Sandy Posey “The Best of Sandy Posey”

It’s pretty easy to find Sandy Posey records in the used records stores, but it seems like every one I find is beat-up to within an inch of its life. I mean, hopefully well-loved and overplayed and not beat up for other purposes, like as a weapon, or for animal wrangling. Can I just make the generalization that Sandy Posey fans were hard on their records? Who were the Sandy Posey fans? I’m assuming people just like you and me… I mean, I’m a Sandy Posey fan, now, am I not? But say, at the time this “Best of” record came out, in 1967, I was seven years old, and I am assuming I’d have been hard on LPs—had I had any. I think I would have liked this one, too, but I’m more a fan now, as an adult. I often avoid “best of” records (plenty of exceptions) but sometimes they’re nice because every song is good, and you can put it on during a party and everyone’s happy—or should be! If that sounds farfetched—being at a party where someone is making the effort to change record sides every 15 or 20 minutes—I can report that I was recently at a party where that very activity was taking place, and I think the music became more a part of the party, because of it.

The cover photo seems innocuous at first glance, but then if you look at it—Sandy Posey with a microphone, in performance—it’s actually pretty dramatic—just her face, neck, and left arm is highlighted—the rest of the details enveloped in complete blackness. For some reason it strikes me as (David) Lynchian—and why not. The uncredited liner notes compress her entire (as of ’67) history into four no-nonsense paragraphs. I may have all these songs on other records—certainly most of them—11 songs, all short—and likely recorded at different places and different times—but they all hold together. My very favorite is “Take Me with You Baby,” a Martha Sharp number (there’s a few by her on this record, including the hits, “Born a Woman” and “Single Girl”). Also, five of the songs are written by Sandy Posey! —including, “Blue is My Best Color,” kind of the oddball number on this record—I like it. Oh, and, if you’re contemplatin’ such a party (as, above), may I offer one bit of advice? Pick up a copy of this record! Also, if you’re buying a turntable, make sure to get one with automatic needle return. Trust me, on that matter, with the same exuberance as you trust this review.

1.10.25