Deborah Evans Agate Rd, London, W6
photo: ht
What does money sound like? Well Deborah Evans actually, the extraordinary vocalist on the Flying Lizards' 'Money' (#5, UK/#50, US), 'TV' (#43, UK) and Summertime Blues, which didn't chart, but should have. Writer Vivien Goldman and Famous Monster/Snatch collaborator Patti Palladin also lent their voices to the David Cunningham project but it was Deborah who had the chops to put them on Top Of The Pops.
Later, as Deborah & The Puerto Ricans, she blew Aretha outa the water with R.E.S.P.E.C.T. produced by reggae producer/musician, Dennis Bovell. On Dec 31st 1981, I went to see Aswad tear up the Grosvenor Rooms in Willesden Green with their wicked riddims, colossal grooves and psychedelic dubbery (Michael Campbell at the controls). Deborah, John Anthony and Duane Sherwood came with me, and it turned out to be one of the best shows I ever went to. Duane and I were invited to dinner at Deborah's flat one evening. He took some photos but whenever she was in the picture alone, the picture came out foggy and under-exposed. When he mentioned this to her, she told him he had "photographed an enigma"
ht, Deborahphoto: Duane Sherwood
Richard X used her voice on Walk On By and Lemon/Lime for his 'X-Factor Vol. 1' album. There's also a terrific, but (sadly) unreleased blues album called Walking On Water that she made with Bill Smith and Daniel Smith. On it, she gives 'Hey Joe', 'I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man', 'I Just Want To Make Love To You' and 4 others the 'treatment'. These days, Deborah Evans-Stickland practices psychotherapy and does voiceover work. Lately she's been focusing on her charity, Outside-In Pathways, which helps those with learning disabilities by exposing them to the arts.
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