Release date: August 30, 2024
Alligator Records
By Greg Easterling
Photo: Dave Specter
Number nine is a magic number for Shemekia Copeland, signifying both strength and experience on her latest album for Chicago’s storied Alligator Records. Blame It On Eve is Copeland’s current message of reality, tempered with humor at times, delivered by the singer who the Washington Post has called “the greatest blues singer of her generation.” She says, “There’s serious business on the new album but there are a lot of smiles here too, a lot of joyous moments.”
Copeland is still surrounded by the Nashville based team that has supported her on recent releases helmed by award-winning musician and producer Will Kimbrough. Her custom written songs are penned by executive producer John Hahn who collaborated again on most of the songs here along with Kimbrough and several others. As usual Shemekia covers a classic blues song by her father, the legendary Johnny “Clyde” Copeland plus an additional song which was once a hit for Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. Strong company for sure!
Copeland rolls into Blame It On Eve’s title track with a sure and steady growling groove, which wouldn’t be out of place on any straight ahead rock album. She references the biblical original sin with some defiance, “Blame it on Eve, you just can’t win” recalling the days when hurricanes and tropical storms were “always named after some sister!”. The basic band of guitarist Kimbrough, Lex Price on bass and drummer Pete Abbott is enhanced by special guest Luther Dickinson on guitar and Jim Hoke on saxophone.
Dickinson is back to help on “Tough Mother,” another streetwise rocker with an edgy feeling that matches the lyrics. “I’m a tough mother, don’t you mess with me,” according to Shemekia, who knows all too well what it’s like to be a concerned mother in today’s urban environment. Protection not aggression is the motivation here, echoed by some atmospheric guitar by Luther and Will.
It's a retreat to once familiar turf next on “Only Miss You All the Time.” Copeland reflects on lost love at a lower volume as she sings, “I miss you lover, I miss you friend.” The arrangement is spare and effective with just Shemekia and Will for most of the song, on vocals and electric guitar.
The heat rises again with “Broken High Heels” and an infectious neo-Stones like riff that would be at home on any blues rock effort. Climate change is one of the serious topics addressed in a song that also references Congress, church, society and politics. The chorus rocks lyrically as well as Copeland sings, “Dancing in a graveyard in broken high heels/spinning around in circles like a ferris wheel.” You know something’s going on here.
It's time for “Wine O’Clock” next, which seems to be earlier in the day rather than later! This tribute to happy hour which Shemekia confides is “my favorite time of day” was co-written by singer-songwriter Susan Werner along with John Hahn and Will Kimbrough. It also features a notable fusion-like guitar break from jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter.
At the album’s halfway mark, it’s a tough spiritual moment and a question, “Is There Anybody Up There?” Reflecting on current times, Copeland sings, “I think we need a miracle/Lord won’t you hear my plea?” and is joined by Alejandro Escovedo on vocals.
Next it’s time for a love song, “Cadillac Blue” enhanced by special guest Jerry Douglas on lap steel guitar. He’s one of Nashville’s finest and evidence of the musical diversity that you hear on Copeland’s albums. As she says, “Country and blues are first cousins.”
It’s a loving tribute from Shemekia here, “My baby’s eyes are Cadillac blue/there ain’t nothing a woman can do.”
The next song is a surprise from Copeland as it’s in French, “Belle Sorciere” or at least the chorus is! The haunting ballad was co-written by John Hahn and Pascal Danae of the Paris-based band Delgres and is another example of Copeland’s vocal dexterity. If the Olympics can go to France, so can Shemekia! Her talent is truly international in scope.
It’s back to gospel again with “Tell The Devil” as Shemekia does so definitively. “Tell the Devil to go to hell/I made my deal with Jesus” she sings in this uptempo holy ghost rave up. It might have been unheard of to mix blues and gospel on the same album at one time, but no longer as Copeland demonstrates effectively here. A believer can sing the blues and a number of special guests help the cause including DeShawn Hickman on sacred steel guitar and backing vocals by Lisa Oliver Gray and Odessa Settles.
“Tee Tot Payne” tells the story of the aged bluesman who taught Hank Williams how to play guitar and thus inspired one of the greatest American songwriters of all time. It’s a little told history lesson from Shemekia who confides that “country music wouldn’t be the same” as Hank would make it “all the way from the corner to the Opry”. It’s also not a stretch from Williams classics like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” to blues standards such as B. B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone.” Jerry Douglas returns with some great lap steel guitar here.
It's also not a stretch to Shemekia’s regular cover of her father’s song, “Down On Bended Knee”. It’s become a tradition for her to record a song by her dad Johnny Copeland on every album and it’s one that should always continue, especially since he wrote and recorded such classic songs. Copeland closes Blame It On Eve with a Ron Miller song that both Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles recorded, ‘Heaven Help Us All”. It’s another gospel referenced song that seems especially appropriate for here and now.
Blame It On Eve is Shemekia Copeland’s latest fusion of musical styles that combines nearly all types of American music and even European this time. At it’s core, the music is still blues based with stylistic nods to Chicago, Nashville, New York and Detroit. For Copeland it is another step forward and an encouragement for future efforts.
About the Author: Greg Easterling is a veteran Chicago radio air personality and media member of the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. He is the host of American Backroads on WDCB, 90.9 FM in the Chicago area, Thursday nights at 9 p.m. Greg also a hosts Easterling Blues Experience on Buddy Guy Radio.
To buy/hear the music, visit: https://www.alligator.com/
website: https://www.shemekiacopeland.com/