Shemekia Copeland: Blame it on Eve Review
Shemekia Copeland began by singing in public when she accompanied her legendary bluesman father Johnny Copeland at the New York Cotton Club at the age of eight in 1987. Alligator Records gave her a record deal at the age of 18 because she proved that she was a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with. Shemekia’s debut album, Turn the Heat Up, was released in 1998. Since that time she’s released a dozen albums that have earned five Grammy nominations along with eight blues music awards thus far. Shemekia Copeland is a second generation blues artist with roots in the genre reaching back to her father Johnny Copeland. On June 12, 2011, Shemekia Copeland was presented with Koko Taylor’s “Queen of the Blues” crown by Koko’s daughter Cookie at the Chicago Blues Festival.
Blame it on Eve is Copeland’s 12th album release and contains a total of 12 tunes including 10 original compositions co-written by producer Will Kimbrough and executive producer John Hahn. Pascal Danae, Kevin Gordon and Susan Werner contributed to three songs and two covers, including Shemekia’s father Johnny Copeland and Ronald Miller. Shemekia’s core band is made up of bassist Lex Price and drummer Pete Abbott providing the rhythm section, with producer Will Kimbrough on guitar, organ and mandolin. 13 other artists appear on various cuts providing guitar, saxophone, lap steel, and sacred steel guitar, dobro, cello, percussion and background vocals.
The lead cut is the title song “Blame it on Eve,” which was co-written by J. Hahn and W. Kimbrough. The song features both Luther Dickinson and Will Kimbrough on guitar with Jim Hoke on saxophone along with the rhythm section comprised of bass guitarist Lex Price and drummer Pete Abbott. Shemekia’s stellar vocals belt out the Old Testament tale of original sin via the wiles of Eve to the guitar interplay backed up by the expressively soulful sound of the sax. Hahn and Kimbrough co-wrote “Tough Mother” and once again it features the Dickinson/Kimbrough guitar duo creating incendiary guitar sounds accompanying Copeland’s threatening vocal’s warning “don’t you mess with me.” “Only Miss You All the Time” is the third Hahn/Kimbrough composition with Kimbrough on guitar along with Price and Abbott on rhythm. The tune opens with the ringing echo of Kimbrough’s guitar embellishing Shemekia’s breathy vocals singing.
“Don’t worry I’ll be fine
That’s why God created wine.”
The Hahn/Kimbrough duo penned “Broken High Heels” once again features the power trio led by Kimbrough on lead guitar. It’s a hard rocking tune with a driving rhythm section steering straight ahead with Kimbrough’s guitar leading the way with guitar peals that accompany Copeland’s stellar vocals singing about “dancing in a graveyard in broken high heels.” “Wine O’Clock” was co-written by Susan Werner, Hahn and Kimbrough as a jazzy “how dry I am” number that Copeland wails on. Guitarist Charlie Hunter jams with Kimbrough to the steady eat by the Abbott and Price rhythm section.
“Always feel better with a little buzz
Let’s buzz a while”
“Is There Anybody Up There?” features roots-rocker Elejandro Escoveda’s powerful voice. Will Kimbrough once more provides incendiary guitar work along with his organ as Shemekia asks the age old question – are we alone? That question could be directed towards either a deity or extraterrestrial intelligent life. It was co-written by Hahn and Kimbrough. Guitarist Kevin Gordon co-wrote “Cadillac Blue” with Hahn and plays his ax alongside Kimbrough on the recording. The song opens to Jerry Douglas’ lap steel guitar giving it a country flavor. Abbott’s steady drumbeat drives the song as Shemekia’s emotionally rich vocals belts out the tragic tale of her lover’s death.
“There ain’t nothing that a woman can do
When you’re baby dies on Cadillac Blue.”
Pascal Danae from the Paris-based band “Delgres co-wrote the “sad lover’s tale,” “Belle Sorciere” with Hahn partly in French and is featured on co-vocals. Cara Fox plays an ethereal sounding cello with Will Kimbrough Playing a haunting melody on his acoustic guitar. The song provides a powerful contrast between the stark instrumentation and the juxtaposition of the somber story. “Tell the Devil” is a joyous hand clapping fast paced gospel song written by Hahn and Kimbrough. Sacred steel player and Sacred Steel Hall of Fame inductee, DaShawn Hickman is featured along with Lisa Oliver Gray and Lucinda Spence on background vocals singing another Bible themed cut.
“I gave my soul to Jesus
And the devil can go to hell”
Dobro player Jerry Douglas is featured on “Tee Tot Payne” along with Will Kimbrough on guitar and mandolin. It’s an old time country track penned by Hahn and Kimbrough about a bluesman in Alabama that pioneered country blues named Tee Tot Payne. “Down on Bended Knee” was written and recorded by Johnny Copeland, Shemekia’s late father in 1981 for his album Copeland Special on Rounder Records. It was originally made popular when Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles recorded it. It’s a blistering blues with the core band of Abbott, Kimbrough, and Price backing Shemekia who blows the roof off with her stratospheric vocals. Kimbrough jams on guitar with wailing guitar peals and Copeland sings about heartfelt pleading and romantic desperation. The final cut on Blame It On Eve, “Heaven Help Us All” is another gospel tinged composition originally written by Ron Miller in 1970. It became a hit after Stevie Wonder recorded it on his Signed Sealed and Delivered album release. It features the core band plus Grey and Settles again on background vocals for call and response. Shemekia’s passionate vocal delivery is reminiscent of Mavis Staples powerful and expressively emotive style.
“Heaven help the boy who won’t reach twenty-one
Heaven help the man who gave that boy a gun”
Blame it on Eve is a well crafted album showcasing Copeland’s passionately soulful vocals. Her signature vocals are supported by a stellar supporting cast to create an album that is musically rich and emotionally raw through the amazing songwriting of John Hahn, Will Kimbrough and others. The songs run the gamut from blues rock to gospel establishing Shemekia’s ability to interpret songs with an unapologetic boldness.
The Review 9/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Blame It On Eve
– Tough Mother
– Broken High Heels
– Is There Anybody Up There?
– Down On Bended Knee
The Big Hit
– Down On Bended Knee
I’ve seen Shemekia Copeland four or five times at the (now defunct, unfortunately) Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival over the years, and have a number of her CDs.
Encouraged by this BRR review, I am looking forward to purchasing and grooving to this new album.
She is a powerhouse live, as well as in the studio, and belts out the blues and blues-rock with the best of them.
Well worth BRR readers checking out her catalog, if even a sampling online (e.g. “It’s 2:00 a m. – Do You Know Where Your Baby Is?”), and if she is on the schedule at a Festival near you, I am confident you will not be disappointed.