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The musical career of Merry Clayton is celebrated with the July 9 release of the first ever compilation of her work. The 17-track “Best of Merry Clayton” includes a selection of album tracks and every one of Clayton’s five Billboard Hot 100 chart singles on Ode Records.

After nearly a decade as a backing singer, Merry Clayton became a star in 1969 when she was chosen to collaborate with Mick Jagger on the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” the opening track of the album “Let It Bleed”. This led to Clayton being signed to Lou Adler’s Ode Records label and the release of her debut solo album, “Gimme Shelter,” in 1970.

“Gimme Shelter” was followed by the self-titled “Merry Clayton” in 1971 and “Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow” in 1975. Each title was packed with soul-drenched covers of contemporary rock, pop, R&B, and gospel songs.

Most of the tracks on “The Best of Merry Clayton” were sourced from those three albums by Adler and Legacy reissue producer Rob Santos. Also included are Clayton’s versions of Goffin & King’s “Oh, No, Not My Baby” and the Mark James-penned “Suspicious Minds,” which was originally a hit for Elvis Presley. These two tracks had been the A and B-sides of a single released by Clayton in 1972. The A-side, “Oh, No, Not My Baby,” had earned Clayton a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal in 1972.

There are also three tracks from rare Ode Records LPs on which Clayton guested, namely “The Mighty Quinn” (from the 1969 album, “Dylan’s Gospel,” on which Clayton featured as a member of the Brothers and Sisters), “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing (Black National Hymn)” (from the soundtrack of MGM’s “Brewster McCloud”), and “The Acid Queen” (from the 1972 recording of The Who’s “Tommy” soundtrack, with the London Symphony Orchestra and London Chamber Choir).

Liner notes for The Best Of Merry Clayton are written by former Del Fuegos member, and now college professor Dr. Warren Zanes, who says of Merry:

“Many backing singers adapt chameleon-like to the situation and never develop a distinctive ‘character’ voice. But there are certainly exceptions. And Merry Clayton is one of them. She is gifted with a voice that gives her a place in both worlds. Here is a singer who can do it all.”

“The Best Of Merry Clayton” tracklist

1. Southern Man
2. Tell All The People
3. Country Road
4. After All This Time
5. Gimme Shelter
6. Grandma’s Hands
7. Oh No, Not My Baby
8. Walk On In
9. Bridge Over Troubled Water
10. The Mighty Quinn by the Brothers and Sisters (featuring Merry Clayton)
11. Sho’Nuff
12. Forget It I Got It
13. Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow
14. Suspicious Minds
15. A Song For You
16. Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing (Black National Hymn)
17. The Acid Queen – Merry Clayton with the London Symphony Orchestra and London Chamber Choir Conducted by David Measham.

Merry Clayton is also featured alongside Darlene Love and others in the new film “20 Feet From Stardom,” which tells the story of the backup singers behind some of the greatest music legends. “20 Feet From Stardom” opened today in New York and LA, with other cities to follow.

“20 Feet From Stardom” – trailer

The soundtrack album to “20 Feet From Stardom,” includes tracks by (or featuring) Clayton, Love, Lisa Fischer, Tata Vega, Claudia Lennear, and others, is available on June 18 from Columbia Records.

You can pre-order “The Best of Merry Clayton” and the soundtrack for “Twenty Feet From Stardom” now.

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