Betty Wright, Clean up Woman | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 12^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Clean Up Woman” by the late, great Betty Wright.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 12^th  edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Clean Up Woman”, performed by Betty Wright.

“A clean up woman is woman who / Gets all the love we girls leave behind.” Ooh-wee, Betty Wright! The late, great, Grammy-winning R&B artist adds in the first verse of “Clean up Woman”, “The reason I know so much about her / Is because she picked up a man of mine.” My, my, my! This 1971 gem, which clocks in at just under three minutes in duration, was composed by Willie Clarke and Clarence Reid. Right on, fellas, or should I say, write on! It earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female at the 15^th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which is hella dope. One of two top-10 hits, “Clean up Woman” is the one to beat, peaking at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.

“Was making it easy for the clean-up woman

To get my man’s love, oh yeah

Just making it easy, for the clean-up woman

To get my baby’s love.”

Apparently, Betty.  Of course, she sings with ample attitude and incredible power.  Notably, Wright was still a young lady when “Clean up Woman” was released – 18 years of age! Beyond her vocal skills and  energy, and the ear catching lyrics, the music shines. How about that funky guitar playing? Give credit to the incredibly talented Little Beaver, ladies and gents! Also, the robust bass line is another part of the excellence.  And, we can’t forget about those exuberant, soulful horns! All in all, “Clean up Woman”,  the sixth track from her 1972 album, I Love the Way You Love, is utterly sublime.

🎙 Betty Wright • 💿 I Love the Way You Love • 🏷 Alston • 🗓 1972

Betty Wright, Clean up Woman: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 12 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Alston; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]