Thursday, October 22, 2009

Esther Satterfield "The Need To Be" 1976

I was introduced to Esther Satterfield's smooth and velvety vocals through listening to a Chuck Mangione "Live" recording as she performed "Chase The Clouds Away".  And then over 10 years later, a local jazz radio DJ started to regulalry play a version of  "If You Knew Me Any Longer Than Tomorrow".  For many years, this was one of my favorite jazz songs (as performed by Chuck Mangione), and to hear lyrics attached to this piece, I was immediately hooked ! I called the station, and learned to find out that this was only available on LP and out of print.  So I purchased this LP from eBay many years ago.  I just recently re-archived it for this blog.

As it turns out, her music career was very short, she released just two albums under her name ("The Need To Be" and "Once I Loved") and appears on Chuck Mangione's "Land of Make Believe".  Chuck Mangione produced both of her albums, and so its not surprinsing to see original Mangione tunes here.  She now lives in Maryland under her married name of Esther Jordan.  It was rumored that she was disenchanted by the music industry in general.  Too bad, this was all that ever produced, I hope you enjoy.


Bass - Chip Jackson
Concert Master - Gerald Vinci
Drums - Joe La Barbera
Guitar - Don Potter
Orchestra - Kai Winding
Percussion - Gerry Niewood
Piano - Chuck Mangione
Producer - Chuck Mangione

32 comments:

  1. I really hope that she decides to tour again. She would make so much money! Satterfield/Jordan has almost risen to cult status with the whereareyous on blogs.

    It's great to see you list the accompanying artists and their discogs profiles.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I see you're just starting out. You may also want to check with Bentley Funk, Sonics and Diggs, and Divas Need Love Too repertoire so you don't upload something that they already have available.

    Bentley Funk http://bentleyfunk.blogspot.com/

    Sonics and Digs http://www.sonicsanddigs.net/

    Divas Need Love Too http://divasneedlove2.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Viz, I will check out the other links too. Thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. eewhiz - thanks so much for the album. I had the original, but gave it away (along with my comprehensive collection of 60's & 70's rock and 70's jazz, stupid m) when my record player went out. Got a replacement, but figure out how to convert it. This was/is still one of my all time favorite albums.

    I do need some assistance with ipod/mp3,etc issues (I was na little long out of college when Esther made this album, so I guess that puts me in the technically challenged group.)

    I would love to send royalties to Esther or her heirs, as she has brought me so much pleasure over the years and, now with this addition, she still has more to bring.

    Since you are the only site where I was able to find the album, I am appreciative of your efforts, commitment, and knowledge. Keep up the good work. If you can drop me a note, I might be able to describe my issues to you.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Jann, Will be glad to help...not sure what your technical issues are, but you can email @:
    littlejazzarium@gmail.com

    I can email to you what I can find on her whereabouts...thanks and glad you can re-appreciate her music!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you so much for this download! Esther Satterfield has the most amazing voice, and I haven't heard this album for decades.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi: I grew up in Rochester, NY and actually took private voice lessons from Esther in the early 1970s. Because of the connection with Esther, I was able to sing in a choir Chuck Mangione put together for an upstate New York and Canadian tour in 1972. Lost contact with her in the late '70s; she was a great talent and has been on my mind recently, so I am trying to locate her. I would appreciate any information your can dig up on her whereabouts. I will check back periodically. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow - you've made my year! Out in the garage is my ragged LP of Need to Be, undoubtedly moldy by now. Love her voice and this album

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh my goodness anonymous who took vocal lessons from her! My parents are friends of Chuck and Gap, so when I was 6 I got to see them live with Esther. I remember her coming out on stage, opening her arms wide, and opening her heart to us all through that unbelievable voice. My mom said I turned to her and said "I want to be a singer too!" I am now a singer...and Esther holds the dearest spot in my heart...especially when she sings "Love is stronger far than we"...I am actually trying to teach myself how to play it on guitar or piano...the bridge and turn around, key change...very hard, especially since I sing it in a lower key..:) I am so so jealous someone got to study with her, and wish I could hear all about any Esther stories. I wish so much she would start singing again...she is the absolute best....thanks for keeping her voice alive everyone!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I, also, grew up with Chuck, Gap, Steve Gadd(lived down the street, Harwick Rd.), and all the local Rochester talents. The Rochester Philharmonic performed a concert, Together, with Esther, Chuck, etc.. In 1972 Mangione together with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra presented a concert TOGETHER-It was never digitalized or filmed. LOOK TO THE CHILDREN is sung here by the extraordinary Esther Satterfield and Don Potter with a Trumpet solo not by Mangione but by Al Porcino. If you have never heard this song you will be very impressed and perhaps was the BEST performance Esther ever did! I found a six minute twenty-eight second copy on you Tube. There are two renditions but the 6:28 is the original recording. Enjoy

      Delete
  10. P.S. to anonymous...my mom grew up (and now lives) in Geneva NY, and is still in touch with Gap....the latest sad news is of Gerry Niewoods passing...he was such a gentle, sweet, loveable man

    ReplyDelete
  11. I wanna know for sure what she's up to today. I discover her doing vocals with Mangione on several albums Land of Make Believe and Chase the Clouds Away. I'm in the process beginning of checking most of her LPs which were produced by Chuck Mangione himself.

    ReplyDelete
  12. thank you so much for posting this...my dad played it for me when I was a baby but the only copy i have is on vinyl....my dad passed away 4 years ago but listening to this makes me feel close to him again, so THANK YOU for bringing esther into my life again

    ReplyDelete
  13. As one among you who was and still is enchanted with Esters music, I do believe that she made too few recordings. However, this makes these few recordings even more precious and rare, as in a rare vintage wine or gem that only becomes better and more valuable as time passes.

    Her association with Chuck was, for me, a pairing made in heaven; their styles complemented each other so well that it seems that Chuck was writing for Esther (Chase the Clouds Away and Soft are beautifully rendered by Esther as only she can).

    Thanks Tony for keeping Esthers music alive. She is indeed a rare gem.

    ReplyDelete
  14. So did you consider doing the mini-doc on Esther?

    ReplyDelete
  15. I was told by a friend that worked for Chuck
    Mangione, that working with him was intolerable, that he was a prima donna, and extremely jealous of Esther's successful connection with concert goers. In short, Chuck was jealous of Esther and made life on the road very difficult for her. I got this from a reliable source.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I could believe that, if you go to www.myjazzworld.net, another blogger (probably the best on the internet for 'out-of-print' jazz LP's, is being sued by Chuck Mangione's lawyers for posting LP's that have never been released on LP. They never asked him to remove the links, just slapped him with a lawsuit. That sounds intolerable to me...

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have loved Esther Satterfield since the 70's, as she helped mold my life story through her music. I can never forget her. How can I purchase a CD? I long to hear Sarah, again.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This was never released on CD, that is why a 'cleaned-up' version of the LP/album is being posted on this blog, with a download link. It is as close to a CD link as possible. This will have to do until a CD version is ever released...

    ReplyDelete
  19. i stumbled upon this site and what a great morning this is. thanks so much for making The Need To Be available. i too love satterfield -- truly a poet of song. is there any chance you can make FLAC versions of the tracks available?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you for posting this album! I wore my old record out and have been looking for it on CD ever since. Thank you for preserving and sharing this awesome talent from the 70s!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you for that album. Is there a chance we can get a copy of her other album?
    Has anyone tries to write her in Md?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Esther Satterfield's other album can be downloaded here:
      http://littlejazzarium.blogspot.com/2009/11/esther-satterfield-once-i-loved-1974.html

      Delete
  22. For decades, I've been searching for a CD version of this album in stores and online. My original LP was left behind in Hawaii decades ago with many of my other precious memories when I decided to relocate to the mainland after 18 years in the islands. Now you bring me and so many others who loved Esther's haunting, marvelous voice to enjoy. Thank you so very, very much for your efforts and spirit of sharing her incredible voice. If you would like me to donate to your personal efforts to bring her gift to us, please contact me at .

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am presently listening to Esther on my Chuck Mangione CDs.I never bought her albums($ problem in those days) and note they have never been released on CD.If you still keep up with your blog ... is it possible to repost the Esther Satterfield albums?Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is no need to repost, all the download links are still active and valid??? Not sure what you are asking?

      Delete
  24. In all the posts there is no mention of Look To The Children; quite possibly her most outstanding accomplishment in music.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Any links for downloading this are appreciated

    ReplyDelete
  26. I always loved Chase the Clouds Away amongst my favorite Chuck M songs. Once I heard Esther with her gift and the words, I was moved. Then bought her Need to Be album which was the missing link in my mind before this blog brought it all back:). Too bad and sad that Chuck was jealous of her success during tour. She added such a dimension without taking away from him at all - she gave his work an extra layer of meaning and success. I wrote out the words and music to have it sung at our wedding. I think Esthers album is in the garage but I'm hoping to snag that song here. Thank you for your blog! --stan

    ReplyDelete
  27. Would be wonderful if the licensing could be worked out to have a complete box set of her career. Just amazing, moving singing from the soul, every song.

    This isn't on youtube as far as I can tell.

    Live at the Great American Music Hall 1977

    https://www.pastemagazine.com/search?t=Chuck+Mangione+W%2fEsther+Satterfield&m=Audio

    ReplyDelete
  28. Can you post the link to the album again? The original link provided no longer works -- thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  29. As RapidShare shut down, do you have her album downloads hosted elsewhere?

    ReplyDelete