Sunday, October 24, 2004
Wanda Jackson's rockabilly legend keeps on rolling
From The Houston Chronicle
Wanda Jackson's voice has always been a thing of wonder.
The undisputed rockabilly queen positively growled on late '50s/early '60s hits Let's Have a Party, Mean Mean Man and Riot in Cell Block #9. She also paved the way for a slew of female musicians, from country singers like Tanya Tucker, Chely Wright and Gretchen Wilson to rock and pop stars like Madonna, Courtney Love and Avril Lavigne.
Today, Jackson's delivery remains awe-inspiring, a weathered mix of raw sensuality and rebel spirit. She performs today at the Continental Club to celebrate her 67th birthday.
If Jackson is feeling a bit winded, it's to be expected. She's been riding a nonstop career resurgence that began in Europe in the mid-'80s and hit the United States in '95, thanks to an appearance on Texas native Rosie Flores' Rockabilly Filly disc.
Jackson was eventually approached by CMH Records to record a disc of classic and original tunes, and producer John Wooler opted to give the project an edgy, atmospheric vibe. The resulting album, Heart Trouble, is vintage Jackson, highlighted by appearances from Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin, Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker, psychobilly legends the Cramps and Elvis Costello, whose duet on Crying Time is a sparkling standout.
Jackson says her flashy wardrobe was born "out of desperation" to get noticed in a male dominated world used to a sweeter kind of country gal.
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Oct. 22, 2004, 6:42PM
Wanda Jackson's rockabilly legend keeps on rolling
By JOEY GUERRA
Copyright 2004 For the Chronicle
DETAILS
Wanda Jackson
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 23, with Miss Leslie and Hilary Sloan
Where: Continental Club, 3700 Main St.
Tickets: $10; call 713-529-9899.
Wanda Jackson's voice has always been a thing of wonder.
The undisputed rockabilly queen positively growled on late '50s/early '60s hits Let's Have a Party, Mean Mean Man and Riot in Cell Block #9. She also paved the way for a slew of female musicians, from country singers like Tanya Tucker, Chely Wright and Gretchen Wilson to rock and pop stars like Madonna, Courtney Love and Avril Lavigne.
Today, Jackson's delivery remains awe-inspiring, a weathered mix of raw sensuality and rebel spirit. She performs today at the Continental Club to celebrate her 67th birthday.
Right now, though, Jackson is apologizing for the sound of her hoarse voice.
"I sound like gravel Gertie," Jackson says. "My throat's tired. (But) I only know one way to sing. I just get out there and do it."
If Jackson is feeling a bit winded, it's to be expected. She's been riding a nonstop career resurgence that began in Europe in the mid-'80s and hit the United States in '95, thanks to an appearance on Texas native Rosie Flores' Rockabilly Filly disc.
HEAR IT NOW
Audio Audio: Clips from songs by Wanda Jackson:
• Mean, Mean Man
• Let's Have a Party
• Riot in Cell Block #9
Requires the free RealPlayer
Jackson was eventually approached by CMH Records to record a disc of classic and original tunes, and producer John Wooler opted to give the project an edgy, atmospheric vibe. The resulting album, Heart Trouble, is vintage Jackson, highlighted by appearances from Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin, Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker, psychobilly legends the Cramps and Elvis Costello, whose duet on Crying Time is a sparkling standout.
"That audience keeps spurring me on because I just keep gaining new fans," Jackson says. "The singers and the pickers, they tell me what an inspiration I have been and I still am because I'm out there doing it."
Next week, alt-country label Bloodshot Records releases Hard-Headed Woman: A Celebration of Wanda Jackson, a tribute album featuring Flores, Neko Case, Wayne Hancock, Jesse Dayton and Asylum Street Spankers. The collection does a good job of capturing -- and respecting -- the vintage rebel spirit of Jackson's original recordings.
The culmination of Jackson's rockabilly renaissance came last month, when she made the list of nominees -- along with the likes of U2, the Sex Pistols, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Gram Parsons -- for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"My fans and my husband, can't understand why I'm not already in there. It's just something I never had thought much about," Jackson says. "I'll be happy if I'm inducted, but I think more so for my fans."But I'll have to admit -- I saved one of my dresses from the late '50s and my original guitar, just in case." Those dresses -- form-fitting and accented with fringe that flapped with her hip-swiveling -- made Jackson one of country music's first sex symbols. Jackson's mother made the frocks from her daughter's designs.
Jackson says her flashy wardrobe was born "out of desperation" to get noticed in a male dominated world used to a sweeter kind of country gal.
Wanda Jackson says Elvis Presley encouraged her to explore the burgeoning rockabilly sound.
"Patsy Cline had come along, Connie Francis -- more the smooth pop singers, for country," Jackson says. "I'd been trying to dress like the other girls with the cowboy boots and the full skirts, puff-sleeved blouses and stuff. I'm pretty short, and I just didn't look good at all.
"I wanted to dress more glamorous or sexy."
Read the article
Houston Chronicle
Wanda Jackson's voice has always been a thing of wonder.
The undisputed rockabilly queen positively growled on late '50s/early '60s hits Let's Have a Party, Mean Mean Man and Riot in Cell Block #9. She also paved the way for a slew of female musicians, from country singers like Tanya Tucker, Chely Wright and Gretchen Wilson to rock and pop stars like Madonna, Courtney Love and Avril Lavigne.
Today, Jackson's delivery remains awe-inspiring, a weathered mix of raw sensuality and rebel spirit. She performs today at the Continental Club to celebrate her 67th birthday.
If Jackson is feeling a bit winded, it's to be expected. She's been riding a nonstop career resurgence that began in Europe in the mid-'80s and hit the United States in '95, thanks to an appearance on Texas native Rosie Flores' Rockabilly Filly disc.
Jackson was eventually approached by CMH Records to record a disc of classic and original tunes, and producer John Wooler opted to give the project an edgy, atmospheric vibe. The resulting album, Heart Trouble, is vintage Jackson, highlighted by appearances from Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin, Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker, psychobilly legends the Cramps and Elvis Costello, whose duet on Crying Time is a sparkling standout.
Jackson says her flashy wardrobe was born "out of desperation" to get noticed in a male dominated world used to a sweeter kind of country gal.
Printer-friendly format
E-mail this story
Oct. 22, 2004, 6:42PM
Wanda Jackson's rockabilly legend keeps on rolling
By JOEY GUERRA
Copyright 2004 For the Chronicle
DETAILS
Wanda Jackson
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 23, with Miss Leslie and Hilary Sloan
Where: Continental Club, 3700 Main St.
Tickets: $10; call 713-529-9899.
Wanda Jackson's voice has always been a thing of wonder.
The undisputed rockabilly queen positively growled on late '50s/early '60s hits Let's Have a Party, Mean Mean Man and Riot in Cell Block #9. She also paved the way for a slew of female musicians, from country singers like Tanya Tucker, Chely Wright and Gretchen Wilson to rock and pop stars like Madonna, Courtney Love and Avril Lavigne.
Today, Jackson's delivery remains awe-inspiring, a weathered mix of raw sensuality and rebel spirit. She performs today at the Continental Club to celebrate her 67th birthday.
Right now, though, Jackson is apologizing for the sound of her hoarse voice.
"I sound like gravel Gertie," Jackson says. "My throat's tired. (But) I only know one way to sing. I just get out there and do it."
If Jackson is feeling a bit winded, it's to be expected. She's been riding a nonstop career resurgence that began in Europe in the mid-'80s and hit the United States in '95, thanks to an appearance on Texas native Rosie Flores' Rockabilly Filly disc.
HEAR IT NOW
Audio Audio: Clips from songs by Wanda Jackson:
• Mean, Mean Man
• Let's Have a Party
• Riot in Cell Block #9
Requires the free RealPlayer
Jackson was eventually approached by CMH Records to record a disc of classic and original tunes, and producer John Wooler opted to give the project an edgy, atmospheric vibe. The resulting album, Heart Trouble, is vintage Jackson, highlighted by appearances from Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin, Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker, psychobilly legends the Cramps and Elvis Costello, whose duet on Crying Time is a sparkling standout.
"That audience keeps spurring me on because I just keep gaining new fans," Jackson says. "The singers and the pickers, they tell me what an inspiration I have been and I still am because I'm out there doing it."
Next week, alt-country label Bloodshot Records releases Hard-Headed Woman: A Celebration of Wanda Jackson, a tribute album featuring Flores, Neko Case, Wayne Hancock, Jesse Dayton and Asylum Street Spankers. The collection does a good job of capturing -- and respecting -- the vintage rebel spirit of Jackson's original recordings.
The culmination of Jackson's rockabilly renaissance came last month, when she made the list of nominees -- along with the likes of U2, the Sex Pistols, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Gram Parsons -- for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"My fans and my husband, can't understand why I'm not already in there. It's just something I never had thought much about," Jackson says. "I'll be happy if I'm inducted, but I think more so for my fans."But I'll have to admit -- I saved one of my dresses from the late '50s and my original guitar, just in case." Those dresses -- form-fitting and accented with fringe that flapped with her hip-swiveling -- made Jackson one of country music's first sex symbols. Jackson's mother made the frocks from her daughter's designs.
Jackson says her flashy wardrobe was born "out of desperation" to get noticed in a male dominated world used to a sweeter kind of country gal.
Wanda Jackson says Elvis Presley encouraged her to explore the burgeoning rockabilly sound.
"Patsy Cline had come along, Connie Francis -- more the smooth pop singers, for country," Jackson says. "I'd been trying to dress like the other girls with the cowboy boots and the full skirts, puff-sleeved blouses and stuff. I'm pretty short, and I just didn't look good at all.
"I wanted to dress more glamorous or sexy."
Read the article
Houston Chronicle
# posted by Dave Sichak @ 8:20 AM 
