Laura Lee

During the rise of the early-'70s women's movement, Laura Lee voiced the feelings of many soul sisters out there with such vinegary tunes as "Wedlock is a Padlock." A Gospel belter backed with sophisticated arrangements, she could also be a sensitive balladeer, but this element of her work is really under-represented on Lee's few re-issues. Luckily, what is left for us to hear is choice and, sadly, 30 years later her domestic protest R&B remains as relevant as ever.