Among the most revered voices in funk, Marva Whitney holds a special place thanks to her fierce energy and unmistakable style on tracks like the classic Unwind Yourself, a long-time favourite for DJs and dancefloors alike.
Emerging from the dynamic world of the James Brown Revue in the late 1960salongside iconic names like Lyn Collins and Vicki AndersonMarva quickly carved out a name for herself.
In 1969, she began recording as a solo artist under James Browns King label, scoring a Top 20 R&B hit with Its My Thing. While mainstream hits were few, her music resonated deeply with funk lovers and crate diggers around the world.
Songs like You Got to Have a Job and the endlessly sampled Unwind Yourself have only grown in stature over the decades.
Her album, Its My Thing, dropped that same year and has since become a touchstone of the genre.
Backed by the legendary JBs and produced by James Brown himselfwho also contributed to most of the songwriting, the album captures a raw, unapologetic funk sound with a distinctly female voice at the forefront.
From the explosive opening of Its My Thinga bold response to the Isley Brothers Its Your ThingMarva channels sheer intensity, backed by a band that doesnt let up.
The pace briefly softens with If You Love Me, a soul soaked ballad in the spirit of Otis Redding, before diving back into the rhythmic grit of tracks like Unwind Yourself.
Decades later, Its My Thing continues to inspire, sampled by producers and treasured by collectorsa powerful snapshot of funk at its most uncompromising.
Reissue on 180g vinyl.