Soul & piano vibe with "Miss. Z" by famous singer Zulema Cusseaux with beautiful "I Was so Wrong". Also track "Giving Up" sampled by Beatnuts on "Beatnuts Forever". Great Sussex LP !
Ms Z was Zulema’s second album after her self-titled
debut. Again, like her first LP, Zulema not only sang, but wrote most
of her own material. She starts off great with Giving Up that has a
sophisticated and heavily orchestrated neo-Disco beginning that’s
contrasted with some funky wah wah guitar work. Also worth listening to
are the slower and Gospel tinged I’m Watchin You and the funkier
Telling The World Good Bye. ~Reviewed by Motown67
Side 1 A1 Giving Up (7:12) A2 I Was So Wrong (3:22) A3 I Was There (3:46) A4 Tree (4:10)
Side 2 B1 You Changed On Me (2:55) B2 Love Has Flown (3:43) B3 Love Train (3:11) B4 I'm Watchin' You (3:48) B5 Hold Back The Night (4:12) B6 Telling The World Good-Bye (4:21)
Excellent early work by Zulema -- high-minded and righteous soul, with
a really expansive sound that's in keeping with the best on Sussex at
the time! The arrangements are nicely complicated -- arranged by Bobby
Taylor and Gene Page with a good blend of funk, righteous soul, and
some heavier themes -- and even Zulema herself throws in some "special
arrangements" for a few tracks. The tunes are mostly originals, sung in
a heartfelt and rich style.
~Dusty Groove America
Credits: Arranged By - Bobby Tailor , Gene Page Artwork By - Carl Overr Backing Vocals - Carolyn Willis , Julia Tillman* , Maxine Willard* Bass - Leland Sklar Clavinet - Joe Sample Drums - Ed Greene Engineer - Andrew Berliner Guitar - Dean Parks , Jay Grayden* , Melvin Ragin , Robert White Photography - Mike Levins Piano - Leonard Caston , Miccho Leviey Saxophone - Ernie Watts , Jackie Kelso , Bill Green* Strings - Concert Master Hollywood Strings, The , Jack Shulman Trombone - Jimmy Henderson , Tommy Shepard Trumpet - Bobby Bryant , Oscar B.* , Paul Huebenon* Notes: Recorded At Crystal Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California
Bio (from wikipedia) : Zulema was born Zulema Cusseaux in Tampa, Florida. She and her school friend Brenda Hilliard joined a local group called The 5 Crystals before the two formed the trio the Lovelles together with fellow Tampa native Albert Bailey. When they met producer Van McCoy and were signed by Maxwell records, the group's name was changed to Faith, Hope and Charity. Their song "So Much Love" hit #15 on the R&B chart and #60 on the pop chart in 1970. Zulema left Faith, Hope and Charity shortly after a label switch to Sussex Records. Bailey and Hilliard would occasionally sing backing vocals on Zulema's albums, though. Her self-titled solo album included the song "American Fruit, African Roots" and a cover of "If This World Were Mine." Zulema started touring as opening act for major stars like Bill Withers. She appeared on a bill with Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Earth, Wind and Fire and Sly Stone at the Push Expo in Chicago, a concert which became a motion picture called "Save the Children". The movie's soundtrack was released on Motown Records and included Zulema's single mother anthem, This Child of Mine.
After a second Sussex album, Ms Z (produced by Bobby Taylor, the singer signed to RCA records, where she released three albums: Zulema, R.S.V.P. and Suddenly There Was You. She was also one of the featured artists on the soundtrack to the Michael Schultz movie Honeybaby, Honeybaby, providing the track "I Just Can't Say Good-Bye." Her only charting record during that time was a cover of the early Michael Jackson Motown hit Wanna Be Where You Are, which reached #58 R&B. In 1978, she released the album Z-Licious on Le Joint Records in 1978, which featured a duet with long-term collaborator Van McCoy. McCoy also got Zulema on board for Aretha Franklin's 1979 disco album La Diva - having her write one of the songs and perform backing vocals on the entire album, joined once again by her former band members Hilliard and Bailey.
In 1980, Zulema had a starring role in the New York musical, Jazzbo Brown.
In 1982, Zulema formed a duo called Zalmac with Al Macdowell. Their album "Whatcha Gonna Do" on TSOB included the songs Friends, I Get Down and What's In It For Me. Zulema had recorded at least on single on the same label, A Mother Cries, the year before.
Zulema was a pioneer among black female artists who write and produce much of their own material.
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