New Rickie Lee Jones Album
Rickie Lee Jones releases her newest collection of songs from the great American songbook, ‘Kicks’, June 7th on her own label, OSOD through Thirty Tigers. The album spans two decades (50s-70s) of pop, rock and jazz, presenting her unique and sophisticated interpretations of these classic songs.
The infectious lead track ‘Lonely People’, was originally a 1974 Top Five Billboard hit and is available as an instant grat with the purchase of the pre-release of the album.
Rickie Lee Jones is that rare musician who has transcended the singer/songwriter mantle by incorporating different radio genres from the get-go and she continues that tradition on the new album.
She will tour the USA for most of June and plans are being made for a UK live show this summer.
It is fitting that one of the American treasures of songwriters should be comfortable with this diverse collection of the great songwriters of the 20th century–she is one of them. On ‘Kicks’, she brings emotion to sleeper album tracks like “My Fathers Gun” and her tongue-in-cheek humour to songs like “Houston.”
Weaving the connection between 70’s rock and 50’s jazz was no leap for Jones. “It is all part of what I heard growing up,” says Jones. “The radio played everything! 1960’s AM radio was the primordial zone for our musical life today. As a kid I heard R&B, country, rock, and the most sophisticated singer-songwriters of the day forming their genre. Radio was a college education for a budding musician because these songs are all playing on my internal radio all the time, it’s not a stretch for me to put them together on an LP. Really, I just love to sing.
‘Kicks’ was created entirely in New Orleans, using local musicians, mixers and studios. Produced by Rickie Lee Jones with her band-mate, vibraphonist Mike Dillion, it features 10 songs of a highly infectious nature. Check out “Nagasaki,” her traditional jazz offering of tight three-part harmonies, and “Bad Company,” where Jones cuts loose on electric guitar.
The album cover, by artist Peregrine Honig, is a super-hero woman in boxing gloves. Sound like anyone we know? Rickie Lee Jones, superhero, with a super weapon smile! “In times like these,” Miss Jones smiles, “a smile can be subversive. Here is Rickie Lee’s musical smile.”
Tracklisting:
1. Bad Company (Bad Company, 1974)
2. My Fathers Gun (Elton John, 1970)
3. Lonely People (American, 1974)
4. Houston (Sanford Clark, 1964; made famous by Dean Martin, 1965)
5. You’re Nobody ‘Till Somebody Loves You (Russ Morgan, 1944; made famous by Dean Martin, 1960/1964)
6. Nagasaki (Ipana Troubadours, 1928; most famous by Benny Goodman Quartet, 1952)
7. Mack The Knife (Louis Armstrong, 1956; made famous by Bobby Darin, 1958)
8. Quicksilver Girl (Steve Miller Band, 1968)
9. End OF The World (Skeeter Davis, 1962)
10. Cry (Ruth Casey, 1951; made famous by Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads, 1951)