Name: They Say I'm Different
Brand: Betty Davis

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

LITA027-1-1orange

Colour

Orange

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: Yes

Format detail

Expanded vinyl edition featuring gatefold jacket and 20-page booklet including rare photos, lyrics and new 2022 liner notes by Danielle Maggio interviewing Betty

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2023-08-25

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Light in the Attic

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

826853027113

Total Cap

Orange LP

Artist

Betty Davis

Genre US

Funk / Soul

Label US

Light In The Attic

Former American model Betty Davis was an influential funk and soul singer known for her memorable live performances. Born on July 26, 1944 in Durham, North Carolina, she captivated audiences with her powerful voice and stage presence. Betty Davis was married to Miles Davis from September 1968 until 1970. Her music continues to inspire and entertain fans around the world.
Betty Davis, born on July 26, 1944 in Durham, North Carolina, was a former American model who later became an iconic funk and soul singer. Known for her unforgettable live performances, she mesmerized audiences with her powerful voice and captivating stage presence.
Marrying [a=Miles Davis] in September 1968 until 1970 added another layer of intrigue to Betty's life story. Despite their short-lived marriage, Betty's impact as a musician remains timeless. Her music continues to resonate with fans worldwide as a testament to her talent and artistry.

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One can hardly imagine the genre-busting, culture-crossing musical magic of Outkast, Prince, Erykah Badu, Rick James, The Roots, or even the early Red Hot Chili Peppers without the influence of R&amp;B pioneer Betty Davis. Her style of raw and revelatory punk-funk defies any notions that women can’t be visionaries in the worlds of rock and pop. In recent years, rappers from Ice Cube to Talib Kweli to Ludacris have rhymed over her intensely strong but sensual music.

There is one testimonial about Betty Davis that is universal: she was a woman ahead of her time. In our contemporary moment, this may not be as self-evident as it was thirty years ago – we live in an age that’s been profoundly changed by flamboyant flaunting of female sexuality: from Parlet to Madonna, Lil Kim to Kelis. Yet, back in 1973 when Betty Davis first showed up in her silver go-go boots, dazzling smile and towering Afro, who could you possibly have compared her to? Marva Whitney had the voice but not the independence. Labelle wouldn’t get sexy with their “Lady Marmalade” for another year while Millie Jackson wasn’t Feelin’ Bitchy until 1977. Even Tina Turner, the most obvious predecessor to Betty’s fierce style wasn’t completely out of Ike’s shadow until later in the decade.

Ms. Davis’s unique story, still sadly mostly unknown, is unlike any other in popular music. Betty wrote the song “Uptown” for the Chambers Brothers before marrying Miles Davis in the late ’60s, influencing him with psychedelic rock, and introducing him to Jimi Hendrix — personally inspiring the classic album Bitches Brew.

But her songwriting ability was way ahead of its time as well. Betty not only wrote every song she ever recorded and produced every album after her first, but the young woman penned the tunes that got The Commodores signed to Motown. The Detroit label soon came calling, pitching a Motown songwriting deal, which Betty turned down. Motown wanted to own everything. Heading to the UK, Marc Bolan of T. Rex urged the creative dynamo to start writing for herself. A common thread throughout Betty’s career would be her unbending Do-It-Yourself ethic, which made her quickly turn down anyone who didn’t fit with the vision. She would eventually say no to Eric Clapton as her album producer, seeing him as too banal.

Her 1974 sophomore album They Say I’m Different features a worthy-of-framing futuristic cover challenging David Bowie’s science fiction funk with real rocking soul-fire, kicked off with the savagely sexual “Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him” (later sampled by Ice Cube). Her follow up is full of classic cuts like “Don’t Call Her No Tramp” and the hilarious, hard, deep funk of “He Was A Big Freak.”

They Say I'm Different

Music US

Discover They Say I'm Different by Betty Davis. Raw and revelatory punk-funk that defies genre boundaries. Available in LP format from Light In The Attic.