The late Valerie Carter, an L.A. session vocalist and background singer with James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt, is the subject of The Lost Tapes, a new release of previously unreleased tracks on Cowboy Angel Records.
According to a press release, Carter “was an American singer-songwriter who also had a successful career as a solo artist, debuting in 1974 at L.A.’s Troubadour as part of the country-folk band Howdy Moon. The group’s one album is notable for Valerie’s penned song, ‘Cook with Honey,’ later a hit for Judy Collins, and her introduction to Lowell George (Little Feat), who would produce her widely acclaimed first album, Just A Stones Throw Away, in 1977. This recognition placed her as the opening act for the Eagles on their European tour. She would follow with the LPs Wild Child (1978) and The Way It Is (1996). Later releases included the EP Find a River (1998), and the compilation CDs Vanilla Grits (2001) and Midnight Over Honey River (2003).”
Valerie Carter The Lost Tapes
Recently, Valerie’s sister Jan, and longtime friend, Kathy Kurasch, found never released tapes of songs Carter had recorded. These recordings, comprising The Lost Tapes, feature an impressive array of guest artists, musicians and composers including Prince, Lowell George and Little Feat, Linda Ronstadt (a duet on “Heartache”), Nicolette Larson, Steve Tyrell, David Lasley, Will Jennings and Tom Snow.
The Lost Tapes, says the announcement, “offers an eclectic overview of Valerie’s vocal style, ranging from the whimsical Carter/George collaboration, ‘Skinny White Pants,’ to the spiritual ‘My Saving Grace,’ composed by Steve and Stephanie Tyrell with Barry Coffing. The soulful interpretation of Little Feat’s ‘Spanish Moon’ and joyous remake of the Shirelles’ ‘Baby It’s You’ highlight Carter’s genre-bending vocal reach.”
Another standout is the previously unreleased demo of ‘I Got Over It,’ composed by Carter and Prince in the 1970s.”
Watch the video for “I Got Over It,” co-written by Valerie Carter and Prince
Related: Our obituary of Valerie Carter, from 2017
Rounding out The Lost Tapes are newly discovered recordings including “Echo My Heart,” “Be Here Now,” “Somewhere in this World,” “La Vida Es Sueno,” “How Can I Say Goodbye” and “Labor of Love.”
Listen to her collaboration with Lowell George
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1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationThis is great news; I picked up her first two lp’s upon release and they are still part of my vinyl collection. What a voice – another gone too soon!