Tracy Nelson – Victim of the Blues 5.13.11
Chip Eagle | May 12, 2011 | Comments 3
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Tracy Nelson
Victim of The Blues
Delta Groove Music
BluesWax Rating: 10
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In 1968 my favorite album was Mother Earth’s Living with The Animals. Tracy Nelson was the featured singer, and her gospel-tinged blues was a revelation to me. Her original composition “Down So Low” was first recorded on this album, and it was soon to become her signature song. Her powerful voice and tremolo sent shivers up my spine.
Nelson’s career has had its ups and downs as she recorded for many labels, including Prestige, Mercury, Columbia, Atlantic, MCA, Memphis International, and others. Between 1993 and 1999, Nelson was nominated for four Blues Music Awards. During this time she recorded for Rounder Records. Her guitarist on those recordings was Mike Henderson, and he is once again Nelson’s featured guitarist on her new release, Victim of the Blues. Her band also includes keyboardist Jimmy Pugh (from The Robert Cray Band), Byron House on bass, and drummer John Gardner. Guest artists on vocal duets include Angela Strehli and Marcia Ball.
This new CD on Delta Groove is her twenty-sixth recording. This is a good label for her to be on. With this new album Nelson returns to the Chicago blues that first inspired her. She interprets songs by Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Joe Tex, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Percy Mayfield, and others. Nelson makes these songs her own as her vocals draw out the emotions hidden within each. Going forward I will forever associate the title track, Ma Rainey’s “Victim of The Blues,” with Nelson. Her performances are that powerful. The album is co-produced by Nelson and Mike Dysinger.
Some artists you hear stay with you throughout life. Nelson has influenced my taste in music. She has grace and determination. This is a difficult combination, but if you surround yourself with the proper people they will enable you.
Thank you, Tracy Nelson.
Richard Ludmerer is a contributing editor to BluesWax. He is interested in seeing your comments below. If you like this review, click on “Like” at the top of the page.
Filed Under: BluesWax Weekly • This Week's BluesWax • Weekly CD Reviews
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Having Mike Henderson on this is enough for Bluebloods and old Bel Airs fans.
C’mon Mike … another Bluebloods album … please?
Gotta say that I remembered the group Mother Earth. When I heard Tracy this week on Bluesville I took immediate notice. Since then I have become a huge fan searching for her albumns and looking up everything I could on her on the internet. She has been around as long I have and I never knew it. I am so ashamed. Oh well better late than never.
Loved Tracy’s performances of the tracks, BUT what was very dissapointing is the sound quality of all the recordings on this CD, extremely poor. I’ve had better sound from cheap budget labels. Conclusion, this CD probably for the confirmed T. Nelson fans only?
Regards
Roy