Search - Little Rachel & the Hogs of Rhythm :: When a Blue Note Turns Red Hot

UK Rock, Issue No 63, Vol. XVI (Jul 1, 2009)

RACHEL FENTON | KC, MO, USA | 07/09/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kansas City Thrush Soars to New Heights



It was with a great deal of anticipation that I waited for Little Rachel's third solo release on Finland's Goofin' Record label. The Kansas City songstress has produced some fine material on her first two CDs, and been part of the excellent rockabilly duo, the Casey Sisters, so there was bound to be a feeling of `follow that' when the tracks arrived. No need to worry as the first few bars of `Mama was Right Again', one of nine self penned tracks on the CD, attest.



Displaying her full range both lyrically and vocally, the first three tracks stroll, rock and smooch almost effortlessly one after the next. `Go Bully Some Other Gal' is a cracking up tempo rocker with some expert whammy barring and complementary musicianship from Finnish rockers, the Hogs of Rhythm. In fact it's the perfect combination, especially when switching from a rocker to a dreamy sound as on `My Favourite Dream' and then to a real foot tapper like `O La Violencia'.



Rachel clearly had the Mojo working when she wrote `Just Right Man', which I defy anyone to not enjoy, and the opening bars of the Tillis/Kearny penned `Emotions' immediately put the listener in mind or `Volare'. (I Was) Born To Cry' is a Dion DiMucci composition that benefits from the Little Rachel treatment, complete with classic backing you'll recognise at first listen. `This Lonesome Night' written by Shane Kiel has a `Summertime' feel about it before another of her own compositions rock it up again. `I Don't Miss You At All' and `It's Not Me' are sublime, the latter of which, written by Rachel Decker, conjures up a black and white scene in a smoky blues club in the early 50's.



Think Wynonie, Wynona and Ruth and check probably the best track on the CD (a first among equals) `Every Road Leads Back Home', a brilliant up tempo ditty in the Bloodshot Eyes/Good Morning Judge style to great effect. If there is a track that stands out as a A grade stroller, it's Little Man which is 3.45 minutes of R&B indulgence (and I gather a particular favourite of Rachel's)



If you don't buy another R&B collection this year, make sure you have this one! It's outstanding from track one to track fourteen, and is her best release so far. An absolute gem!



When Little Rachel becomes a big star in the States, as she surely must, she's going to have a back catalogue from all over Europe.Oh, and her looks do no harm to her appeal.

Andrew Smith - UK Rock, Issue No 63, Vol. XVI (Jul 1, 2009) [...]"