2018 – Little Village
Foundation
Release Date: August 1,
2018
By Phillip Smith;
July 7, 2018
Recorded at the acclaimed Greaseland Studios
in San Jose, California and produced by Christopher “Kid”
Andersen, A Woman Rules the World,
Whitney Shay’s latest album is her first in six years. This landmark recording surrounds the riveting
vocalist with an outstanding group of musicians whose appearance includes Kid
Andersen (guitar, bass, sitar, and Wurlitzer) , Jim Pugh (organ,
piano) “Sax” Gordon Beadle (saxophones), Kedor Roy (upright and
electric bass), and Alex Pettersen (drums).
The album begins with the sweet sound of horns, and
a huge splash of Detroit soul in “Ain’t No Weak Woman”. Shay’s smooth and sultry vocals sound
great on this funky original. This rolls quite nicely into a jaw-dropping performance
of Dinah Washington’s “Blues Down Home”.
It’s absolutely fabulous. “Love’s
Creeping Up on You”, another original from Shay is rooted in the Memphis
sound. Andersen seems to channel B.B. King
on guitar, while the rest of the crew takes a cruise down McLemore Avenue,
for more of a Stax Records vibe. Pettersen
gives a brilliant execution on drums to boot.
Shay soulfully
sings title track “A Woman Rules the World” an exquisite selection by the
legendary blues master Denise LaSalle, who sadly passed away earlier
this year. Then there’s the rousing rendition
of Little Denise’s “Check Me Out”.
Slathered in old school funk, this smash hit written by the great Jimmy
McCracklin oozes with groovy goodness.
Paying homage to one of the greatest Rock and Roll
legends ever, Shay and company let loose an amazing cover of Little
Richard’s “Freedom Blues” off his 1970 album Rill Thing. They then rip it
up on “Get Down With It” from his 1966 album The Wild and Frantic Little Richard to bring this wonderful album
to its conclusion.
A
Woman Rules the World is full of everything a music lover wants in
an album: great songs, a spectacular voice, and an amazingly tight band. I love every bit of it.
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For more information about Whitney Shay, visit her website : https://www.whitneyshay.com/home
