I have been excited about the new Wanda Jackson ever since I heard she was working with Jack White. I already loved her but I knew she could be even better with the help of Jack White! Jack White is, of course, from the White Stripes, who are now officially broken up. Not that Wanda really needed Jack White -- she was putting out some of the best rockabilly and country albums way before he was even born. She is the Queen of Rockabilly, after all! But I knew that he could be bring that greatness out of her once again. It had been a while. Jack White already helped Loretta Lynn make an amazing album a couple of years back, so we knew he could do it. Both Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson are two of my favorites! I obviously don't like anything new that comes out in the world of country but I have always loved the country music of the 50's and 60's. Wanda Jackson got her start back in back in the 50's, back when Rockabilly was very popular but there were not really a whole lot of women putting out rockabilly records. This is why she is known as the first woman of rockabilly. She paved the road for many who followed her. She later moved on to putting out more country albums and eventually gospel albums, but on this new album she is putting out the great rockabilly that made her famous. This is good stuff!

The new album is called The Party Ain't Over and was released last week. The gatefold vinyl version plays music when you open it, like those greeting cards that sing to you when you open them. I think this is amazing! Seriously. It plays music when you open it! I missed her shows she did a couple of weeks ago in Los Angeles but I did catch her on Conan last week and she is, of course, amazing (see video below). Jack White performed with her on stage and then they both sat down for a quick interview with Conan. I love the interaction between Jack White and Wanda -- sort of like a mother/son-type relationship. He teased her about her relationship with Elvis when Conan asked her about her early tour with Elvis. She dated Elvis Presley in 1955. Anyway, you really need this album in your life! It is one of my favorites of the year so far, and she even does a fantastic cover of "You Know I'm No Good" by Amy Winehouse. Wanda Jackson was featured briefly in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line but I think she really deserves her own movie. She has had an interesting life for sure and has influenced a ton of country and rockabilly artists over the years. Just check out any of the current rockabilly musicians and you can hear the influence. It is great to have Wanda Jackson back on the music scene. I think she didn't need Jack White and could have made a great album on her own, but he just stepped it up a bit. The two of them together is perfect. The album is perfect.

Check out Wanda Jackson performing "Hard Headed Woman" on Town Hall Party in 1958...

Check out Wanda Jackson performing "Funnel of Love" with Jack White on Conan...

 

Listen to Wanda Jackson cover Bob Dylan's "Thunder on the Mountain" from the new album The Party Ain't Over...






Buy the new album The Party Ain't Over by Wanda Jackson






also out 1/25...







Verdugo Hills by Caroline










Stations of The Crass (reissue) by Crass











Feeding of the 5000 (reissue) by Crass










Kaputt by Destroyer












Kamakura by Gang Gang Dance










Content  by Gang of Four











There are Rules by Get Up Kids











Kiss Each Other Clean by Iron & Wine










London Sessions by LCD Soundsystem











Passive Aggresive: Singles by Radio Dept.











Um Uh Oh by Say Hi







also out 2/1...






Party Store by The Dirtbombs











Winter Tale by Bobby Long











Go Down Under by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes











Talk About Body by Men











Seefeel by Seefeel