The Party Ain't Over

Wanda Jackson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B004707APC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,116 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

"It's an exciting time to be Wanda Jackson," Austin's American-Statesman declared in October on the eve of Jackson's 73rd birthday bash at the Continental Club there. The undisputed Queen of Rockabilly - a touring powerhouse for more than 50 years - is releasing her debut disc for Third Man/Nonesuch Records, the aptly titled The Party Ain't Over.

This collection of vintage and contemporary covers was produced by fan and new-found friend Jack White at his Nashville studio and recorded with a late-night honky-tonk feel by members of My Morning Jacket, the Raconteurs, and Dead Weather, among others. The White-curated lineup of tunes, says Jackson, showcases "all the various types of music that I've done through the years-some country, some gospel, some rockabilly, some rock n' roll. It's got all of that, and we threw in a Bob Dylan song 'Thunder On the Mountain,' just to be safe."

The spirited Jackson, revered for such classic singles as "Let's Have a Party" and "Fujiyama Mama," proves that brash rock and roll attitude need not have an age limit. Her trademark growl remains intact on rockers like "Rip It Up" and "Nervous Breakdown"; she opens the set with an echo-laden sneer on a rollicking version of "Shakin' All Over" and ends it 10 songs later with a plaintive take on Jimmie Rodgers' "Yodel #6." Along the way she tackles the Andrew Sisters kitschy "Rum and Coca Cola" and a big-band rendition of the DeCastro Sisters' "Teach Me Tonight," and she out-sasses-and out-classes-Amy Winehouse on a cover of the British bad girl's "You Know I'm No Good," which has already been released as a single.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What did you expect?, February 3, 2011

By 

R. McGrath "rmcgrath" (Corwn Point, IN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Party Ain't Over (Audio CD)

I just need to spit a little about this record. You'll see a reviews here complaining about Jack White's production, and I'll go as far to say that there's a touch of "horn porn" going on on this record. The arrangements on the horns are a little raucous, regardless of the songs vibe. But, as far as hearing complaints about the mix of Wanda's vocals- they're recorded within the spirit of the songs. But what really got my goat was reading some reviews ripped off from Sound Opinions comparing the production to Jack White pretending to be Phil Spector. You know who you are. Really? Isn't it bad enough Jim Derogatis doesn't know what he's talking about, now I see folks emulating his ignorance on Amazon reviews? Maybe it's just coincidence, and if it is and TWO people in the world think this record sounds anything like Phil Spector's work, I apologize for comparing an innocent bystander to the "frozen-in-pubescence-holier-than-thou-fatboy-snobbery of Derogatis.... *ahem* I digress.

This album is an attempt to catch the spirit of a woman's music who had been out of the limelight for years. I think it's absolutely great a 73 year old woman can make an Amy Winehouse song feel sexier. When I first heard "Shakin' all Over" on the radio, I was literally fired up! I had no idea who Wanda Jackson was, I had no idea she was in her golden years, and I had no idea Jack White had anything to do with it, and you know what? I wanted to see the dirty pin-up girl screaming out those vocals. I was thinking something like the girl from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs hot; grungy, unhinged, all-woman kind of hot. And she actually looks like an elderly waitress from Houston! I mean, that alone is enough to listen to this record! This lady still has it!

Instead of making the record anybody else would have made, with guest appearances from old timers and taking her greatest hits from her storied career and making a nostalgic piece for all of those who listened to Wanda Jackson back in the day, Mr White made an album from scratch. Something that has energy and spitfire and the spark of creativity. It's a record the whole band could go on the road with and have a blast playing out every night. Isn't that what it's all about? This record is different, sure, but it's really a lot of fun! Most importantly, it has brought Wanda Jackson to my attention, a thirty-something guy who would have never heard of her otherwise, and the first thing I did after listening to this record was go and look at Wanda's back catalogue.

So now, when I hear complaining about Jack White not being a good producer, I want to scream. You think Rick Rubin could have done this job? Joe Chicarelli? Phil Spector?!? Who? Maybe if someone had laid some nice electro-pop synth back there it would be "cutting edge"? Maybe if it was just microphone and her singing her old ballads mournfully it would be safer than a septuagenarian shaking her pelvis to some raunchy backbeats and champagne-room horn blasts. This record is good. Buy it now and listen to it loud in the car when summer finally comes. It'll be perfect. Promise.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 8th Wanda of the World!!!, January 26, 2011

By 

Crescenzo C. Capece "d'caborojo" (NYNJPR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Party Ain't Over (Audio CD)

If I ran into producer Jack White I'd probably have to restrain myself from giving him a powerful bear hug for this project!!

Wanda Jackson may indeed be (a deserving) R&R Hall of Fame inductee, but,let's face it, she's still a far undervalued commodity and artist as far as the general public is concerned. Here,however, an obviously caring and immensely talented fan has not only solidly reconnected her with ALL of her roots, but he's coaxed her undiminished power to near full throttle and backed her with a band to match.

Wanda was far from a one trick pony; she could rock like the King, country like Dolly, and praise the Lord like Amy Grant. White's A&R reminds us of all of that, and Wanda and the guys blow the roof off the widely varied & well chosen material.

This is no novelty folks!! "Respect and Honor Your Elders" is an important maxim...and it's mighty clear it's one the amazing Jack White lives by.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this party aint over yet, not for wanda..., January 26, 2011

By 

muzic mania "rob" (dearborn mi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Party Ain't Over [+Digital Booklet] (MP3 Download)

i have to say, i love this cd, jack white did a wonderful job on it, the only song i would have loved to hear on here was Fujiyama Mama....Its fun and in a strange way has a wild sound. you go wanda, at 73, you still got it going on. rock on wanda...I want more. and just to say, I love the version of rum and coca-cola. and would would have loved to hear a new version of riot in cell block number 9#, maybe next cd...yes jack??????