Marie Queenie Lyons’s one and only record, “Soul Fever,” defines what soul, funk and rhythm and blues was meant to be. It’s all about going back to its originals, but adding groovy beats, and so many emotions. I mean, just the way Lyon’s vocal’s tone, and the way she sings every song, feels as if she’s grasping deep down into your soul, and pouring every single emotion in there. The first time I heard of this record was this year, July 2024. I just happened to stumble upon it just like that. I wasn’t expecting to come across anything at that time. But, it was around the time right after the 44th edition of my most favourite musical event IN THE WORLD, the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal that I was in need of more. As you already know, I’m always down to discover new music, and I’ve said it before, this world is filled with so much music to the point where we don’t really know what’s out there. Maybe a fragment at most is what we know as a society, but rest assured that there are songs out there that we’ve still got no clue about. And that’s part of exactly what I felt when I came across Lyon’s record, I couldn’t believe that I’ve never heard of her, nor her record. But, what’s sad is that after she recorded “Soul Fever,” Lyons disappeared from the music industry, and has become a mystery ever since. 

And when I came across the record, I immediately played the first song, “See and Don’t See.” I was in love. The melody is so moving, where it has such a great steady beat. Just the first track made me feel as if I was experiencing another musical revelation/ epiphany. FINALLY! “Your Thing Ain’t Good Without My Thing,” and “Snake in the Grass,”  are so good. You can just feel Lyons expressing herself, pouring her vibrant soul onto these songs just by the attitude she projects in her vocal tone. But, what caught my attention was how in “I Don’t Want Nobody to Have it but You,” Lyons’ vocal tone at the beginning of the track reminded me of “Spooky,” by Dusty Springfield, but with Lyons’ funkier touch. Sorry Dusty. And, don’t get me started with her funkier cover version “Fever.” Originally sung by vocalist Peggy Lee, Lyons just has her special musical twist, with another moving melody, kinda reminding me of a Curtis Mayfield beat. Nice. “We’ll Cry Together,” and the closing track, “Try Me,” are beautiful bluesy ballads. Music like that needs to be heard by others, and this is why her record is underrated, or even she’s an underrated musician. The originality within her music is just beautiful. And I really hope that her music continues to live on, because to me this is an essential, an open gate for getting you into the world of soul, funk and rhythm and blues.