DOWNLOAD: Betty Davis – “Is It Love or Desire?”

Two weeks ago, the master restorers and ultimate crate diggers over at Light In The Attic Records put out two fantastic new reissues from the “Queen of Sexified Funk”, otherwise known as Betty Davis. Like all of their releases, these two new albums are both meticulous and beautiful creations; each one includes a deluxe 32 page booklet featuring the original album artwork, new liner notes, unseen photos, and full song lyrics.

The hard to find Nasty Gal, Betty Davis’ third album and her first on a major label (Island) appeared briefly on the shelves in 1975 and is finally getting its first official CD release some 35 years later. Though a falling out with the label would cause Nasty Gal be her last record released on Island, she recorded a final album originally entitled Crashin’ From Passion in 1976 in Bogalusa, Louisiana at the famed Studio In The Country. Up until now, a one-of-a kind acetate pressing of this album had quietly circulated in private hands, while the original master tapes sat forgotten in vaults in New York and Louisiana. Bouyed by the success of their 2007 reissues (They Say I’m Different and Betty Davis), the folks at LITA were able to recover that lost Betty Davis album and officially release it for the first time ever under the name of Is It Love Or Is It Desire. Because I haven’t given anything since last week, I’m giving away copies of both Nasty Gal and Is It Love or Desire to one lucky winner who emails me at contests@bumpershine.com and tells me who was Betty Davis’ famous musician ex-husband? A random winner will be chosen and notified on October 26, 2009. (Contest open to US entrants only, please include your name and address in the email.)