Galt MacDermot - 1969 - Woman Is Sweeter

Galt MacDermot

1969 

Woman Is Sweeter

01. Tango 4:02
02. Fragments 1 1:48
03. Fragments 1B 2:56
04. Fragments II 1:33
05. Bass 2:10
06. Cathedral 2:10
07. Woman Is Sweeter 2:28
08. Moving Clothes 2:20
09. Bathtub 2:42
10. Radio Rock 3:45
11. Princess Gika 2:07
12. Merry-Go-Round 2:52
13. Space 1:51
14. Perfume Bottles 2:05

Bass – Jimmy Lewis
Keyboards – Galt MacDermo
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Guitar – Charlie Brown

Woman Is Sweeter is an instrumental album composed by Galt MacDermot, best known for his work on the musical Hair. Released in 1969, it served as the soundtrack for a film by filmmaker and photographer Martine Barrat, created for fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent. The album features MacDermot on piano and Rocksichord, alongside a stellar lineup of musicians: Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and Idris Muhammad on drums (splitting duties across tracks), Jimmy Lewis on bass, Charlie Brown on guitar and violin, and an unidentified violinist on one track. Produced by John Holden, with vocals by Fergus MacRoy on the title track in some versions, the album clocks in at just under 35 minutes across 14 concise tracks in its definitive 2023 reissue

Woman Is Sweeter is a bold fusion of jazz-funk, soul, and experimental grooves, reflecting MacDermot’s post-Hair creative freedom. Recorded in 1968-1969, the album eschews the theatricality of his Broadway work for a raw, rhythm-driven sound that prefigures the funk explosion of the 1970s. MacDermot’s keyboards—alternating between piano and the electric Rocksichord—provide melodic and harmonic structure, while the rhythm section (Purdie, Muhammad, Lewis, and Brown) delivers a visceral, polyrhythmic punch.

The album’s tracks are short and impressionistic, averaging around two minutes each, suggesting they were tailored to accompany specific film scenes. Titles like “Tango,” “Bathtub,” and “Perfume Bottles” evoke a cinematic quality, blending sophistication with a gritty edge. The music oscillates between moody introspection and frenetic energy:

“Tango”: The opener is a sultry, Latin-infused groove with a hypnotic bassline and MacDermot’s playful piano flourishes, setting a stylish tone.

“Space”: Perhaps the album’s most famous track, this minimalist masterpiece features Idris Muhammad’s propulsive drumming and a sparse Rocksichord riff, creating a hypnotic, futuristic vibe. Its sampling by Busta Rhymes in “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check” underscores its timeless appeal.

“Woman Is Sweeter”: The title track (instrumental in most versions) is a funky, upbeat number with a swinging rhythm and subtle guitar accents, hinting at the sensuality of the film’s subject.

“Cathedral”: A slower, meditative piece with haunting keyboard tones, it showcases MacDermot’s ability to shift moods dramatically.

“Radio Rock”: The longest track at 3:50, it’s a driving, riff-heavy cut that blends rock energy with funk syncopation.

The dual drumming of Purdie and Muhammad—one of the album’s unique selling points—adds depth: Purdie’s precise, soulful touch dominates the first half, while Muhammad’s looser, jazzier style takes over later. This interplay, combined with Lewis’s thick basslines and Brown’s versatile guitar and violin, creates a dynamic, textured soundscape.

Woman Is Sweeter emerged in 1969, a year after Hair’s Broadway triumph gave MacDermot financial independence and artistic license. With royalties from Hair, he founded Kilmarnock Records, allowing him to collaborate with trusted musicians like Purdie, Lewis, and Muhammad—jazz and R&B veterans who were shaping funk’s evolution. The album reflects the late-60s zeitgeist: a blend of countercultural experimentation and urban grit, aligning with the era’s shift from psychedelic rock to harder-edged funk and soul.

As a soundtrack for Barrat’s Yves Saint-Laurent film, it bridges high fashion and street-level grooves, embodying MacDermot’s refusal to be pigeonholed as a “rock composer” (a label he reluctantly accepted). His influences—baroque, African rhythms, jazz, and rock—merge here into a sound that feels both avant-garde and rooted in tradition, predating the cinematic funk of artists like Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield.

Upon release, Woman Is Sweeter was a niche project, overshadowed by Hair’s massive success and limited by Kilmarnock’s modest distribution. Contemporary reviews are scarce, but its rediscovery in the hip-hop and rare groove scenes has elevated its status. On Rate Your Music, it holds a respectable 3.7/5 rating from users who praise its “filthy nasty funk” and “group sex symphonic” vibe, as one reviewer vividly put it. Discogs collectors covet original pressings, with some offering “top dollar” for clean copies, reflecting its rarity and cult appeal.

The album’s legacy lies in its influence on hip-hop sampling: “Space” became a cornerstone of Busta Rhymes’ 1996 hit, while MF DOOM mined “Cathedral,” “Space,” and “Princess Gika” for his Special Herbs series. This cross-generational resonance underscores MacDermot’s ahead-of-his-time sensibility. The 2023 Now-Again reissue, with its detailed booklet by Eothen Alapatt, further cements its place in funk and soundtrack history, offering pristine sound and context for new listeners.

Woman Is Sweeter is a study in contrasts: elegant yet raw, cinematic yet intimate. MacDermot strips music to its rhythmic essence, using funk as a canvas for impressionistic sketches rather than extended narratives. The album’s brevity and focus on groove over melody align it with library music traditions, yet its emotional range and top-tier performances elevate it beyond mere background fare. It’s a snapshot of MacDermot at a creative crossroads—post-Hair, pre-1970s funk boom—experimenting with form and texture in a way that feels both spontaneous and deliberate.

Thematically, the track titles suggest a sensual, fragmented portrait of femininity and fashion, mirroring Yves Saint-Laurent’s aesthetic. Yet the music transcends its original purpose, standing as a testament to MacDermot’s genre-defying vision and his collaborators’ virtuosity.

Woman Is Sweeter is a funky, flawed masterpiece that captures Galt MacDermot at his most unfiltered. Its raw energy, innovative rhythms, and stellar ensemble make it a standout in his discography, even if its fragmented nature and initial obscurity kept it from wider acclaim in 1969. For fans of jazz-funk, rare groove, or the roots of hip-hop sampling, it’s essential listening—a quirky, groove-laden time capsule that rewards repeated spins. The 2023 reissue enhances its accessibility, but even in its original form, it’s a bold statement from a composer unafraid to push boundaries.

A hypnotic blend of style and substance, rough around the edges but rich in soul.

Woman Is Sweeter is a funky, flawed masterpiece that captures Galt M.