Let's Roll
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Having just recently reviewed an
album which had aspirations towards being R&B, but which really wasn’t I was
amazed to discover that Etta was trying to deny this was, when it clearly is. In the flyer which accompanied the CD Etta says,
“This is one of the best albums I’ve ever done, because I went into it with the
idea of getting back to my rock ‘n’ roll roots.” It is an unquestionable fact that Rock and Roll
was an offshoot of R&B anyway; so being R&R does not mean that it is not also
R&B. For my money the only pure R&R
track on the album is “Old Weakness” with the rest being a mixture of Blues,
Country or Southern Soul and early R&B. The
title or linear note assertions should not put soul fans off, as I can’t see any of
them not liking this. Just about every
defining technique of soul music is to be found on the album including melisma, call and
response, and soul shouting. The content of the music is also
what might typically be found on any soul record. There
is much anti-male sentiment following a bad relationship.
There are the usual socially conscious songs such as “Trust
Yourself”. One of the most unusual is
“The Wayward Saints of Memphis” which has a very ominous feel to it. I also particularly liked “Stacked
Deck”, a 50-year-old song from New Orleans in which her son, Donto sings duet. He also has a pretty mean set of pipes. In this day of programmed music,
full credit must be given to Etta for having born the expense of assembling a full
contingent of musicians. Drums, bass, organ,
keyboards, piano, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, trumpet, synthesiser, trombone
and both tenor and baritone saxophone can be heard on this album. The extensive use of harmonica helps give the
album its bluesy/country soul flavour. Etta
herself produced the CD though the composers are a mixture of old and new. Her descriptions in the linear notes as to why she
personally selected these songs illustrate that this project was clearly a labour of love. This affection can clearly be heard on every note
of the album. Track Listing
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