Out of webs or forums specialized in music or people with knowledge of the subject like all of you, it is difficult to identify the artist that I present today: Renée Armand, among other things because her musical career is very short, just a couple of promotional singles and two discs published, but without a doubt her extraordinary voice does not leave unnoticed to those who hear it for the first time. Let's go with this "California Lady" and great album with rare, unreleased, unknown songs, very nice to hear. An excellent compilation that was proposed to be published in 1980.
Renée Armand began her professional career, as a pianist, at seventeen performing with John Handy’s fusion band in San Francisco. By the age of twenty she was discovered by Tony Bennett, mentored by Carmen McRea, So in 1971, she had her first personal success as interpreter of the song "Lost" from the film directed by Stanley Kramer "Bless the Beasts and Children".
Shortly after In the summer of that year, Renée during the recording sessions of the 2nd album of Derek and The Dominos at the Olympic Studios in London she recorded the song::"Gold Devil's Road " (A.k.a: Devil´s Road”), for a possible 1st single, but before this happened, the band separated and the project was canceled. bit.ly/80rnagt For that dates Renée was married with the drummer: Jim Gordon Here´s you find the original full length version and the single version, both unreleased.
March 1972 the songwriters Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, written the love theme for “The Poseidon Adventure” movie; original version sung by Renée Armand and used in the movie, but not commercially, This theme won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 45th Academy Awards in March 1973.The song was re-recorded by Maureen McGovern and became a hit, when its was release in May. In that special year, Renée recorded another film song: “Take me Home”, for the western “Molly and the lawlees John”. And her 1st lp: “The Rain Book” on A&M Records. with only one single: “Raining in L.A”.
Side A: (19:07)
1. Lost. (2:21)
(1971) (from “Bless The Beasts and Children“ Soundtrack)
2. Devil´s Road. (5:35)
(1971) (Unreleased single version) - (with Derek & The Dominos)
3. Boney Fingers. (3:06)
(1974) (Duet with Hoyt Axton)
4. I Dream Of Highways. (2:39)
(1977) - (Duet with Hoyt Axton) - (from “Outlaw Blues“ Soundtrack)
5. The Song from The Poseidon Adventure.(Version 1) (2:10)
(1972) - (from “The Poseidon Adventure“ Soundtrack)
6. It´s All Right. (3:20)
(1973) - (Unreleased) - (Remixed).
Side B: (19:39)
7. California Lady. (2:58)
(1973) - (from “California Lady“ promo single)
8. (We´re) Dancing In The Dark. (3:29)
(1978) - (single version) - (Remixed)
9. Raining In L.A. (3:31)
(1972) - (from “Raining In L.A“ promo single) - (Remixed)
10. Dirty Sisters. (3:51)
(1973) - (A.k.a: “Sirters“).(Unreleased) - (Remixed)
11. I Can´t See You Anymore. (2:58)
(1973) - (from “I Can´t See You Anymore“ promo single)
12. Take Me Home. (2:58)
(1972) - (from “Molly and Lawless John“ Soundtrack)
Bonus tracks: (16:58)
13. Auld Lang Syne. (1:36)
(1972) - (from “The Poseidon Adventure“ Soundtrack)
14. The Song from The Poseidon Adventure.(Version 2) (2:10)
(1972) - (A.k.a: “The Morning After“).
15. Gold Devil´s Road. (13:10)
(1971) (A.k.a: “Devil´s Road) - (Unreleased full length version) - (with Derek & The Dominos).
To the next year, she recorded new songs for a possible second album, but only two: “California Lady” & “I can´t see you anymore” were released as promotional singles, in stereo and mono versions. From this same era remains unreleased: “Dirty Sisters” and “It´s All Right”, after were proposed for "California Lady" album.
From 1974 to 1977 Renée Armand put aside her personal career and dedicated herself to collaborating with other artists such as Linda Ronstadt, John Denver or Hoyt Axton. From this last singer two songs are included: “Boney Fingers” and “I dream of highways” .Finally In 1978, she released her second album “In time”, with only single in U.S: (We´re) Dancin´In The Dark / The Bitter Tasle of Wild Thing.
In 1980, while she was on tour with John Denver, A&M Records attempted to re-launch her solo career. it was speculated on with the realization of new album, the 3rd, that was going to be called "California Lady" ,and a selection of unpublished material was made, but the project did not materialize,because René Armand considered that this lp with of old themes was not opportune for its new race. She had joined to Leah Kunkel, the younger sister of Cass Elliot and, Marty Gwinn Townsendand formed a new musical group: "Coyote Sisters" , an American pop-rock female trio, signed to Geffen Records until 1982. After with Morocco Records, a subsidiary of Motown and released their self-titled debut LP in 1984. Lead single "Straight from the Heart (Into Your Life)".
Here´s a reconstruction according to documentation consulted, of what it could be and was not “California Lady”.
Enjoy it my friends.
