Shemekia Copeland – Deluxe Edition 3.11.11

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Shemekia Copeland

Deluxe Edition

Alligator Records

BluesWax Rating: 10

Royal Blood

In 2009 Shemekia Copeland released her fifth album, Never Goin’ Back, on The Telarc Records label. This Deluxe Edition is a collection of the best from Copeland’s first four Alligator Records releases.

Back in 1998, at the tender age of nineteen, Copeland released her debut album on Alligator. Included here from Turn The Heat Up is the amazing title track “Salt in My Wounds” and two other songs.

From the Wicked follow-up is the powerful “It’s 2 A. M.” and the live show-stopper “Beat Up Guitar.”  Although it won Blues Album of The Year, some felt that Copeland needed better production.

Dr. John produced her third album, Talking To Strangers.”  With great songs like “Livin’ On Love” and “When A Women’s Had Enough,” the album received rave reviews, and Copeland again won Blues Album of The Year.  She has been nominated for a total of twenty-eight Blues Music Awards, winning eight times.

Steve Cropper produced her fourth and final Alligator album, The Soul Truth. “Better Not Touch” and two other songs are included from that effort.  Also included from the Alligator Record’s Genuine Houserockin’ Christmas is the now classic Christmas song “Stay A Little Longer, Santa.”

Not only is the song selection great, but this re-packaging puts everything into a greater prospective. Everything from the very beginning and throughout her seven-year Alligator period was top notch, from her guitarists Jimmy Vivino, Arthur Neilson, and Steve Cropper to her keyboardists Dr. John and Brian Mitchell.  Her rhythm section Mike Merritt and James Wormworth, her “Uptown” horn section, her co-writer and manager John Hahn, and others I have not mentioned have all contributed to what is a perfect ten album.

Johnny Copeland’s daughter is now thirty-one. She has shared the stage with royalty like Ruth Brown and Koko “Queen of The Blues” Taylor. She recently married, is fully seasoned, and ready to assume the crown.

Richard Ludmerer is a contributing editor to BluesWax. He may be reached by commenting below.