Jackie Ross (born January 30, 1946) – This World's In A Hell Of A Shape (1972)
Jackie Ross (born January 30, 1946) – This World's In A Hell Of A Shape (1972)
A prophetic masterpiece by an unsung Chicago soul legend with a message that remains all too relevant today.
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Chicago soul legend Jackie Ross was given a record contract by Sam Cooke, sang in Syl Johnson’s band, and released several rare soul masterpieces in the 70s and early 80s that were produced by her longtime manager James Vanleer.
Jaculyn Bless Ross was born in St. Louis and raised in Chicago. In 1962, at age 16, she was signed by Sam Cooke to his SAR Records label, where her first single “Hard Times” was released later that year. She then began singing in Syl Johnson’s band.
In 1964 she switched to Chess Records, and that year reached #4 Cashbox R&B and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Selfish One,” her all-time biggest hit. Chess released her first album in 1965, Full Bloom.
Following disputes with the label, Ross moved on from Chess in 1967. She spent the rest of the sixties and early 70s recording singles for other record companies including Brunswick, Fountain, Mercury, Capitol and Scepter. Her manager Vanleer wrote and produced her powerful anti-war song “Doctor Slap’s Man Is Born” (1971), released on U.S.A. Records.
She didn’t get the chance to record her second solo LP until 1980, when A New Beginning for Jackie Ross was released on Golden Ear Records, Vanleer's own Chicago label. One of its highlights was the beautiful “The World Needs More People Like You,“ written by Prince Phillip Mitchell.
Around this time, Vanleer also paired her with South Side Movement for an ultra-rare album featuring incredible tracks like “You Are The One That I Need.” Original copies of both records today sell for hundreds of dollars on Discogs.
Of all Ross’ great songs, her prophetic masterpiece “This World's In A Hell Of A Shape” stands out. It was released on Scepter in 1972 and sadly remains all too relevant today, with warnings for our planet’s future like “Can’t eat the fish…can’t see the sun…things we used to do are no longer done.”
It was the B-side to her superb gospel soul anthem “What Would You Give.” Both songs were written and produced by Vanleer.
Besides running Golden Ear Records, Vanleer also founded the Chicago labels SAC, Sedgrick Records, and Cedric Records. He produced records for artists including Southside Movement, Don Gardner, Bobby Rush, the Enchanters, and Seeds Of Life, whose ultra-rare funk bomb single “The Whole Thing” (1974) came out on Sedgrick.
Jackie Ross came into the world one day apart from another great soul singer, Bettye LaVette (born January 29, 1946). Their careers followed similar trajectories to some extent, with both women releasing their first singles in 1962. But while LaVette has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity over the past two decades, and is now regarded as one of the greatest living queens of soul, Ross’ beautiful voice remains relatively unsung.
Further background:
"Soul singer Jackie Ross is so much more than a one-hit wonder," by Steve Krakow, Chicago Reader, May 20, 2021
#soul #funk #Chicago #JamesVanleer #JackieRoss