Barbara Lynn

Barbara Lynn is best known for her 1962 hit "You'll Lose a Good Thing," one of the most resigned-to-sadness songs ever recorded. The song is all about dim red lights and slowly smoked cigarettes, an essential point in the R&B timeline where blues, rock 'n' roll, and the coming decade of Soul met. Mid-way through the '60s, she also charted with "You Left the Water Running," another great R&B tune that saw excellent interpretation in the hands of Otis Redding. Over the years, Lynn crept closer and closer to Soul Blues, and her latest recordings for both Atlantic and Bullseye Blues Records showcase her deft guitar playing and the expressive, deep-soul voice she's loved for. Although she's not the household name that fellow New Orleans-style crooner Irma Thomas is, Lynn is so cool she warranted her own Bear Family boxed set. That says it all.