Bettye Lavette
Bettye LaVette (born Betty Jo Haskins, January 29, 1946) is an American soul singer-songwriter who made her first record at sixteen, but achieved only intermittent fame until 2005, with her album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise. Her eclectic musical style combines elements of soul, blues, rock and roll, funk, gospel, and country music.
With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. Read Full BioBettye LaVette (born Betty Jo Haskins, January 29, 1946) is an American soul singer-songwriter who made her first record at sixteen, but achieved only intermittent fame until 2005, with her album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise. Her eclectic musical style combines elements of soul, blues, rock and roll, funk, gospel, and country music.
With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. In 1972 her album A Child of the Seventies was shelved by Atlantic Records, then thought lost forever in a fire. She eked out a living on the European festival circuit, occasionally surfacing such as with the disco single "Doin' the Best that I Can", but remained obscure until French soul collector Gilles Petard tracked down the lost masters and persuaded Atlantic to let him release them on his vanity label as Souvenirs. A live album and 2005's cover album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise followed.
With the release of The Scene of the Crime, Bettye Lavette inches closer to the mainstream, or at least a much bigger cult following. Backed by The Drive-by Truckers and released on -Anti, The Scene of the Crime is recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscles Shoals, Alabama. The same place as her lost album. The connection doesn't end there - Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers is the son of David Hood, who played on the 1972 album.
In 2009, she appeared at President Barack Obama's Inaugural Celebration, singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. It was televised globally.
With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. Read Full BioBettye LaVette (born Betty Jo Haskins, January 29, 1946) is an American soul singer-songwriter who made her first record at sixteen, but achieved only intermittent fame until 2005, with her album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise. Her eclectic musical style combines elements of soul, blues, rock and roll, funk, gospel, and country music.
With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. In 1972 her album A Child of the Seventies was shelved by Atlantic Records, then thought lost forever in a fire. She eked out a living on the European festival circuit, occasionally surfacing such as with the disco single "Doin' the Best that I Can", but remained obscure until French soul collector Gilles Petard tracked down the lost masters and persuaded Atlantic to let him release them on his vanity label as Souvenirs. A live album and 2005's cover album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise followed.
With the release of The Scene of the Crime, Bettye Lavette inches closer to the mainstream, or at least a much bigger cult following. Backed by The Drive-by Truckers and released on -Anti, The Scene of the Crime is recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscles Shoals, Alabama. The same place as her lost album. The connection doesn't end there - Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers is the son of David Hood, who played on the 1972 album.
In 2009, she appeared at President Barack Obama's Inaugural Celebration, singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. It was televised globally.
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Let Me Down Easy
Bettye Lavette Lyrics
Let me down easy though your love for me is gone
Let me down so easy, baby, since you feel to stay isnt wrong
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, hmm
When you pass me by, say hello once in a while
When you pass me by, does it hurt so much to smile
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, baby
I remember at the start
It was so nice to think that we never had to part
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, baby
Hum hum hum hum,let me down so easy baby, let me down so easy baby
Let me down down down down, let me down so easy baby,oh oh oh
I dont want anyone of your love, baby, let me down down, let me down so easy
Baby, oh oh, let me down so easy
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES MC DOUGAL, PAOLO GIOVANNI NUTINI, ROLLO ARMSTRONG, WRECIA HOLLOWAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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ΑΝΤΙ'
Let me down easy though your love for me is gone
Let me down so easy, baby, since you feel to stay isnt wrong
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, hmm
When you pass me by, say hello once in a while
When you pass me by, does it hurt so much to smile
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, baby
I remember at the start
It was so nice to think that we never had to part
But its all over but the last goodbye, let me down easy, baby
Hum hum hum hum, let me down…
Adrian Arnez
GORGEOUS, shout-out odesza for using her phenomenal vocals on “the last goodbye” 🤍
Walker11
shout out Betty too what a gift she has and gave to the world
Liem Tran
Thank you, ODESZA, for letting me learn about Bettye Lavette and this wonderful song. It literally came at the right time for me, and I am truly grateful.
Nico Tena
One of the all-time great R & B songs!
Filled with so much soul and passion!
Narvelan Coleman
Been a BIG fan of this soulful Diva and bluesy jam for 58 years...since hearing it when I was in Middle School! Never, ever get tired of it!
fatimaisfatima
So underated .. great voice. Damn .saw her live . Back in Sicily.. damn .. her voice gave me the shivers
Brad James
I never heard of this lady till a few minutes ago when I was watching a show called Shindig on Youtube. I thought Betty had the best vocals on the show, so I looked her up. She is really good.
Jilly B
Saw her live last year - still killing this song.
MyBelle
Jill Harrison....... My mother saw her in concert, September 2017 for her 69th birthday. She went just to hear Bettye do this song. Bettye didn't do it....and my mother came home soooooo disappointed!!
Natasha Colcombe
So glad I found out who the female vocalist was singing on Paolo Nutini's song. Everytime I'd hear it, I'd say what an amazing voice she has. Now I've found it was a sample and I've found her. She's amazing. Will check out her other stuff.