Lee was born in Chicago, but as a child relocated to Detroit with her mother. After a few years, she was adopted by Rev. E. Allan Rundless, who had previously been a member of the Soul Stirrers, and his wife Ernestine, who led a gospel group, The Meditation Singers. Featuring Della Reese, they were the first Detroit gospel group to perform with instrumental backing. The group recorded on the Specialty label in the mid 1950s, appeared on the LP Della Reese Presents The Meditation Singers in 1958, and in the early 1960s recorded for Checker Records.
As Laura Lee Rundless, she replaced Reese in The Meditation Singers in 1956, and over the next few years toured widely around the country. In 1965, as Laura Lee, she launched her secular solo career as an R&B singer in clubs in Detroit, although she also continued to record occasionally with The Meditation Singers. She first recorded solo for Ric-Tic Records in 1966, with "To Win Your Heart".
The following year, she signed with Chess Records and, after initially recording in-house with the label's producers in Chicago, it was decided to send her to Rick Hall’s FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals to record "Dirty Man". This became her first hit, reaching #13 R&B and #68 pop. She stayed with Chess until 1969, also recording "Up Tight Good Man" (#16 R&B) and "As Long As I Got You" (#31 R&B)).
A short spell with Atlantic subsidiary, Cotillion resulted in two singles and then in 1970, Lee moved to former Motown producers, Holland, Dozier and Holland’s newly established Hot Wax label in Detroit. One of her first recordings for Hot Wax, "Women’s Love Rights", became one of her biggest hits, reaching #11 on the R&B chart in 1971 and #36 pop. In 1972, "Rip Off" became her biggest R&B hit at #3 but only climbed to #68 on the Billboard Hot 100. She also recorded an album, Two Sides of Laura Lee, while in a relationship with singer Al Green. Most of her material on Hot Wax was produced by William Weatherspoon, formerly with Motown.
Lee left Invictus / Hot Wax in 1975 and signed with Ariola Records, but became seriously ill shortly afterwards and retired from the music industry for several years. She returned in 1983 with a gospel album, Jesus Is The Light Of My Life, on which she worked with Al Green. By 1990 she was recovered from her illness, and had been ordained as a minister. She has continued recording music, mostly gospel.
A Swedish garage rock band did an unexpected homage to Lee by baptizing themselves as Division of Laura Lee.
She made an appearance in the 1973 Blaxploitation film Detroit 9000, as a singer in the opening scenes.
Uptight Good Man
Laura Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Along the road to Gundagai
Where the blue gums are growing, the Murrumbidgee's flowing
Beneath that sunny sky
Where my Mummy and Daddy are waiting for me
Where the pals of my childhood are waiting for me
So no more will I roam till I'm headed right for home
There's an old fashioned Ford made of rubber, tin and board
Along the road to Gundagai
The radiator's hissing, and half the engine's missing
The oil tank's running dry
There's water in the petrol and sand in the gears
And it hasn't seen a garage for more than twenty years
But O lord hear the roar when the pedal hits the floor
Along the road to Gundagai.
The lyrics of Laura Lee's "Uptight Good Man" are a mix of elegant and rustic imagery that describe a person's journey back home. The first verse refers to the road that leads to an old fashioned shack in Gundagai, which is a small town in New South Wales, Australia. The mention of the blue gums and the Murrumbidgee River represents the natural beauty of the place, while the line 'where my Mummy and Daddy are waiting for me' indicates that the person in question is excited to reunite with their family after a long absence. The songwriter also highlights the importance of childhood friends, who are also waiting for the person to return home. Overall, the verse captures the joy and anticipation of heading back to familiar surroundings and loved ones.
In the second verse, the songwriter uses a nostalgic tone to describe an old fashioned Ford car that is rusty and run-down but still roars to life when the pedal hits the floor. The car's condition represents the wear and tear of time, but its ability to still run is a testament to its durability. The use of the phrase 'O Lord' adds a touch of southern Americana to the verse, which is fitting given that Laura Lee was born in Chicago and raised in Memphis. The imagery of a rickety old car hurtling down a dusty road towards home creates a vivid picture of the person's journey back to their roots. Overall, the verse represents the idea that even if things are in a state of disrepair, they can still continue to function and serve a purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a track winding back to an old fashioned shack
There's a path that leads to a rustic house
Along the road to Gundagai
That path is located on the way to Gundagai
Where the blue gums are growing, the Murrumbidgee's flowing
In that area, there are eucalyptus trees and a river called Murrumbidgee
Beneath that sunny sky
The weather there is usually bright and clear
Where my Mummy and Daddy are waiting for me
My parents are there, waiting for me to arrive
Where the pals of my childhood are waiting for me
My childhood friends are also there, waiting for me
So no more will I roam till I'm headed right for home
I won't wander anymore until I return home
There's an old fashioned Ford made of rubber, tin and board
A vintage Ford made of unconventional materials exists
The radiator's hissing, and half the engine's missing
The car is in poor condition with a problematic radiator and missing engine parts
The oil tank's running dry
The car is also low on oil
There's water in the petrol and sand in the gears
Water and sand have somehow gotten into the fuel and gears
And it hasn't seen a garage for more than twenty years
The car has not been to a mechanic in over two decades
But O lord hear the roar when the pedal hits the floor
Despite the poor condition of the car, it still makes a loud noise when accelerated
Along the road to Gundagai.
This all happens on the way to Gundagai.
Contributed by Lily O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.