Deep Groove Encyclopedia

Eloise Laws

Click below for an Eloise Laws sample:

Probably the least heralded member of the talented Laws family, Eloise Laws lacks a signature tune like "Always There" or "Very Special," but nonetheless deserves more recognition for her contributions to soul. A gifted vocalist, she began her career with the northern soul staples "Love Factory" and "Tighten Him Up" for Holland-Dozier-Holland's short-lived Music Merchant label. Following Music Merchant's dissolution, Laws was moved to parent company Invictus, where she recorded her debut album, Ain't It Good Feelin' Good. Unfortunately, this was one of the last records issued by the label, and it suffered from poor marketing and distribution. However, the title cut and "Love Goes Deeper Than That" became underground favorites.

With the collapse of Invictus, Eloise Laws was free to sign with another company, and within the year she had resurfaced on ABC with Eloise. For this project Laws benefited from the superb skills of the late Linda Creed, then making one of her initial forays into production. Creed was also behind the boards for 1980's Eloise Laws, released on Liberty Records, brother Ronnie's label.

During this period, she also provided guest vocals on records by Harvey Mason, Aquarian Dream, and her siblings. With contemporaries like Angela Bofill and Patrice Rushen enjoying success with a similar brand of sophisticated jazzy soul, the musical climate seemed right for Laws to achieve a higher profile, but her final LP for many years was 1982's All In Time, issued on Capitol.

For most of the next two decades, she turned her energies towards theater, winning awards for It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues. Her return to the studio was The Key, which was released by Scepterstein, a label created by her brother Hubert.

Eloise Laws' Deepest Grooves

Ain't It Good Feelin' Good (Invictus, 1977)

Eloise (ABC, 1977)
Check for the rare groover "You're Incredible" from this classy album.

Eloise Laws (Liberty, 1980)

All In Time (Capitol, 1982)
Boogie flavors on "I Got Ya Covered" and "I've Got The Rhythm, You Got The Blues" make this a worthwhile LP.

The Key (Scepterstein, 1999)

Love Factory: The Invictus Sessions (Castle, 1999)
Hard-to-find reissue of Ain't It Good Feelin' Good with earlier singles and extended versions.

Secrets (Scepterstein, 2003)