For over 20 years, Nancy Wilson was a mainstay of the Capitol Records label.  Deftly blending jazz, pop, soul, and rhythm and blues, the late chanteuse's distinctive tone anchored collaborations with the illustrious likes of Billy May, George Shearing, Cannonball Adderley, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, Thom Bell, Eugene McDaniels, and numerous others.  A sprawling new box set from Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records in association with The Second Disc brings her second decade with Capitol into sharp focus.  Due on December 6, You're as Right as Rain: The Capitol Albums 1970-1980 contains twelve complete albums on seven CDs plus a smattering of bonus tracks and a 48-page booklet.

Though the period represented in this box set found Wilson immersing herself squarely in the realm of soul music, it begins with a poignant farewell (for the moment, anyway) to pure vocal jazz.  But Beautiful was recorded in November 1969 with The Hank Jones Quartet (pianist Jones, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Grady Tate, and guitarist Gene Bertoncini) but shelved until the summer of 1971.  Perhaps producer Dave Cavanaugh contemplated sweetening the sessions with strings; maybe the label felt the LP would interrupt the singer's ascendancy in the contemporary pop and R&B markets.  Whatever the reason, it remains a stunning album - and is presented here in its full form with three bonus tracks originally added to its 1989 CD reissue.

The set continues with 1970's Can't Take My Eyes Off You, an album which picked up where '60s efforts such as Hurt So Bad and Son of a Preacher Man picked off.  While its tracklisting wouldn't be unfamiliar to anyone picking up MOR "covers" albums from the likes of Johnny Mathis or Andy Williams, Nancy's vocal delivery took such familiar songs as the Frankie Valli title track, "You've Made Me So Very Happy," and "This Girl Is a Woman Now" to new territory.  It's paired with Wilson's second album of 1970, Now I'm a Woman.  Helmed by Philadelphia's Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and arranged by Thom Bell, Bobby Martin, and Lenny Pakula, Now I'm a Woman blended covers ("(They Long to Be) Close to You," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Make It with You") with original songs - all tailored by the Philly team to Wilson's singular talents.  Though the album was recorded in LA rather than In Philadelphia, Now I'm a Woman remains a high point in the discographies of both Wilson and Gamble and Huff.

As the decade progressed, Nancy and her longtime producer Dave Cavanaugh teamed with A-listers such as arranger-conductor Don Sebesky and soul-jazz outfit The Crusaders (I Know I Love Him), Eugene McDaniels (This Mother's Daughter), Gene Page and Billy Page (I've Never Been to Me), Clarence McDonald (Music on My Mind), and Larry Farrow (Life, Love, and Harmony; Take My Love).  While well-known titles pepper these LPs - including "Easy Evil," "I've Never Been to Me," "All in Love Is Fair," "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," and the Thom Bell/Linda Creed ballad which gives this box its title - this string of LPs established Wilson as a premiere interpreter of original soul and R&B tunes which proved relevant to her life and the time in which they were recorded.  Among the many gems are renditions of songs by Randy Edelman ("The Laughter and the Tears") and Jimmy Webb (his early Motown song "This Time Last Summer"), among others.

Audio for You're as Right as Rain has been newly mastered by Nick Robbins.  Artwork has been provided by Paul Bevoir.  The thick booklet contains new liner notes by compilation producer David Nathan and The Second Disc's own Joe Marchese, while archival essays from Nathan, A. Scott Galloway, and Kevin Goins have also been adapted from earlier SoulMusic reissues.

You're as Right as Rain: The Capitol Albums 1970-1980 restores many of Nancy Wilson's most beloved albums to print after a long absence.  It's available on December 6 from SoulMusic Records at the links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Nancy Wilson, You're as Right as Rain: The Capitol Albums 1970-1980 (SoulMusic Records SMCR-5224BX, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red)

CD 1: But Beautiful: Expanded Edition (Capitol LP ST-798, 1971)

1. PRELUDE TO A KISS
2. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE
3. HAPPINESS IS A THING CALLED JOE
4. I'LL WALK ALONE
5. SUPPER TIME
6. BUT BEAUTIFUL
7. OH! LOOK AT ME NOW
8. GLAD TO BE UNHAPPY
9. IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD (from Capitol Jazz CD CDP 7 92868 2, 1989)
10. I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU
11. EASY LIVING (from Capitol Jazz CD CDP 7 92868 2, 1989)
12. DO IT AGAIN
13. DARN THAT DREAM (from Capitol Jazz CD CDP 7 92868 2, 1989)

CD 2

Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Capitol LP ST-429, 1970)

1. WAITIN' FOR CHARLIE TO COME HOME
2. A BRAND NEW ME
3. MIXED-UP GIRL
4. RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD
5. THIS GIRL IS A WOMAN NOW
6. CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU
7. WORDS AND MUSIC
8. SUZANNE
9. YOU'VE MADE ME SO VERY HAPPY
10. TRIP WITH ME

Now I'm a Woman: Expanded Edition (Capitol LP ST-541, 1970)

11. NOW I'M A WOMAN
12. JOE
13. (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU
14. THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
15. BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
16. LET'S FALL IN LOVE ALL OVER
17. LONELY, LONELY
18. HOW MANY BROKEN WINGS
19. THE REAL ME
20. MAKE IT WITH YOU
21. GO AWAY AND FIND YOURSELF (from The Essence of Nancy Wilson: Four Decades of Music, Capitol 72435 34507 2 4, 2002)
22. WHEN YOU'RE ALONE (from The Essence of Nancy Wilson: Four Decades of Music, Capitol 72435 34507 2 4, 2002)
23. I'M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME (from The Essence of Nancy Wilson: Four Decades of Music, Capitol 72435 34507 2 4, 2002)

CD 3

Kaleidoscope (Capitol LP ST-852, 1971)

1. THE GREATEST PERFORMANCE OF MY LIFE
2. IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN
3. I'LL GET ALONG SOMEHOW
4. MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
5. LET IT BE ME
6. TO BE THE ONE YOU LOVE
7. BOJANGLES
8. AIN'T NO SUNSHINE
9. EVERYONE KNOWS
10. ONCE IN MY LIFETIME

I Know I Love Him (Capitol ST-11131, 1973)

11. WE CAN MAKE IT BABY
12. MORNING IN YOUR EYES
13. DON'T MISUNDERSTAND
14. ARE WE LOSIN' TOUCH
15. I WAS TELLING HIM ABOUT YOU
16. EASY EVIL
17. THE LAUGHTER AND THE TEARS
18. CAN I
19. I HEARD YOU SINGING YOUR SONG
20. I KNOW I LOVE HIM

CD 4

All in Love Is Fair (Capitol LP ST-11317, 1974)

1. YOU'RE AS RIGHT AS RAIN
2. TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT
3. THERE'LL ALWAYS BE FOREVER
4. ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR
5. STREETRUNNER
6. OCEAN OF LOVE
7. TO MAKE IT EASIER ON YOU
8. TELL THE TRUTH
9. MY LOVE

Come Get to This (Capitol LP ST-11386, 1975)

10. COME GET TO THIS
11. ALL MY LOVE COMES DOWN
12. DON'T LET ME BE LONELY TONIGHT
13. IF I EVER LOSE THIS HEAVEN
14. HAPPY TEARS
15. HOUDINI OF THE MIDNITE HOUR
16. THIS TIME LAST SUMMER
17. HE CALLED ME BABY
18. LIKE A CIRCLE NEVER STOPS
19. BOOGEYIN' ALL THE WAY

CD 5

This Mother's Daughter (Capitol LP ST-11518, 1976)

1. FROM YOU TO ME TO YOU
2. LOVE HAS SMILED ON US
3. I DON'T WANT A SOMETIMES MAN
4. TREE OF LIFE
5. CHINA
6. NOW
7. THIS MOTHER'S DAUGHTER
8. HE NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD
9. IN MY LONELINESS (WHEN WE WERE ONE)
10. STAY TUNED

I've Never Been to Me (Capitol LP ST-11659, 1976)

11. FLYING HIGH
12. ALL BY MYSELF
13. LOVE IS ALIVE
14. CAR OF LOVE
15. I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME
16. CHANGES
17. PATIENCE MY CHILD
18. NOBODY
19. HERE IT COMES
20. MOMENTS

CD 6

Music on My Mind (Capitol LP SMAS-11786, 1978)

1. I'M GONNA LET YA
2. MUSIC ON MY MIND
3. I'M A BALLOON
4. LET IT FLOW
5. EASY
6. HE MAKES ME FEEL GOOD 'BOUT MYSELF
7. I'M IN LOVE
8. I REALLY NEED HIM
9. LIGHT
10. MUSIC ON MY MIND (REPRISE)

Life, Love, and Harmony (Capitol LP ST-11943, 1979)

11. LIFE, LOVE AND HARMONY
12. HERE'S TO US
13. THIS IS OUR SONG
14. SUNSHINE
15. YOU'RE THE ONE
16. OPEN UP YOUR HEART AND TAKE ME IN
17. WRAPPED UP IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR LOVE
18. YOU BRING OUT THE BEST OF THE WOMAN IN ME
19. HEAVEN

CD 7: Take My Love (Capitol LP ST-12055, 1980)

1. TAKE MY LOVE
2. SOMEONE ELSE
3. WELCOME HOME
4. THE SADNESS IN MY EYES
5. LET'S HOLD ON TO LOVE
6. I LOVED YOU ALL THE TIME
7. NOT AFRAID TO LOVE (LIVE)
8. I'M COMING HOME (LIVE)
9. BOWS (LIVE)​