Seven Days Of Night

Initially a backing singer at Chess Records, Acklin wrote ‘Whispers (Getting’ Louder)’ for Jackie Wilson while working as a receptionist at Chicago’s Brunswick Records and went on to record six albums as well as writing hits for other artists. Seven Days… is a charming collection of elegant soul and gentle funk from 1969, featuring that Chi-soul combination of refined orchestration, sweet-sounding chords and melodies and a restrained but hearty rhythm section. Acklin has a distinctive, high register voice that she could make dramatic or vulnerable at will, the epic instrumentation here providing a suitably rich backing for her.