the music world that will last forever. Be her less appreciated, Ms. Betty Davis figures just as important as the aforementioned in black music (and music in general)’s grand scheme. The proof of this is contained right within this disc.

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