Customer Reviews

I'm Every Woman

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rory Block is well known as an interpreter of electrified country blues but here, she took a detour in doing soul covers, which may have irritated her core fans. On the other hand, maybe a change in style is as good as a rest, provided it's well-performed. The guitar ditties that introduce and close the album is the only semblance of her usual style.

The title track of this album is a cover of Chaka Khan's hit song. The present of disco synths and thumping drums along with her acoustic slide guitar is quite a change from what one expects, but it's still good, as it doesn't trash the original.

Then comes Curtis Mayfield's "Fool For You" shows she can handle soul music with equal aplomb thanks to the female backing chorus.

"Sea Lion Woman" is an example of a capella chant, and one of the few traditional songs she performs. Another is the stark a capella "Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down" which was recorded at a church in New York and sports some gospel backup singers. Block's voice retains its hardy power even in her upper soulful ranges.

She does Al Green's "Tired Of Being Alone" with the horns duplicating 70's soul stylings. One of my favourites here is her cover of the smooth and laid back "Love TKO" by Womack and Womack.

Her rendition of the traditional song "Rock Island Line" popularized by Leadbelly. The instrumentation is clapping and harmonica, with vocals shared with Paul Rishell and Annie Raines.

Block wrote the romantic "Talkin' 'Bout My Man" which is a nod to gospel-tinged soul, with a piano arrangement and backing singers that gives it a 70's flavour. Another standout track. The good feelings continue with disco-soul flavourings when she and Keb' Mo' duet on Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrelle's "Ain't Nothin' Like The Real Thing."

"Hold On/Change Is Coming" has an introductory speech from Reverend Herb Sheldon before Block launches into the Sounds of Blackness number. And she gets good marks on Ann Peebles' "I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home" which does have blues stylings that make her feel at home. Jeff Mironov's electric guitars gives that bluesy tinge to the song.

A combination cover songs album and genre album, in this case 70's soul and a capella gospel, Block acquits herself easily enough. On her next album, Last Fair Deal, she would return to her usual style.

Praise the heavens, this woman can soar with a vocal range that must hit at least seven octaves-and she can unleash a blues explosion on acoustic guitar with a slide for the fuse. The title song has enough shakin' and bakin' to burn those extra calories, but it's her stunning voice that gives you a workout through a firewalk on 2000-degree coals with blistering gospel numbers like "Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down." Love has found a maiden as strong as steel when someone has to take a stand and be the backbone of R&B tradition, or as delicate as silk when Rory's got the testifying need to be "Talkin' `Bout My Man."

on the new cd filled with versions of classic r & b to acoustic blues rory guitar playong is perfect and her singing brings you back to the masters of years past. the music is enriched with tradition and deep rooted feeling for the music she loves. with
guest appearences by kebmo and kelly joe phillips and others there is something for eveyone from the great duet pretty polly with kelly joe and here electric version of feel like breaking up someone home, there is every type of blues on this cd.

I'm used to the acoustic delta blues Rory Block, so didn't know if I would take to this album of mostly R&B covers, but Block proves she can do it all. She's got a range that can handle everything from low growls to high moans, and her take on most of these tunes is just great. There are also a few blues and country tracks, so that it really covers the gamut. I admire her guts in trying to do an album like this, and I've got to hand it to her -- she does a helluva job!

First of all, Get right. Whitney Houston butchered the classic song, by Chaka Khan. If she wasn't Whitney, no one would have cared. This version at least is likeable and lacks the histrionic over production of Whitney's "cover"

I am trying very hard to like this album. I like Rory Block, like what she's trying to do, though I am a relatively new fan and know her only through two albums. She is a first rate guitarist and has done wonderful work with traditional blues and folk songs. It is probably a testimonial to her willingness to grow that she tackles material from Motown, gospel, and R&B in addition to traditional numbers. And it's obvious that she loves what she's singing. But even though she gets help from such notable performers as Gaye Adegbalola, Keb' Mo', and Kelley Joe Phelps, very little on this album works well.

When you take a classic, you need to do it better than the original, or at least do it different so that it seems better. What we get here, for the most part, are pale imitations. Just to give one example, her rendition of "Ain't Nothin' But the Real Thing," aided by Keb' Mo', isn't bad, but is only good enough to remind us that the Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terrell original was so much better.

Block fares better on traditional, less electrified numbers. Especially notable are "Rock Island Line," featuring Paul Rishell and Annie Raines, and the surprising "Hold On/Change is Coming," with Reverend Herb Sheldon. "I Feel Like Breakin' Up Somebody's Home" is also pretty good. The rest is nice but best forgotten.

Rory opens up her heart with a change in menu and genre, gives us a glimpse into the world of R&B, Gospel and of course Blues. Being on Rounder Records since 1981 with 15 or more releases, Block mixes this album with talents from Keb Mo, Reverend Herb Sheldon, Gaye Adegbalola, Jordan Block Valdina, Paul Rishell, Annie Raines and Kelly Joe Phelps. A great lineup for our favorite top acoustic blueswomen to trade notes and show her fans, she has another winner.

Block is simply amazing as the interpreter of "HOLD ON/CHANGE IS COMING", shows her talent runs true, as each note is sung and played, with every fibre in her body shining through with lyrical presence. Remember a few albums from the past "Ain't I A Woman", "Gone Woman Blues" and my favorite "Best Blues & Originals", as songwriter and slide guitarist, nobody can touch her. This latest release from Rounder proves, Rory can step up onto any stage with ALL types of music, and give us what we all need and crave...GOOD MUSIC!

Total Time: 49:44 on 14 Tracks ~ Rounder Records 1161-3174-2 ~ (2002)