Bettye Swann scored just two minor pop hits during her prime—1967’s “Make Me Yours” and 1969’s “Don’t Touch Me”—but this magnificent singer has inspired cult devotion for good reason. Blessed with a ...

Whereas today we have white men revealing the breasts of African American women during Super Bowl halftime shows, back in the ’60s, members of different races were seldom seen sharing a TV screen. For ...

I'm eternally fascinated by great artists who seemingly fall off the face of the Earth. Many disappear because they lose battles against their demons, but others simply decide to change paths and opt ...

Classic Southern soul has always been known for its vocal grit, from Mavis Staples’ growl to Otis Redding’s shout. But Bettye Swann brought to the style a smoothness and poise. From the late 1960s to ...

Like the recent revival of Candi Staton's lesser-known work, Honest Jon's Swann compilation is a trawl through the soul archives which produces some real jewels. This is 'soul' which often thinks it's ...