Search - Millie Jackson :: Back to the Shit

SH*T! about says it~!

Christopher Bryant Olson | Federal Way, Wa United States | 11/09/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I LOVE Millie Jackson. I wanted to LOVE this album. And I tried, really. But it's just not up to snuff. Millie can be absolutely hysterical (only Bette Midler has as big a repuation for bawdy on-stage fun). Unfortunately, she sounds less than inspired here. To put it mildly, this is the deepest she has ever strayed into "gross out" comedy (check the cover picture and track listing for an indication). No doubt, she has crossed that invisible "line" before...but dammit, the material was MUCH FUNNIER then! She is indeed in fine voice here, but it must be noted that the "singles" here are concert recordings of her past studio hits for the JIVE label (from "Imitation Of Love"). These versions were NOT "hits". The only other really worthwhile song here is her rendering of the Carole King/Gerry Goffin classic "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", even if it is a bit too long. THAT song can be found on her worthwhile "The Very Best! Of Millie Jackson" cd, along with most of her other (but not all) best moments on JIVE. Is there anything good here? Well, yes. There are some amusing bits to be sure ("I'm Waiting Baby"). But this collection cannot TOUCH her previous two "live" albums (available on one cd set, and worth EVERY penny). And I'd rather listen to a misguided Millie than almost any other performer of her class and style that I can think of. But boring is BORING, no matter how talented and original the artist may be. And my babies, THIS is one DULL album. Buy the "Very Best!" instead, and seek out "The Tide Is Turning" for the two songs it missed: "Cover Me (Wall To Wall) and "In My Dreams"."

Jive Records, to Millie, We Surrender!

KRA | East End of LI | 07/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When Millie Jackson signed with Jive Rcords they ATTEMPTED to clean up her image with her first 2 studio releases on Jive; An Imitation of Love, and even more with, The Tide is Turning. Needless to say they learned their lesson, and this live CD was the end result.



Frankly I would have liked this release more if it had more tracks on it, but the combination of Millie's way underated singing, and her trademark blue tinged stage banter work.



Throughout her career one of Millie's other trademarks is the way she can remake a song like nobody else, and the highlight of this release is her take on Carol King's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow".



Back To The S&^T, is really Back To Millie."