Bettye Lavette - Let Me Down Easy

[@daaapru4693]

Never heard of her until hearing Odesza’s sampling of this song on the last goodbye. She deserves more!

[@RobMansfield]

Bettye Lavette really deserves to be better known. She has such a tremendous voice

[@TRMURRAYNY]

She still kicks butt at her concerts. This kind of soul will never ever fade. Tear my heart out, Bettye!!!

[@nickpalmer3076]

Great voice.Always believed she should be huge.

[@vickyvalerie]

love Bettye Lavette, beautiful lady, full of soul, cant beat listening to her through your head phones, brilliant!

[@mgro2037]

Waoh! I just discovered this singer. I'm speechless. What a wonderful voice she has. I don't know if I've ever heard such a powerful voice in my life. And I adore the song too. I can't stop listening to it. Thank you so much Mr. Levine for putting this video on youtube.

[@jeromedemontpellier]

My god, what a singer, so underrated it's a crime ! Her phrasé, style voice, way of singing is so perfect it is quite unbelievable !Saw her live in Paris, never forget it. Thank you Miss Lavette

[@AAnilSahin]

I love this version of this song. I cannot have enough of listening to it.

[@Samiyo]

Damn, what a voice she has. I am now a new fan.

[@fairusecity]

This is music that you not only hear but also feel............

[@komuse]

This song is great. Got the original and the re-recorded one and they´re both super.

[@gogrizzliesum]

I am embarrassed to say that I had never heard of Bettye Lavette until she was at the Kennedy Center Honors doing an outstanding job singing The Who's "Love Reign On Me". She is phenomenal. Her voices makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Beautiful voice!!!!!!

[@wendlw]

wow she's amazing. and i can totally see where Winehouse gets it from.

[@thespokenword8540]

I saw her sing live a couple years ago. She's a really soulful singer. Love her.

[@jusiper]

Bettye can make a song hurt.

[@frenchbeats5159]

What a charisma in her voice! Great song!

[@REVOLTE2023]

Magnifique voix, je l'ai découverte depuis pas très longtemps, j'adore, c'est une grande Dame qui est malheureusement pas assez connue en Europe???? Bravo et Merci Madame

[@alwayssupafly]

I love this song and this artist as well. She is extremely talented vocally.

[@replyform]

Another thanks to youtube. I would've missed this powerful singer. "LET ME DOWN EASY' Thats some deep stuff, Bettye.

[@Welshbluesman]

I was priviliged to see Ms. LaVette in Louisville, KY in 2006. She brought the venue to its feet. This woman cam eout and wooed that crowd of white folk like a soul siren. She is a package of energy,voice and artist. Get her music and you will drop your jaw at her sound. One BAD lady!!!!

[@ArianaorRJ]

I'm not a music expert but she sounds incredible

[@Greatest1979]

This is so beautiful, the tears are wellin' in my eyes!

[@JoeRivermanSongwriter]

This lady has got it in bucket loads.

[@JIMMYZRivz]

damn , just finish watchin her on PBS, , first time too. shes is just great.

[@kpitt1204]

WOW! She is my FAVORITE singer of this genre. Hands down! She is also, oneof the most wonderful people I have ever met in my life, and I am honored to be able to call her a friend! If you have never seen her live act, RUN AND GET A TICKET. I will refund you money if you do not enjoy her. Oh, and she is SOOOOOO FINE!

[@baabygirl1]

I have always loved Betty back in the day. I never forgot her. She has always been one of my favorites. Thanks so much for posting. I can watch her anytime I wish. Wonderful voice.

[@narvelancoleman8597]

Just saw Bettye LaVette tonight at the Santa Monica Broad Stage.....she was absolutely phenomenal; but I am not happy!! She didn't do "Let Me Down Easy!" I am sooooooooooo disappointed!

[@tneknamgork]

i'm new to bettye lavette...this is the best soul singer i have ever heard.

[@ziggysway]

I never heard this lady before but when I heard her sing on at Obama inaugural celebration at the Lincoln Memorial I was blown away by her raspy voice and soul. I have to read up on her. I live music I don't know how this talent passed me. I am a fan now. Excuse me I have to look and listen more of Ms. Lavette lol nice post tyvm.

[@BillieRayMartin]

Ian , this is incredible. I can't believe I've not heard this version before. I released a soul album last year, but listening to this I feel I want to do another one.

[@IanLevine]

This version was done for The Strange World Of Northern Soul DVD set. I need to ask Soren what CDs it was actually released on. He knows everything, even more than me.

[@paulagilbreath4896]

Love LOVE LOVE

[@PeterteRiele]

Classic song, timeless.

[@QuieroRegresar]

I'm speechless, gorgeous song!!

[@ladyalproductions]

Bettye Lavette Is Awesome...

[@gunterhackl6958]

Hammermäßig die Dame! Musik im Blut!

[@ba7025]

Classic! You cannot teach this stuff!

[@pinkilady17]

what a voice

[@johnvalcas343]

I love it. :) Pure soul song

[@marykb123]

Awesome woman.

[@alansmith7516]

Fantastic !!

[@tonypilki3]

Thx for this Gilly. Excellent ! What a voice she has Ktf

[@2Tall2BAShorty]

Love her!

[@ronnieadams5996]

Thank You For Making My Day .... Stay Blessed. :)

[@crawfish999]

What can you say. The best.

[@midgejohns9160]

the hairs on the back of my neck are twitching my feet are shuffling I must be in soul heaven ktf

[@doghot23]

hats off to ya Ian, this is bloody good, haven't liked any of ur previous stuff but you've got ur act together, this and ebony Alleyne walk away are incredible, keep it up!!

[@chylogurti]

Great vocals. Surprisingly one of Levine's better re-recordings.

[@robinnero3478]

I like! She was a friend of my moms... ( Frances Nero)

[@doghot23]

+Robin Nero RIP Frances, me and my wife Sammy spoke with ur mom just after her spell in hospital after you got her to speak after you rang us in uk, she was an Inspiring person, I believe personally that nothing ever dies, nature doesn't work like that in my opinion, its all energy and that cannot cease to exist

[@DouglasBlount]

she recently performed at Detroit Public Library's Main Branch!

[@b.bailey8244]

thank you for this!

[@jakewatson3777]

Did the remix bring anyone here ?

[@ags8066]

poalo nutini brought me hear his cover is great. But she is amazing back in the day they could really sing these days it's rare to hear talent or its just loud shit !

[@czahnie]

Godbless KZbin!! Another great find! I discovered the equally fantastic Miss Sharon Jones. Fuckin Aye Bettye!! SING IT GIRL!!

[@russellatterbury8131]

The remark by Craig Collins is correct, the early film of her is far away superior to all other modern clips. lets start a campaign to bring it back, it's been missing for years now.

[@SK77M14]

Real music

[@RiverofLife95]

best song!

[@mrsianbrown]

amazing

[@peteranthony51]

Spencer Davis group brought me here, but Bettye kills it.

[@JC-ee6pc]

I wonder if anyone can help me, years ago a friend played me a single owned by her Mother, at a rough guess the single was dated late 60's early 70's, a cover of Reach Out by the Four Tops, sung by a Female soul artist, it had a similar feel to this but was very slow, a haunting, raw voice; i actually don't remember who this was by and have been searching for it ever since. I have looked but to no avail.

[@colleenmcintyre4998]

The Mind Garage?

[@spratscat]

Awesome stuff... love the change at 1:20..

[@marytaylor2381]

Awesome!

[@francoz8795]

betty lavette absolute brilliance, think this version is to fast, when you hear her singing this live its a lot slower and emotional, lots of recording of her on you tube singing this, a great tune as well betty lavette was a tune called what condition my condition was in on Karen fab

[@laurap90]

great great great great!

[@charlesdupont4028]

I LIKE IT LOVE IT BETTYE PERFORMANCE SOULWOMAN SIXTIES UNE VOIX MAGIQUE ECOUTEZ ECOUTEZ ET DEGUSTEZ PERFORMANCE THANKS" BETTYE SIXTIES SOUL !!!!!

[@BronxBob]

Unfortunately, for me, I had never heard of Bettye Lavette until I saw her stunning tribute to Pete Townsend and Roger Daltry on the Kennedy Center Honors last night. You can bet, I am going to use up all those gift cards I got for Christmas, catching up on Ms. Lavette's music. She is awesome!

[@kameelion]

she is getting her due now, what with appearances at the kennedy center honors and also at the we are one obama concert. our girl is about to blow up!!!! i am so excited.

[@syrupwycliff2054]

good work

[@natashank3847]

Love Paolo Nutini but there''s more emotion to the original. Motown soul :) Bettye Lavette

[@Grey3Vox]

I've bought a couple of downloads of this song, in both cases the tempo is slower-somebody please let me know the title of the album or direct me to where I can buy THIS rendering of the song, being recorded in this video, now that it's the version I'm hooked on. It's a perfect thing. That little thing she does with her shoulders halfway through plays in my head dozens of times a day, too. Viva Bettye! Thanks very much.

[@drkosa]

makes me cry out loud. Thank you Bettye (and Ian) for this jewel. Are these re-recordings released on vinyl as well?

[@baabygirl1]

Sang the Song, Betty!!!! Is Betty on myspace?????

[@RAMLIA1]

♥♥♥

[@69Skarab]

Quality

[@jamesbrady5451]

Too cool for skool KTF

[@chanmyers8116]

Sing Bettye...no one sings this like u!!! You did it even better when u cut the tune in the 60s!!

[@d2627235]

yes she did!!!!!

[@narvelancoleman3813]

+Prosperous 15 How well do I remember! It was and still is such an intoxicating song, that I have loved for 50 years!

[@butterbeebrown]

others did versions of this...another soul sista...anybody know who?? i neverheard sista bettye's version until just now and WOW!!!! i;m fixin 2 go 2 amazon right now and order up!!! what a BIG soul!!! but sumbody tell me...there is another sista version of this that is slow and bluesy..HELP ME OUT YALL!!!!

[@deanholcomb2201]

Awesome! Too bad her and James Brown did not have babies can you imagine😀

[@tappannie]

The world would explode. Too much power. But we would die happy!

[@musiclover1958]

Thanks to the greatest music writer Don Baird who just wrote about this woman in the sfbaytimes dot com - I just found out about her. I think she's amazing. I have chills.

[@Sou7man]

Wat een stem !

[@irenehamilton1800]

like ben abbot comment. you really can't teach this. how music is supposed to be. go bettye-still relevant.

[@ReturnJaguar]

When was she out? How can get an interview with her?

[@stompietheowl]

A N T H E M...KEEP THE FAITH ;o)

[@tommyrobb4779]

Paolo you naughty naughty man

[@patrislemair1754]

lil

[@Sou7man]

Vergeet niet op 9 april naar Paradiso te gaan... ;-)

[@limlamlom]

A benchmark in how to take classic recordings into new eras. First port of call - respect the original. Wannabee DJ/producers take note.

[@damein01666]

Like if Paulo Nutini brought you here

[@narvelancoleman8597]

He's a really good singer....but no.....I came here for the one and only original Bettye LaVette. Her first recording of this soulful original was in 1962...that's the first time I heard it...and have been a major fan for 55 years!

[@bigjay3931]

I knew it. I had to do my research the white boy could not have that much soul to create that song first. I knew he had to copy it from somebody black. I knew it.

[@narvelancoleman8597]

big jay She first recorded this back in 1961/1962, when I was in the 7th grade. I have been a big fan ever since...I am now 69 years old....and I come here at least once a week to hear my favorite. Saw her tonight at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. She was fantastic..but she didn't do this song, I was so disappointed!!

[@SatanDynastyKiller]

Paolo Nutini brought me here, was wondering who he sampled...cheers Paolo

[@diana5859]

me too

[@jaimeramirez5514]

Diosa Diana Macani Yeah, me three. :)

[@diana5859]

:)))

[@stacijie4497]

Me too!

[@stanleyturner6997]

But I don't see where he gives Bettye any credit, and the first chorus is of her voice, which hooks you. He ripped her off.

[@REVOLTE2023]

Magnifique voix, je l'ai découverte depuis pas très longtemps, j'adore, c'est une grande Dame qui est malheureusement pas assez connue en Europe???? Bravo et Merci Madame.