Presenting Cissy Houston

Presenting Cissy Houston is the debut album by American soul singer/backing vocalist and former Sweet Inspirations lead singer Cissy Houston, originally released on Major Minor Records in 1970 in the United Kingdom. Her contract was sold to Janus Records the same year. They released the album in the United States as Cissy Houston in 1970. The 2012 CD re-release on Cherry Red Records incorporates bonus tracks from later recordings.

Background

The album features a pop/soul cover version of "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself", written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, as well as covers of Bobby Darin's "I'll Be There", Melanie's "Any Guy", Sam & Dave's "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby", the Ronettes' "Be My Baby", and the Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road". The CD bonus tracks include her 1972 version of "Midnight Train to Georgia", which was later covered with huge success by Gladys Knight & the Pips.

Reception

In the All Music Guide to Soul book, critic Richie Unterberger opines that "although the material consisted of fairly well-worn soul, rock, and pop tunes, the state-of-the-art arrangements and gospel-ish vocals made them sound fresh."

Track listing

;Side one

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" – 2:15
"Didn't We" – 3:31
"I'll Be There" – 2:58
"Any Guy" – 3:14
"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" – 3:14

;Side two

"Be My Baby" – 3:25
"This Empty Place" – 2:31
"The Long and Winding Road" – 3:49
"He/I Believe" – 3:18

;CD reissue bonus tracks

"Darling, Take Me Back" – 2:52
"Hang On to a Dream" – 4:07
"Love You" – 3:15
"Making Love" – 2:58
"It's Not Easy" – 2:44
"Midnight Train To Georgia" – 3:56
"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" – 3:29
"Only Time You Say You Love Me" – 3:33
"I'm So Glad I Can Love Again" – 3:38
"Nothing Can Stop Me" – 4:49
"Don't Wonder Why" – 3:16
"Down in the Boondocks" – 2:11

Personnel

Arranged By – Bert DeCoteaux, Steve H. Dorff
Mastered By – Alan Wilson
Producer – Bob Finiz, Charles Koppelman, Donald Rubin, Bert DeCoteaux

Cissy Houston, Sonny Limbo, Don Davis,

Reissue Producer – David Nathan
Distributed By – Cherry Red Records
Marketed By – Cherry Red Records
According to the liner notes, the producer of tracks 20–21 is unknown, and since no tape sources for these tracks could be located, they were transferred from vinyl. The producer was Stephan Galfas.

Charts

Singles

Year	Title	US Pop	US R&B
1970	"I'll Be There"	54	20
1971	"Be My Baby"	92	31