Welcome to hortense-ellis.com

the website dedicated to Jamaica's First Lady Of Songs HORTENSE ELLIS (1941-2000)
Hortense Ellis - An Introduction     Hortense 45's     Studio One Tracks     Record labels     Solo Albums/CD's     Duets - Albums/CD's     Compilations featuring Hortense     A Personal Memory      
HORTENSE SOLO ALBUMS AND CD'S 
 
 
"JAMAICA'S FIRST LADY OF SONGS" 
Third World TSW 918 (1977) 
 
This is a very rare (almost unobtainable) vinyl LP never reissued on CD
 
SIDE ONE                                               SIDE TWO
 
King Spinner                                          And The Lord Said
Mark My Word                                       Come Closer To Me
Melody Life                                             Anniversary
Eddie My Love                                        Loving Arms
Sincerely                                                 Don't Want To Cry
 
All tracks are available on later CD's with the exception of the first track
on each side.  "King Spinner" and "And The Lord Said" are not available,
as far as I know, in any other format and are thus unique to this LP.
"Eddie My Love" is actually one of the first songs that Hortense recorded
(1961) but as is the custom in Jamaica, songs have been re-recorded
with a different producer and it is a later cut on this LP.
 
"Jamaica's First Lady Of Songs" can be found from time to time being
offered for sale on eBay.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"REFLECTIONS"
Ballistic/United Artists UAG 30262
 
Despite being released by a major label, this LP is even more rare than the one above.
 
SIDE ONE                                                    SIDE TWO
 
Unexpected Places                               Girls
Precious Precious                                       Jah Created The World
You're Gonna Make Me Love                    Hell And Sorrow
           Somebody Else                                 Somebody Help Me
You've Done Me Wrong
If You're In Love
 
The song "Unexpected Places" (one of Hortense's best known songs) has been
re-recorded/remixed three times.  The recording on the Gussie 76 label (in Jamaica)
 and the Hawkeye label (in UK) is the original cut.  This version on "Reflections" has
 strings attached, but Hortense's voice still comes through loud and clear.
I love "Girls" (a Martin Williams production) but I have never seen it on
any CD.  All other tracks can be found on "Various Artists" type CD's.
The LP itself has never been reissued on CD.
 
 
 
 
"FEELINGS"
All Tone ATLP 003
 
The first Hortense CD released in the UK, compiled by elder brother Alton Ellis.  This CD is mysteriously scarce in record stores but can easily be found on Amazon.  I regret this applies to all three of the solo CD's listed on this page.
 
I Will Sing A Happy Song
With All My Heart
Mother Show The Kids The Way To Go
Feelings
He
Unexpected Places
I Won't Be Around
Devoted To You
Kiss And Say Goodbye
Some Sweet Day
Greatest Love
Sincerely
Somebody Help Me
 
Enjoyable CD, but as somebody who knew Hortense, I always wonder who chooses the picture for the CD covers.  I don't like the "Feelings" cover picture, but then the Hortense magic is on the CD itself.  Enjoy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
"HORTENSE ELLIS SINGS STUDIO ONE AND MORE"
Rhino RN 7035 (1998)
 
Lovely 22-track CD strangely titled as very few of the tracks originate from Studio One with most of them actually being Bunny Lee productions.
 
Unexpected Places
Young Hearts Run Free
Down The Aisle
Baby Come On
I Can't Say Goodbye
Loving Arms
Melody Life
Mark My Word
I Only Live To Love You
Sincerely
Willow Tree
Where The Boys Are
One Of Us Will Weep Tonight
Words
Wooden Heart
Never See My Baby Anymore
Devoted To You
Stand By Your Man
I'm Still In Love With You
Ain't That Loving You
Eddie My Love
Don't Want To Cry
 
 
 
 
 
 
"HORTENSE'S LAST STAND"
Creole CT 5009 (2001)
 
This CD was released after Hortense's death (October 2000) and whereas the 22 tracks chosen for this compilation are a fair representation of her work; I feel a 2CD would have been more appropriate with the second CD containing older Hortense recordings never released in UK together with some late 70's cuts that appeared in UK on 12" but have never featured on a CD.  The liner notes are far too brief, uncredited,  and it is only the use of the past tense that alerts the reader to the fact that the singer is, in fact, deceased.  Personally, I find the front cover atrocious and I'm not too fond of the title given to this collection; but once again, the magic is there on the CD itself.  The voice of Hortense Ellis
 
Unexpected Places; The Mighty Organ; Anniversary; Come Closer To Me; Down The Aisle; Imagination; My Last Date; Never See My Baby Anymore; One Of Us Will Weep Tonight; Somebody Help Me; Stop And Look; Young Hearts Run Free; I'm Leaving It Up To You (with John Holt); Willow Tree; Dearest (with Johnny Clarke); Eddie My Love; So Long Baby (with John Holt); Stand By Your Man; Housewives Choice (with Derrick Morgan); For Once In My Life; This Is My Story (with Johnny Clarke); I'm Still In Love With You
 
In my humble opinion, the Alton & Hortense CD "I'm Still In Love With You" (listed on the next page) is being promoted as the only Hortense product available - with Hortense's three solo CD's being quietly forgotten (yes, I do realize "Last Stand" is not strictly a solo CD, but Hortense's name is the only one on the front). The fact remains that whereas the "Alton & Hortense" CD is widely available in record stores whereas you would need to visit Amazon to find the three CD's listed on this page.
 
 
 
   
"THE QUEEN OF ROCKERS" 
Imperial IC 8021
 (A vinyl LP released only in Canada)
 
Words Are Impossible
Wooden Heart
I'll Get Along Without You
I May Never See My Baby Anymore
Imagination
Devoted To You
Young Hearts Run Free
Unexpected Places
I Only Live To Love You
Stand By Your Man
Down The Aisle
 
A slightly inappropriate title and a less than pleasing cover picture but a Hortense LP nevertheless, unreleased outside of Canada (where Hortense had family and so spent considerable time).  I am unable to supply a track listing in Side One and Side Two format simply because I have never actually seen this LP which is, apparently, a Bunny Lee production.