Lorraine Ellison – Heart & Soul (1966) (24/44 Vinyl Rip Mono)

Her first record in mint condition, no info about the band, but according to the following link, it's Oliver Nelson' band and instead of her they should have accompanied Frank Sinatra on this session.

From http://www.soulwalking.co.uk
Lorraine Ellison's full name is Marybelle Luraine Ellison Gonzalez-Keys (she was married twice) and was born and raised in Philadelphia.
Lorraine recorded with two gospel groups, the Ellison Singers and the Golden Chords, but left the latter in 1964 to pursue a solo career with R&B music. She also sang with a group called the Sylvania Singers before forming the Ellison Singers.
'I Dig You Baby' (number 22 R&B) in 1965 was her first chart entry.
Lorraine signed with the Loma imprint, and had a fortunate break when Frank Sinatra cancelled a studio recording, leaving an orchestra with nothing to do. She stood in at the last minute and recorded the Soul Classic, 'Stay With Me'. 'Stay With Me' (number 11 R&B, number 64 pop) in 1966 was the song that really took her to another level. 'Stay With Me' was written and produced by Jerry Ragovoy and really helped establish and imbed Soul Music within the music industry.
'Heart Be Still' (number 43 R&B, number 89 pop), followed in 1967.
Lorraine never charted again, however, she released 'Try Just A Little Bit Harder' in 1968, which rock singer Janis Joplin later remade with great success.
Her compositions, on which she often collaborated with her manager, Sam Bell (of Garnet Mimms And The Enchanters fame), were recorded by Howard Tate and Garnet Mimms.

From www.funkmysoul.gr
The title says everything! It is all about Heart and Soul.
“Stay with me”, easily one of the greatest soul singles ever, is included here. A number 11 R&B, number 64 pop hit in 1966 was the song that really took her to another level.
There’s also killer performances on classic songs like “A change is gonna come” and “Cry me a River”.
Ellison's vocals are hard to fault anywhere. This voice is so gorgeous.
Deeply steeped in gospel, Lorraine Ellison possessed a vocal range, power and intensity that was maybe TOO intense for the mainstream, and thus only scored three chart hits during her career.
… I investigated her due to a Maurice Gibb interview where Maurice seemed to be obsessively enamoured with the Stay With Me single. I must say she leaves the Bee Gees on planet Earth here and must know the moon as her backyard. Many soul singers leave me with the feeling that I get watching a particular Wednesday afternoon soap opera. The sound of Lorraine Ellison's voice leaves me catatonic and feeling like I have no right to say I have the blues. She grips you firmly by the neck with her overwhelming display of raw human emotion …
… Warner's Jerry Ragovoy – who'd penned the Rolling Stones hit “Time Is On My Side” under the pseudonym Norman Meade – brought Ellison to the label and began writing and producing for her. Their first session produced the immortal #11 hit “Stay With Me,” which has since been covered by everyone from Bette Midler to Jimmy Witherspoon to Natalie Cole. The resulting album, 1966's Heart & Soul, was tailored to a jazz and pop crossover audience but never caught fire …
This is a gem everyone should own.

Biography by Ed Hogan from Allmusic:
Lorraine Ellison is best known for her hit ballad "Stay With Me" and her cover of Jerry Butler's "I Dig You Baby." She originally recorded "Just a Little Bit Harder," later covered by Janis Joplin. She's also a favorite with U.K. Northern soul devotees. Born in 1931 in Philadelphia, PA, the deep soul vocalist first recorded with the gospel groups the Ellison Singers (who recorded for Sharp/Savoy in 1962) and the Golden Chords (who recorded for CBS in 1963). By 1964, she began recording R&B music, and her first hit was the 1965 R&B hit "I Dig You Baby" (later made into a pop smash by Jerry Butler).
One year later, she released her signature song – the intense, symphonic-drenched ballad "Stay With Me," written and produced by Jerry Ragovoy and issued by the Warner label. It hit number 11 on the R&B charts in the fall of 1966. Some of her other singles were "Heart Be Still," "Don't Let It Go to Your Head," "Try," and "I've Got My Baby Back." Songs that she wrote with her manager Sam Bell (of Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters) were recorded by Mimms and Howard Tate. Ellison's Warner LPs include Heart & Soul (1966), Stay with Me (1969), and Lorraine Ellison (1974) and the compilation The Best of Philadelphia's Queen (1976). Lorraine Ellison died on January 31, 1983.

Tracks
01. Heart & Soul 03:01
02. Games That Lovers Play 02:29
03. He's My Guy 02:43
04. What a Difference a Day Makes 02:59
05. A Change Is Gonna Come 03:28
06. If I Had a Hammer 02:14
07. When Love Flies Away 03:05
08. Cry Me a River 03:00
09. Stay With Me 03:29
10. What Is a Woman? 02:58
11. That's for Me 02:33
12. My Man's Gone Now 03:16
Total Time: 35:10

Musicians
Oliver Nelson's orchestra ?