Rena Scott - Driftin' On A Dream 1983 (Previously Unreleased)

It was a pretty nice surprise when I learned about this release last August. Rena Scott, native from Detroit, started singing in church at an early age. Later she performed in her first talent show at the age of 13 years old. She became known in 1978 with the smash hit "Take Me I'm Yours", a duet with Michael Henderson. This song was included on the album of Michael Henderson entitled "In The Night-Time". The same year she collaborated with the famous group The Dramatics. She also made another duet with the singer Ronnie McNeir. They recorded the song "A Different Kind Of Love" that was released as a single on Tortoise International.

A year later in 1979, she collaborated with James Mtume & Reggie Lucas who made hits at the same time with Stephannie Mills and Phyllis Hyman. Rena released an album entitled "Come On Inside". The album was released on Buddha Records. Even though the album was a nice body of work, it didn't receive much recognition. In the early 80's she collaborated with the japanese musicians Osamu Kitajima and Kazu Matsui. When Randy Crawford left from the famous group The Crusaders, Rena Scott replaced Randy as the vocalist of the group. In 1982 Rena toured all over the USA and Europe with The Crusaders performing in jazz festivals with up to 50,000 people attending. The members of the band were Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Sticks Hooper, Side Men Eddie Watkins and Barry Finnerty.

The same year Rena with the late great composer Skip Scarborough wrote a song called "Driftin' On A Dream". In 1983 this song was recorded for the album of Wilton Felder "Gentle Fire". However Wilton Felder decided to include only the instrumental version on the album. I understand why the vocal version wasn't included on his album. That's because there wasn't any solo saxophone on that song, and he, as a saxophonist, would have wanted a solo saxophone to be heard.

In fact this song was unreleased, until Izipho Records from England released it. On the B side, there is another previously unreleased track "Cick it" recorded in 1995.