Rénee Geyer - It's A Man's World (1974) plus bonus live track

 (Australian 1970 - 2023)

Rénee Geyer was born in Melbourne on 11 Sep 1953 to a holocaust surviving Slovak mother (who was consigned to Auschwitz) and a Hungarian father. Whilst still at high school she began singing for a jazz/blues band Dry Red in 1970 aged 16 and later joined Sun who released one, self-titled, album in 1972. She soon left Sun and joined R&B/soul group Mother Earth.

By 1973, she was signed to RCA Victor and released a debut, self-titled, album mainly of covers, on which she insisted Mother Earth, who had been released by the label, were to be her backing band. It was followed in 1974 by "It's A Mans Man's World" named after the lead track, a cover of James Brown's classic 1966 deep soul song, which she released as a single and both single and album where her first charting recordings.

Female R&B/soul icons were thin on the ground in the 1970’s in this country, Wendy Sadington, Alison McCallum, Marcia Hines, Linda George and Bobbi Marchini certainly had their fans, but Rénee Geyer had already won plaudits for her cover of James Brown’s It’s A Man’s Man’s World and she was a genuine soul diva at the tender age of 20. Later in 1975 she formed her own collective – The Renee Geyer Band, they were now based in Melbourne, and she moved from RCA to Mushroom Records, and Michael Gudinski’s partner Ray Evans became her manager, after she severed ties with Horst Leopold, her manager from the Sun/Mother Earth days.

At the time Mushroom Records and Premier Artists were part of the same corporate group, clustered together in a baroque -Edwardian property at 27-31 Dudley St, West Melbourne, where they neatly bundled up recording, artist booking and management, publicity and finance within one overarching business, and unsurprisingly the internal conflict of interests were extensive. Many performers who emerged from this era claimed that they never got a fair share of the income they had generated – including Rénee Geyer.

Ray Evans-Renee-Geyer-Molly Meldrum

In 1984, Rénee would sever ties with Mushroom and Ray Evans, the split was particularly acrimonious with Evans, Geyer alleged that he failed to properly account for and report her finances, deprived her of income earned and ultimately charged her for operating expenses of which she was unaware, lawyers were ultimately required to resolve the matter, and henceforth Rénee became her own manager for the rest of her career.

This is the first Rénee Geyer album I owned and is her 2nd solo album. "It's a Man's Man's World" is more infused with a classic RnB sound, with touches of blues, than her later more funk-soul influenced albums. Her cover of the James Brown song was a huge hit in Australia. Producer Tweed Harris, previously best known as a 60s soul musician, works here with a classic band setup augmented with orchestral and brass colourings. This is my favourite Geyer album and each track has its own unique appeal, particularly the title track and her cover of Isaac Hayes' "Do your Thing".

Her vinyl album was released on the RCA label, however the CD release was made on the Mushroom label in 1995.

VALE Renee Geyer

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Renée Geyer, Australian Jazz and soul singer died on January 17, 2023. A statement made by The Mushroom Group on behalf of the family of Renée Geyer confirmed the news. The statement read:

“It is with immense sadness that we announce that Renée Geyer has passed away from complications following hip surgery. While in the hospital, it was discovered that Renée also had inoperable lung cancer. She was in no pain and died peacefully amongst family and friends.”

“Renée is one of the most highly regarded singers in contemporary music – her unique vocal sound influences countless singers to this day. Renée was irrepressible, cheeky, and loyal and her musical legacy speaks for itself, with her performing and recording career spanning five decades.”

“She was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005; in 2013 she was the first woman to be inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame; and she received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Women in Music Awards in 2018.”

I would like to make this post a tribute to 'the best RnB / Soul female artist' that Australia has ever  produced.  I was gutted when I learned of her passing last Tuesday and as a long time fan, words fail to express the sadness that I feel.  "It's A Man's World" was the first song that I heard Geyer sing back in the early 70's and as an impressionable young teenager, I was instantly besotted. 

Ripped to FLAC, this CD presents a much better quality sound than would my well worn vinyl LP. I have of course included full artwork for both media. As a special bonus, I am also including a 'recent live' rendition of the title track, that Renee made at the ABC's Studio 22, Sydney.  

RIP  Rénee Geyer

Tracklist

01 It's A Man's Man's World - 3.34 
02 They Tell Me Of An Uncloudy Day - 3.42
03 Take Me Where You Took Me Last Night - 3.53
04 Since I Fell For You - 3.42 
05 What Do I Do On Sunday Morning - 3.58
06 Love The Way You Love - 3.15 
07 Scarlet Ribbons - 2.45
08 Do Your Thing - 3.44 
09 And I Love Him - 5.14
10 It's Been A Long Time - 3.23
11 Mama's Little Girl - 3.26 
12 Once In A Lifetime Thing - 3.33
13 Feel Good - 3.15

14 It's A Man's World (Bonus Live / Studio 22)

MUSICIANS
Renée Geyer: Vocals, Backing Vocals
Guitars: Phil Manning; Tim Gaze; Steve Murphy; Tony Naylor
Keyboards: Tweed Harris
Bass: Barry "Big Goose" Sullivan; Mike Kelly
Drums: Geoff Cox
Background Vocals: Julie McKenna; Wendy Reece; Bobby Bright; Mike Brady
Percussion: Gary Hyde

Renée Geyer Link (328Mb)