[2012-04-17]
Koko Taylor: "Queen Of The Blues"

"Accurately dubbed "the Queen of Chicago blues" (and sometimes just the blues in general), Koko Taylor helped keep the tradition of big-voiced, brassy female blues belters alive, recasting the spirits of early legends like Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Big Mama Thornton, and Memphis Minnie for the modern age."

"Co-producer Bruce Iglauer anticipated a future trend by making this a set filled with cameos -- but the presence of Lonnie Brooks, James Cotton, Albert Collins, and Son Seals is entirely warranted and the contributions of each work quite well in the context of the whole. Taylor's gritty "I Cried like a Baby" and a snazzy remake of Ann Peebles' "Come to Mama" are among the many highlights. "
~ www.allmusic.com


Mother Earth: "Bring Me Home"
"The late-'60s/early-'70s blues-rock outfit Mother Earth was led by singer Tracy Nelson and issued several somewhat underappreciated releases during their time span."

"
Not really deviating from a formula which was modestly successful for Mother Earth, the band takes the adage "if it ain't broke don't fix it" to heart with Bring Me Home. Staying in form with the blend of R&B, gospel, folk and soft rock, this-nine song session remains a vehicle predominantly for the group' s siren, Tracy Nelson. The band delivers constantly solid performances backing Nelson's impassioned vocals in a very complementary fashion, but really doesn't set itself apart from the majority of the group's output."
~ www.allmusic.com