Maxine Brown
"From the Heart"
By Bob Brennan February 2005

Four decades after trailblazing the path for icons like Aretha Franklin with a string of defining soul hits, Maxine Brown has more to say. Admittedly, she's taken a while to say it, until the right vibe found her, but ­ with a little help from some old friends and a dash of serendipity ­ it finally has, resulting in an inspiring new release. "From The Heart".

"I had put the brakes on a few projects with record companies that had wanted to take my music in a completely wrong direction,"Brown recalls. "All along, an inner voice kept telling me to just record it myself, and the rest would follow. I finally listened and when I did, the doors just began to open for me." "Sam had written a song for himself called 'Funny', and I needed a follow up for "All In My Mind". Well, after hearing it, 'Funny' was it'." Sure enough, it hit as well and helped solidify Brow'¹s place as a pop artist through the 1960s. Some forty-four years later,Taylor has lent a touch no less magical to "From The Heart".

Brown's voice is equally at ease across an expanse of styles from pop to R&B to gospel, with texture that hints at Tina Turner on tunes new and old, including the aforementioned "All In My Mind" and a pair of Lesley Gore / Ellen Weston interpretations. Brown wrote four tunes on the CD with help from old friends Rebecca Murphy, Freddie Johnson and Leroy Kirkland, with others penned by Taylor, keyboard wizard Danny Kean, Tracie Robbins, Bruce Jenney and Bob Crawford. Drummer Mario Staiano and Taylor combined for a fine, clean production at the Westbury studio of veteran engineer Don Casale, whose numerous credits include Aretha and the Rascals. Anchoring the project is Taylor's backup band ­ Staiano, Kean and bassist Gary Grob ­ with spots by guitarist Don Celenza, bassists Garry Sorrentino and Jerry McDonald,violinist Heather Hardy and saxophonists Richie Cannata, of Billy Joel fame, and "Big Al" Allen. Several good friends of Maxine, including Meryl Agape, Wendy Kahl and Robbins complement her voice with soulful backing vocals.

Experience the magic for yourself. From the Heart can be obtained through Maxine¹s official website, Maxine Brown.Com

Songs:
1)Keep On Keeping On (3:19); 2) A Sinner¹s Heart (4:23); 3) Let Me Know (3:30); 4) I Want To Be Loved (3:38); 5) Love Is In Command (4:03); 6) Finding Love (4:42); 7) Love Me By Name (5:07); 8) You Are The Dream (4:13); 9) Other Lady (3:38); 10) A Woman¹s Side Of The Bed (4:15); 11) Too Long Out In The Cold (5:52); 12) Make A Joyful Sound (3:08); 13) All In My Mind (4:07)