• SoulMusic Records is proud to celebrate one of the ‘first families of soul music’ with the 2012 reissue of three titles that reflect the amazing talent of sisters Dee Dee Warwick and Dionne Warwick and their aunt Cissy Houston - via the Isaac Hayes & Dionne Warwick 1977 ‘live’ album A Man & A Woman (SMCR-5055); an expanded edition of Dee Dee Warwick’s 1969 Foolish Fool LP (SMCR 5053); and this expanded edition of Cissy Houston’s first solo album, 1970’s PRESENTING CISSY HOUSTON.

• The original LP (plus the bonus tracks included in this expanded edition) was reissued on CD in 1995 and included a special quote from Cissy’s superstar daughter (sadly, now the late) Whitney Houston and commentary from the late Luther Vandross (who considered Cissy his favourite singer): both are reproduced in the booklet for this 2012 reissue along with additional comments by Cissy’s famous niece Dionne Warwick and notes by SoulMusic.com founder David Nathan.

• Emily ‘Cissy’ Houston began her musical career as a member of the famous gospel group, The Drinkard Singers. By the early ‘60s, she had replaced her niece Dee Dee Warwick as part of the New York music scene’s most popular background vocalists (known as ‘The Group’), singing on hit records by many pop and R&B hitmakers of the day including Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke and a pre-“Respect” Aretha Franklin. In 1967, the group became officially known as The Sweet Inspirations and recorded their own albums for Atlantic Records. Cissy and The Sweets made four LPs (as well as touring with Aretha and with Elvis Presley) before Cissy opted for a solo career in 1970.

• Her debut LP PRESENTING CISSY HOUSTON was initially released on Commonwealth United Records and after a short spell, reissued by Janus Records for whom Cissy continued to record until 1975. The original album contained covers of popular soul and pop songs of the day including Bobby Darin’s”I’ll Be There” (a top 20 R&B hit for Cissy), Melanie’s “Any Guy,” The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and The Beatles’ “The Long And Winding Road.”

• This expanded edition of PRESENTING CISSY HOUSTON includes twelve tracks, mostly singles, including Cissy’s original version of the Gladys Knight & The Pips’ classic, “Midnight Train To Georgia.”