Esther Phillips

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Best known for her version of Dinah Washington’s ‘What a difference a day makes’ which reached the US Top 20 and UK Top 10 in 1975, Esther Phillips was born Esther Mae Washington on the 23rd December, 1935 in Galveston, Texas.

At the age of 13 she was noticed by, and joined Johnny Otis’ band. Originally known as Little Esther she released two R&B hits on the Savoy imprint, ‘Double Crossing Blues’ and ‘Mistrustin’ Blues’. Later in the 50’s she developed a taste for drugs (mainly heroin). She signed for the Lonox Label in 1960, and recorded ‘Release Me’, a song that would be recorded later by Englebert Humperdink. She signed for Atlantic Records when Lenox folded in 1963. She felt that she was too old to be known as Little Esther and renamed herself Esther Phillips, choosing her name from a nearby Phillips Gas Station.

Whilst signed to Atlantic she recorded her own version of the Lennon/McCartney song ‘And I Love Him’ and ‘When A Woman Loves A Man’. She signed for Kudo records in 1971 and recorded the albums ‘From A Whisper To A Scream’ and ‘Alone Again Naturally’. Esther Phillips continued recording, signing for Mercury in 1979, until she tragically passed away on 7th August 1984.

Tagged as:

soul, jazz, female vocalists, 60s, blues
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The Best of Esther Phillips
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What A Diff'rence A Day Makes
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Jazz Moods - Hot
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And I Love Him
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Top Tracks

1	Home Is Where the Hatred Is full track	338
2	What A Difference A Day Makes full track	154
3	Use Me full track	106
4	From a Whisper to a Scream full track	93
5	Black-Eyed Blues full track	54
6	Disposable Society full track	51
7	I Can Stand A Little Rain full track	50
8	Mister Magic full track	48
9	One Night Affair full track	33
10	And I Love Him	32
11	Hurtin' House full track	30
12	What A Diff'rence A Day Makes	28
12	Your Love Is So Doggone Good full track	28
14	I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good full track	25
15	You're Coming Home full track	24

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btwiP wrote:
September 2009

!

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iamcheryltweedy wrote:
August 2009

<3 incredible singer

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Whizzbizz wrote:
June 2009

Found another woman genius I didn't know yet. She's more than just great!

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chilled-out-777 wrote:
March 2009

One of the best Female artists for me.

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groovadelic wrote:
January 2009

i love you esther

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llehcin wrote:
April 2008

Georgia Rose

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johnnycommon wrote:
February 2008

Where is her Mojo Hannah? She did the best one!

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emilymontreal wrote:
February 2007

I saw Esther Phillips live in Montreal at Rockhead's Paradise. She was very late, probably quite drunk or stoned, but she gave us quite a show! Unfortunately Esther is not well known and didn't get to record enough for us to hear the full range of her talent which she exhibited in concert. She died too young and is sorely missed by moi. I'm glad to see that others appreciate her. :)

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