Chicago born Joanne Garrett won a recording contract with Chess Recordings in 1965 after she stole the show and came first at a Regal Theatre talent contest. She was just 15 years old at the time and a year later had released Stay By My Side, which proved to be a huge local hit.
In 1967 she covered Dee Clark’s You Can’t Come In, followed by a rendition of the Heartbeats Thousand Miles Away in 1968. Less than three years after signing to Chess, Joanne Garrett left the label to record for Duo Records and went on to release one of her most popular recordings in 1968 entitled, One Woman.
Today’s song appears on Garrett’s 1968 record, Just A Taste, which was one of her last releases through Chess records and features a great cover of Walk On By as well as today’s striking little soul number, It’s No Secret. The track runs smooth and soulfully, showcasing Garrett’s soaring vocals, until just before the end the song when the takes a twist after the line, “Darling, if you ever, ever leave me, here’s what I’ll go through…” Everything then goes a little warped and wobbly! The bass line lowers into a hush as it walks subdued through this discordant interval and then a blood curdling scream breaks out…and this, dear listeners, this is what Joann Garrett will go through if she is abandoned!!! Check it out above.
thelisteningpostblog.wordpress.com 
You must be logged in to post a comment.