Review by Tom Branson

Bluesrocker Online Review

Springfield (1996, JRG/Fr) is a collection of 14 excellent tracks, with 12 containing Carole Fredericks' original lyrics. The material is mostly Gospel, blues, and R&B flavored with a dash or rock or funk thrown in every now and then for extra seasoning. Ms. Fredericks was accompanied on this set by the wonderfully talented Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble of Brooklyn, NY. The musicians here are also world class and the band is tight, talented, and more than a match for every style represented here. There is even a most enjoyable duet featuring Ms. Fredericks and her famous brother Taj Mahal.

There is so much fabulous music on this album and at the center of it all is the incredible voice, energy, and spirit that was and always will be Carole Fredericks. Having grown up in a household where my late Father loved Mahalia Jackson, I found myself spellbound by this recording. Like Mahalia Jackson, Albertina Walker, and other great gospel singers of that era, Carole Fredericks’ music spoke deeply to me and stirred many emotions, memories, both good and bad. These are real songs about real life; songs of faith, of struggles, of love and joy, and ultimately of victory.

If I were to point you to one track it would be the original song Change. Change seems to be an accurate representation of what Carole Fredericks was, is, and will always be: powerful, emotional vocals. Carole presents a very personal story of the battles of life being overcome by grace and redemption, faith and hope – gifts that are available to all of mankind.

Her spirit lives on through the songs of Springfield… it remains today calling anyone who will listen to the same life of peace, hope, and infectious joy that characterized Ms. Fredericks' brief time here. If you are a fan of gospel or blues vocals, you will want to own a copy of Springfield.

Sleevenotes by Phil Aldridge

BBC Radio in the South Blues and World Music Hours

I’ve listened to Couleurs et Parfums (1999, Reissue 2007), only her second solo effort, countless times and what still amazes me is the fluid grace with which Carole moved from one “genre” to another, although of course it was all one music to her. Just listen to her sultry soul/gospel intonation at the start of “Qu’est-ce qui t’amène”, the samples and blues rap (why does rap sound so sophisticated “en francais”?) on “J’ai le sang blues” anticipating today’s “nu-bluz” by ten years, the duo in the main Senegalese language Wolof with Nicole Amovin on “Kaai Djallema/Time After Time” (yes, the Cindi Lauper hit) and the West African reggae of “Respire”, very akin to the Wass reggae of Askia Modibo although in fact penned by Jean-Jacques Goldman. And that’s just the first four tracks! The remainder of the CD is yet more in that vein with Carole even turning her hand to a duet with French boy band Poetic Lover on “Personne ne saurait” and as if that wasn’t enough to convince you just wait till you hear the late-hours soul ballad “Tu es là”. There is no filler on this CD just a huge variety of sounds – just what would she have been capable of had she lived?”

Listen to Couleurs et Parfums with open ears and, more importantly, an open heart and you will understand how Carole Fredericks has touched so many people through her life and ultimately through the lasting legacy of her music - Tant qu’elle chante, elle vit… As long as she sings, she lives.

• Pluriel: The Best of Fredericks Goldman Jones 1990 - 1996 (2000)
  
• Du New Morning Au Zenith (1994, Platinum)
  
• Rouge Recorded in Moscow with Russia's Red Army Choir (1993, Diamond)
  
• Sur Scène (1992, Platinum)
  
• Fredericks Goldman Jones (1990, Debut album, Diamond) Limited release in the United States
  
  

"[Carole] arrived in France in 1979. Shortly afterwards she launched a career as a studio musician - i.e. one of those people with extraordinary technical skills who put her talent at the service of other singers. In the course of her career Carole provided backing vocals for a lot of different singers and that is how I came to meet her myself"

                -  Jean-Jacques Goldman.

Solo albums

• Black Orchid (1979, Carla Music)
• Springfield (1996, M6 Interactions)
• Couleurs et Parfums (1999, BMG)

Studio albums / Groups

• Fredericks Goldman Jones (1990, CBS) with Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones
• Rouge (1993, Columbia) with Red Army Choir, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones
• Pluriel: The Best of Fredericks Goldman Jones 1990 - 1996 (2000)

Live albums

• Sur scène (1992, Columbia) with Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones
• Du New Morning au Zénith (1995, Columbia) with Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones

Compilations

• Les Enfoirés La Compil’ (volume 2) (2001 EMI Music)
• Enfoirés en 2000 (2000, BMG)
• Les Enfoirés Dernière édition avant l’an 2000 (1999, BMG)
• Enfoirés en coeur (1998, WEA Music)
• le Zénith des Enfoirés (1997, BMG)
• la Soirée des Enfoirés 96 (1996, WEA Music)
• Les Enfoirés La Compil’ (1996, WEA Music)
• Pluriel 90/96 (1996, Columbia) with Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones
• les Enfoirés à l'Opéra Comique (1995, TSR)
• les Enfoirés au Grand Rex (1994, WEA Music)
• les Enfoirés chantent Starmania (1993, Columbia)
• la soirée des Enfoirés à l'Opéra (1992, Columbia)

Other Credits

• Carole Fredericks is credited with performances on these albums:
• Elton John, The One
• Duran Duran, Big Thing, Decade: Greatest Hits, Greatest
• Taj Mahal, Mo' Roots; Music Fuh Ya'; Together; Evolution, Satisfied 'N Tickled Too
• Celine Dion, D’Eux / D’Elles, All The Way – A Decade of Song, The Collector’s Series Vol. I, D'eux (The French Album), Falling into You, S'il suffisait d'aimer
• Johnny Hallyday, Sang pour sang; Ça ne change pas un homme, Cadillac
• Jean-Jacques Goldman, Singulier 81 – 89, En passant, Entre gris clair et gris foncé, Fredericks Goldman Jones by Jean-Jacques Goldman
• Liane Foly, Cameleon
• Faudel, Samra
• Julien Clerc, Si j’étais elle
• Vincent Baguian, Mes Chants
• Patricia Kaas, Dans ma chair
• Mylene Farmer, Cendres de Lune, L’Autre
• Francis Cabrel, Samedi Soir Sur La Terre
• France Gall, Evidemment Integrale
• Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine, H. F. T en Concert, Vol. 1, La Tentation du Bonheur
• Florent Pagny, Florent Pagny [Box Set]
• Vanessa Paradis, Variations sur le même t'aime

Carole was the voice of featured characters in two Alan Simon children’s albums:

• Les Enfants du Futur (Walt Disney Records/Fr, 1996)
• Le Petit Arthur (Polygram Music/ Les Editions de l’Enchanteur, 1995)