Musiclectic

"I Idolize You" - Marcia Ball, Angela Strehli, and Lou Ann Barton

I love finding new music, and one of the best places is a small gift and CD store in Blowing Rock, NC, Pandora's Mailbox.  The owner is quite happy to recommend music and play it for you.  Many years ago, she recommended Dreams Come True, a blues album by Marcia Ball, Angela Strehli, and Lou Ann Barton. I've enjoyed it ever since. 

 

• Marcia Ball's website, and her MySpace page
• Dirty Linen article on Marcia Ball
• Angela Strehli biography
  
• Lou Ann Barton's website, and her MySpace page
  

"Ain't Nobody's Business" - Etta James, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, and B.B. King

Dirty Linen folk magazine had a wonderful article on Etta James two years ago (click here for an excerpt).  I read it recently, decided to look up more of her music, and found this wonderful blues performance. 

"The Blues Don't Care" by Ann Rabson

I first got to know Ann Rabson's music because I'm a longtime fan of the group Saffire:  The Uppity Blues Women (Moomin Light posts on Saffire here and here). I was very pleased when she started releasing her own albums also.  In the notes for her first solo album, Music Makin' Mama, she explains why she wanted to record it:

I've wanted to do a solo album for many years.  Lately, I guess I've been feeling my own mortality, and I find myself cussing folks like Jimmy Yancey and Big Maceo Merriweather for not leaving more recordings.  Not that I'm in their league, but someone might want to hear me after I'm gone.  Also, I've had some encouragement, well, nagging by fans..."

"The Blues Don't Care" is from her second solo album, Struttin' My Stuff.*

• Ann Rabson's home page
• Ann Rabson's MySpace page (with more music to listen to).
• In depth review of Music Makin' Mama at Regalame Esta Noche.

* And how did I miss that she's got a third album out?! In A Family Way.