Talking to Strangers

Shemekia Copeland | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 17, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alligator Records
• ASIN: B00006ISD3
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,709 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Shemekia Copeland has already scored numerous awards and accolades, but this is the young singer's real artistic breakthrough. While Copeland's first two CDs were at times marred by ham-fisted musical support and subpar songwriting, she is now free to unfurl the subtle, soulful side of her big voice. "Don't Whisper" sounds like a lost Memphis classic--the kind of tearjerker Ann Peebles might have cut. Copeland pours her vocals like warmed honey over the song's sad lyrics and an arrangement that balances producer Dr. John's delicate piano with edgy, tremoloed guitars. She turns soft and breathy on the lovely, jazz-inflected ballad "Happy Valentine's Day," evoking a worldly, relaxed beauty that belies her 23 years. There's plenty of full-tilt belting, too. "Sholanda's," a tongue-in-cheek trip to a beauty parlor, balances her power with graceful New Orleans-flavored drums and slide. And "The Push I Need" is a playful duet with Dr. John that's sprightly and smart enough to sidestep clichés. Overall, there's a sense of poised musicianship at work, which makes Talking to Strangers emotionally tempered and rewarding. --Ted Drozdowski

About the Artist

Since the 1997 release of her debut, TURN THE HEAT UP (recorded when she was just 18 years old), singing sensation Shemekia Copeland has taken the music world by storm. Quickly conquering the blues community – she holds four W.C. Handy Awards, five Living Blues Awards, and a Grammy nomination – she has her sights set on music lovers everywhere. She has appeared before national audiences on Austin City Limits, Late Night With Conan O’Brien (twice), the CBS Saturday Early Show, and National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition and has been the subject of countless magazine and newspaper features and reviews. Rock legend Robert Plant calls her "the next Tina Turner." But Shemekia’s her own woman, proving this as she recently headlined the 2002 Chicago Blues Festival, whipping the crowd of 100,000 fans into a frenzy and thrilling them with her astonishing voice as she stepped away from the microphone and kept singing, her voice carrying to the far reaches of the outdoor venue.

And now this "diva-in-the-making" (according to CNN) is back with a stunning and adventurous new release, TALKING TO STRANGERS (ALCD 4887). Coming off the heels of her previous CD (the Grammy-nominated WICKED), the new album finds Shemekia stretching out farther than ever before, her music treading the ground where blues and soul meet rock and roll. TALKING TO STRANGERS showcases Shemekia Copeland as a fresh and creative artist full of raw talent and deep emotions who crosses genres and generations with ease.

TALKING TO STRANGERS is, in Shemekia’s words, "the best yet." Recorded in New York City and brilliantly produced by Dr. John (who also adds his piano prowess to the mix), the album pushes Shemekia to new heights. From the first single, "Livin’ On Love" (written by acclaimed songwriter Gary Nicholson) to the urban snapshot "Sholanda’s" to the poignant "Happy Valentine's Day" to the up-tempo "Two’s A Crowd" to the delightful duet with Dr. John, "The Push I Need," it’s easy to agree with her. Copeland’s range and maturity shine through, and her winning personality and sly sense of fun make this an album sure to please longtime fans as well as bring many more new ones into the fold. "This album is Shemekia Copeland," she recently told Blues Revue. "Just laid-back and funky and natural and cool. I love it."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Stranger To The Blues, October 5, 2002

By 

Don Brown (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talking to Strangers (Audio CD)

Opening with Arthur Neilson's slide guitar, "LIVIN' ON LOVE" kick starts the highly anticipated TALKING TO STRANGERS, Shemekia Copeland's new CD that's chock full of hot cuts. "TWO'S A CROWD" is a rocking blues number that shows off Shemekia's powerful pipes.

Copeland gives it to the dogs out there with "WHEN A WOMAN'S HAD ENOUGH". During "SHOULD HAVE COME HOME", Shemekia repents for the women who have made mistakes in their relationships. The driving rhythm of this song will stay on your mind. The emotional feelings that Copeland conveys on the songs "DON'T WHISPER" and "TALKING TO STRANGERS" shows just what the teeny bopper superstars are missing.

Producer Dr. John turns performer with his piano solo on "TOO CLOSE", which helps bring out the smoldering side of Shemekia. "KA-CHING" tells of the lighter side of life. Even having fun, her voice rings true. Dr. John then brings out the soulful side of Shemekia on their duet, "THE PUSH I NEED". She then burns a hole through your heart on "HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY", with all the pain in her voice.

Ending her CD with "PIE IN THE SKY", a song by her late father blues great Johnny Clyde Copeland, Shemekia shows that though she may be daddy's little girl, her great big voice makes her so much more than that. Certainly, she is no stranger to the blues.

Don Brown Sr. writes for Caught Live Too! and Las Vegas Blues --BLUES.LVJAZZ.COM

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, January 15, 2003

By 

Mark R. Van Wagenen "viagracat" (Elgin, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Talking to Strangers (Audio CD)

Shemekia Copeland just may be the most exciting female singer we've seen since Aretha Franklin, and with this CD, she truly reaches her stride. There is not many times when you have 15 tracks and ALL of them are good, but this is one of those rare disks. Her big, soulful voice adds a new dimension to the blues, superbly produced by old pro Dr. John (who plays keyboards on some of the tracks). She comes across as real in all her tunes here, ranging from the playful ("Livin' on Love"), the mournful ("Happy Valentine's Day", a beautiful slow ballad; "Talking to Strangers", "Should Have Come Home"); the vengeful ("Ka-ching"), the introspective ("The Push I Need", a duet with Dr John) and even her offbeat ode to the owner of a beauty salon ("Sholanda's"). I guarantee you will hear much more about this young singer in the years to come, so enjoy her now. Very highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pie on CD, July 31, 2005

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talking to Strangers (Audio CD)

Well, there's a song here called "Pie In The Sky"....
Anyway, the editorial review is way off the mark in claiming that Shemekia Copeland's first two albums were marred by "hamfisted musical support", but the reviewer certainly gets it right as far as her vocal talents are concerned.

"Talking To Strangers" is a fine collection of funky soul, R&B, blues and a little rock n' roll, all of it delivered with a bluesy edge. The band is not quite as low down an dirty as the small combo which backed her on her highly esteemed debut album, but the excellent production by Dr John keeps things from getting too slick.
The title track is pure deep soul, and other highlights include "Walk On", the swaggering opener "Livin' On Love", the beautiful soul ballad "Don't Whisper", the silly but funky "Sholanda's" (pay no attention to the lyrics), and, well, about five or six more.

Mac Rebennack himself, the good doctor, plays delightful blues and R&B on his customary piano, and lead and slide guitarist Arthur Neilson is top-notch when he gets the chance to shine. It would have been good to hear a little more from him.
The songwriting on "Talking To Strangers" is not highly original, sure, but it is consistently good and often great. Mood and tempo varies a lot, and while I would have liked a couple more up-tempo songs, especially on the latter half of the disc, there are a lot of nice little grooves being dug here.

Shemekia Copeland is one of the very best female blues and soul singers of the 21st century, and this fine record does indeed have a beat to which you can dance. Or you can just kick back and enjoy, whatever works for you.
3 3/4 stars. Shemekia has yet to make a bad record.