When Holland-Dozier-Holland broke up with Motown in 1968, two female vocalists proved crucial in putting the songwriters' newly established record labels on the map. First Freda Payne was signed to Invictus and scored a massive crossover hit with "Band of Gold" in 1970. Out of contract with Chess, Laura Lee was convinced to record for Invictus' sister label Hot Wax. The title track of 1972's Women's Love Rights made up for its average chart success with its perfectly timed manifesto and rallying cry for downtrodden women. Its outspokenness went as far as attracting the attention of one Jane Fonda who was touring the country advocating women's liberation. Their connection to Holland-Dozier-Holland aside, Lee and Payne originated from widely different backgrounds. Remarkably, Motown's Berry Gordy had tried in vein to sign jazz vocalist Payne, who had worked with Duke Ellington, while at the same time showing not much interest in the gospel stylings of Lee. The latter would go on to explore her gritty side in Muscle Shoals, in the wake of then labelmate Etta James who had just cut Tell Mama. Next to some signature Southern soul ballads, an uptempo song like "Wanted: Lover, No Experience Necessary" with hindsight foreshadowed her Hot Wax output. Partly responsible for this was songwriter William Weatherspoon, who enabled Lee to build directly on her Chess sides. He had already contributed a gem of a cheatin' song in Payne's "Love on Borrowed Time," but his mark proved more rewarding on Lee's thematically more coherent debut. Music magazine Mojo would recognize it's anthem-like qualities by including "Wedlock Is a Padlock" in a Top 100 of protest songs for its May 2004 issue. In its turn the bolshie monologue preceding the Buddy Johnson ballad "Since I Fell for You" would be acknowledged as the lyrical jump off point for Millie Jackson, who would make candid revelations into whole concept albums. Although it spawned four Top 40 R&B chart hits, Lee would always remain more of a critics' favorite. The singer would go on to record two more albums for Holland-Dozier-Holland of which Two Sides of Laura Lee nearly matches her debut. Quite possibly it urged Chess to belatedly release part of her single sides into album form. Love More Than Pride could rightfully be perceived as the blueprint for her Hot Wax albums. ~ Quint Kik

Rovi