The Bitch Is Black is a 1975 studio album by Yvonne Fair, released on Motown Records. It was Fair’s first and only full-length album, compiling several of her previously released singles alongside new material. The album blends soul, funk, and disco, showcasing Fair’s powerful, emotive vocals.
Genre: Soul, Funk, Disco
Length: 32:58 minutes
Label: Motown Records
Producer: Norman Whitfield, Harvey Fuqua, Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer, Clay McMurray
Recording Studio: Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Chart Performance: Not widely charting, but later recognized as a cult classic.
Funky Music Sho' Nuff Turns Me On – 3:03
It Should Have Been Me – 3:33
Stay a Little Longer – 3:26
It's Bad for Me to See You – 3:31
Tell Me Something Good – 3:27 (Written by Stevie Wonder)
Let Your Hair Down – 4:07
Love Ain't No Toy – 3:23
I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) – 3:15
Walk Out the Door If You Wanna – 2:15
You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover – 2:44 (Written by Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder).
Fair had been signed to Motown for eight years before finally recording this album.
The album was praised for its raw energy, with Joe Viglione of AllMusic calling it "a thing of beauty deserving a wider audience.".
It Should Have Been Me became one of Fair’s signature songs, later covered by Gladys Knight and Lulu.
This album is a hidden gem in the Motown catalog, showcasing Fair’s fiery vocal delivery and dynamic arrangements.