This would seem to be the only release by Helen Bryant but I've Learned My Lesson is a first class piece of deep soul. Or is it an R & B ballad? Whatever pigeon hole you want to put it on Helen's vocal performance is absoutely wonderful - swooping and soaring all around the melody. Her big brassy tone is right out of the blues tradition but she is also full of gospel tricks and flourishes - the best combination of course. It's hardly worth mentioning the rhythm section so overpowering is the vocal but there are some nice baritone sax touches and a good girl chorus. Larry Lucie's and Joel Tunnero's understated production shouldn't be missed either.

But the honours go to Ms Bryant - does anybody know why she never had any more singles released?

Notes:
Courtesy of Greg Burgess - Helen Bryant was part of prof Herman Stevens Stevens Singers a gospel group operating around New York-Philadelphia-New Jersey from the early 1950s to the early 1970s.

Courtesy of Bob Stumpel - Helen Bryant was also a Raelette for a short while. But she picked a good period, being part of the "Live In Concert" taping at the L.A. Shrine Auditorium in 1964.

Thanks to Mike Cassidy for the photo shown here.