LADY A
LOVED, BLESSED, AND BLUES
LOVED, BLESSED, AND BLUES–HONEY HUSH–DON’T LET YOUR BLUES BECOME A CRIME–IF YOU DON’T WANT IT, DON’T WASTE IT–TIRED TOO–LOVE CALLIN’–TROUBLE ON MY MIND–HAPPY–TAKE ME BACK TO SEATTLE–SOMEBODY HERE NEEDS YOU LORD
Altho she was born and raised in Seattle, WA, Lady A has a stone-cold grip on what we affectionately refer to here in Tennessee as good ole Southern soul. Her latest set is ten prime cuts of nothin’ but a good time, “Loved, Blessed, And Blues.” It was produced by Deep Rush guitarist/vocalist Dexter Allen, who duets with Lady A on one cut. The whole shootin’ match was recorded down at JRob Studio in Jackson, MS.
Lady A has been singing since the age of five, and, within the first thirty seconds of the leadoff title cut, you know this is gonna be a real party! She name-checks the funk of Bobby Rush, Johnnie Taylor’s “Somebody’s Gettin’ It,” and Denise LaSalle’s “Pay Before You Pump,” letting everybody know that “the blues ain’t always as bad as it seems!” But, she knows, as we all do, that “the blues will test your heart, and ain’t nothin’ but a good man on a bad day,” preachin’ to us all, “Don’t Let Your Blues Become A Crime!” She closes the set on an uplifting, sanctified note, testifying that, in today’s society, whether it be at “the old folks home, the jail cells,” or any where else, “Somebody Here Needs You Lord.”
There are good times a-plenty, too. She brings the Wicked Pickett’s “Don’t Knock My Love” into the 21st Century with a tale of a man who’s “doin’ somebody else,” so she tells everybody, “If You Don’t Want It, Don’t Waste It–somebody else might want to taste it!” She shouts out an answer from the ladies’ point of view to Dexter Allen’s “Tired,” proclaiming “I’m Tired, Too”—of all your low-down ways! This one is set over a very danceable groove all thru it.
Our favorite was easy. During her stay in Jackson during this session, she was reminded of something her grandma always said–“when you’re mad enough to cuss and fuss, well then, Honey Hush!” This one is driven by a pulsating beat and Dexter’s punchy keyboard lines.
It is no wonder that her live shows are compared to Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, and other classic female soul-shouters. Lady A sho’ nuff has the goods, and knows how to use ’em! “Loved, Blessed, And Blues” brims with soul, fire and passion! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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