Today’s first long forgotten classic soul song of the day is “Mix It Up Baby” by Barbara Lynn. This one is long forgotten because it didn’t chart when it was released in March of 1968.
Ms. Lynn wrote “Mix It Up Baby” and it was released on her “Here Is Barbara Lynn” album for Atlantic Records. It’s a mid-tempo dance number that wouldn’t have sounded out of place if released a few years earlier. It calls out a variety of current dances, including the Boogaloo and the Shing-a-ling, and has a “sock it to me” call-and-response section. It’s ultimately a bit of a trifle but a fun one.
Ms. Lynn previously had a bigger hit back in 1962 with “You’ll Lose a Good Thing,” which went all the way to #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. That was admittedly a better song and one that better showcased her vocal and instrumental talents. She wrote both “You’ll Lose a Good Thing” and “Mix It Up Baby,” making her a true triple threat—singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
Barbara Lynn was born in Texas and grew up playing R&B music on the guitar. She got her start playing local clubs then got signed by Jamie Records. During her heyday she toured with a bunch of big-name R&B artists, including Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and B.B. King. She was (and is) quite a talented and dynamic guitar player—and a left-handed one, too.
Dissatisfied with how Atlantic was handling her career, Ms. Lynn retired from the music business in 1970, when she was just 28. She got married and raised three kids, eventually returning to performing after the death of her husband in the late ’80s. In 1999, she received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and, in 2018, was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts,. She’s still alive today, aged 81.
Want to see how dynamic this young lady was in her prime? Check out this video of her performing “You’ll Lose a Good Thing” live on The !!!! Beat, a syndicated R&B TV show, in 1966. It’s a revelation.
