Anna King

Make Up Your Mind
I DON'T WANT TO CRY - 1967

Anna Delores King at one time sang in The James Brown Revue before the godfather of soul decided her voice merited her own album in 1963. She signed to Smash Records and the album was called Back To Soul. It was released in the UK on the Philips label. James Brown was contracted to Smash records, so it was only natural that Anna would release her material on the label. The gospel influenced, James Brown written wailer If Somebody Told You cut in 1963 reached both R&B and pop charts.

In January 1964 she release. Baby Baby Baby, a duet with Bobby Byrd, which became a Stateside R&B hit , and also the  wonderful Make Up Your Mind.

She is mostly remembered by the Manchester Soul crowd who went to the Twisted Wheel for an 'answer back' record to Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - Mama's Got A Bag Of Her Own on End records USA. (Big Maybelle also did an answer song to Mr Brown's: this was actually more popular at the Wheel than Anna’s, maybe because it was easier to obtain in the U.K.)

After leaving the James Brown entourage she sang Gospel with the Duke Ellington orchestra.

wanted her as singer for his sacred concerts. With Ellington she returned to her roots and first love gospel music.

She joined up with the gospel group the Brockington Choral Ensemble


Back to Soul - album tracks:

Make Up Your Mind
Come On Home
Sittin' In The Park
That's When I Cry
I Found You
I Don't Want to Cry
If Somebody Told You
Night Time Is The Right Time
Tennessee Waltz
Come And Get These Memories
If You Don't Think
Baby Baby Baby (duet with Bobby Byrd)