Bettye LaVette is coming!...

Artistic Justice Served- 35 Years After She Was Poised For Superstardom, Bettye Lavette Finds Deserved Recognition by Eric Danton (Htfd Courant)

There's nothing allegorical about the title of Bettye LaVette's latest album, "The Scene of the Crime." It's a cold case now, and some of the principles have since died, but she is certainly the victim of a musical felony committed some 35 years ago.

Her story traces its roots to Muscle Shoals, Ala. That's where LaVette, then 26 with a smattering of hit singles to her credit, spent four days in 1972 recording what became a lost classic, "Child of the Seventies." It was the album that was supposed to vault her into the upper reaches of the R&B stratosphere, alongside icons such as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Etta James. Instead, for no particular reason, Atlantic Records shelved the album. - complete article.

BETTYE LAVETTE performs Wednesday at the Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St., Northampton, Mass. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $25 in advance, $28 at the door. Information: 800-8438425. LaVette performs Jan. 24 with Mavis Staples at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $58, $48, $38 and $30. Information: 860-444-7373.