She sang the number one hit. Someone else got the credit. For decades, one of the most powerful voices in American music history cleaned houses for a living — because the contract she signed left her with nothing.

In Episode 2 of More Music Por Favor Presents, host Marcus Reed tells the true story of Darlene Love: the session singer whose voice defined some of the most beloved records of the 1960s, whose name Phil Spector buried under other artists' credits, and whose journey from scrubbing floors to standing on the Academy Awards stage represents one of music history's most extraordinary — and overdue — acts of justice. Marcus explores the economics of session singing, the work-for-hire contracts that extracted the labor of Black women at industrial scale, and what Darlene Love's story reveals about how the music industry was truly built. From Merry Clayton's midnight session for the Rolling Stones to the groundbreaking documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, this is the hidden architecture of pop.

Listen to the sounds:

Find a curated Spotify Playlist of song's mention this this week's podcast: More Music Por Favor Presents: Episode 2

"He's A Rebel" — Credited to The Crystals (1962) - Lead vocals: Darlene Love, with Edna Wright on co-lead during the chorus. Backing vocals: The Blossoms — Fanita James, Gracia Nitzsche, Gloria Jones — plus Bobby Sheen on high tenor harmony.
"Gimme Shelter" — The Rolling Stones (1969) - Merry Clayton was summoned from bed around midnight by producer Jack Nitzsche. Her name was misspelled "Mary" on the original release — her actual name is "Merry" because she was born on Christmas Day.
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" — The Righteous Brothers (1964) - The Blossoms — featuring Darlene Love — provided backing vocals throughout, with Cher joining in at the song's climax.
"Be My Baby" — The Ronettes (1963) - Darlene Love, Bobby Sheen, Sonny Bono, Nino Tempo, and a teenage Cher all sang backup. Critically, It was her first professional recording. She was 17 and completely uncredited.

And More Music Por Favor Drops:

Afro Groove Nexus - "The Groove Already Knows" - Deep Afro House / Amapiano Soul Fusion
Chill Jazz Drift |- "Make the Darkness Gold" - lo-fi jazzhop fusion
Hallelujah Haven - "Held in the Quiet" - Contemporary Christian worship
Club Immersion - "Between the Noise and Nothing"- Progressive Trance

Find your new favorite track! Check out More Music Por Artists and Upcoming Releases

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More Music Por Favor Presents: The Stories Streaming Can't Tell