Vivian Reed

Yours Until Tomorrow: The Epic Years

Pittsburgh soul singer’s 1968 self-titled album plus As and Bs from 1968-71.

Goffin & King’s Yours Until Tomorrow, in Vivian Reed’s hands a dramatic torch song, was her sole hit in 1968, but the singer, remembered more for her Broadway career than her songs, recorded some remarkable 45s. Her first, Baby Baby (I’ll Be Your Woman Till I Die), is rousing soul, delivered with power and urgency. I Wanna Be Free, the Boyce & Hart pop song, is turned into potent gospel protest, while West Side Story’s Somewhere is pure lip-trembling spectacle, and contains one of soul music’s most magisterial vocal performances. A medley of The Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ and (You’re My) Soul And Inspiration conveys joy and pain. Ace.