Joanne Shaw Taylor

I haven’t posted much “blues” recently so it gives me great pleasure to introduce you all to Joanne Shaw Taylor who has her debut album “White Sugar” on release and from what I have heard she is the genuine article….despite being, white, British and a woman!

Many people can play great guitar and many people are blessed with a great voice, however, the number blessed with both are few and far between.

“I have played with all sorts of blues musicians all over the world, I even made a film Deep Blues where I went to Mississippi and recorded with some legendary players such as R.L Burnside and Jesse-Mae Hemphill”.

“Last year I heard something I thought I would never hear… a British White Girl playing blues guitar so deep and passionately it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end!” (Dave Stewart/Eurythmics)

For White Sugar Joanne took a plane to Memphis where her label RUF had booked Jim Gaines studio. Jim had worked with some of Joanne´s idols like Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He brought in the experienced sessionmen Steve Potts (drums) and Dave Smith (bass).

“Working with these guys was totally easy. I knew of them because of Luther Allison and the Jonny Lang albums. They didn’t know the tracks until five minutes before we recorded them. I made them listen to the songs once and then play them. It was fantastic. They’ve got so much feeling and soul. They are amazing guys to work with.”

There are ten tracks on “White Sugar”, some written during the flight from the UK to Memphis and some over the last ten years that she has performed in her live performances.

Going Home
Just Another Word
Bones
Who Do You Want Me To Be?
Time Has Come
White Sugar
Kiss The Ground Goodbye
Heavy Heart
Watch ‘em Burn
Blackest Day 

First up is ”Going Home” which opens with a gut wrenching “Sea Sick Steve” like blues riff, the bass comes kicking in and then the drums crash in before you get the real guitar brilliance, For someone of 23 her vocal is all the more remarkable, her raspy smoky vocal belies her age and has all the power and grace of someone nearly twice her age. The track moves along brilliantly and then her solo kicks in and just stops you dead in your tracks.
“Going Home” – Joanne Shaw Taylor

“Bones” has the grit and feel of a catchy Buddy Guy standard mixed with Stevie Ray Vaughan. This track has some great guitar tones with a catchy riff that runs through the track.

“Time Has Come” opens with a down and dirty blues feel, her vocals then come in with her guitar which shows more of a bluesy feel than the previous track. The drums and bass drive right through the song making the impact of the guitar all the more special.

“White Sugar” is the title track from this album and is the only instrumental on the album and has a great jam session feel with the bass and drums getting moments to shine in the three musician setup.

“Kiss The Ground Goodbye” opens with a melody that is very catchy until she lets loose with an exceptionally good guitar solo which again really shows off what she can do with the guitar. Here is a solo take on the song.

To buy the music of Joanne Shaw Taylor click HERE

While My Guitar Gently Bleeps

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (Acoustic Demo) – George Harrison

While My Guitar Gently……………….breaks

“Perfectly Good Guitar” – John Hiatt

He threw one down from the top of the stairs
Beautiful women were standing everywhere
They all got wet when he smashed that thing
But off in the dark you could hear somebody sing

Oh it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don’t know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar

It started back in 1963
His momma wouldn’t buy him that new red harmony
He settled for a sunburst with a crack
But he’s still trying to break his momma’s back

Oh it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don’t know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar

He loved that guitar just like a girlfriend
But every good thing comes to an end
Now he just sits in his room all day
Whistling every note he ever played

There oughta be a law with no bail
Smash a guitar and you go to jail
With no chance for early parole
You don’t get out untill you get some soul

Oh it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don’t know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar

Late at night the end of the road
He wished he still had the old guitar to hold
He’d rock it like a baby in his arms
Never let it come to any harm

Oh it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don’t know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good
Good
Guitar

To buy the music of John Hiatt click HERE