TAS Rated 4/5 Music, 4/5 Sonics in the September 2019 Issue of The Absolute Sound!
Covers Album On Vinyl LP!
Kicks is an eclectic album of ten cover songs - from "Mack The Knife" written in 1928 for a German musical (known in the U.S. as The Threepenny Opera) that became a jazz standard, to "Bad Company" the eponymous theme song for the British rock band written in 1974. The arrangement and instrumentation, by producer Michael Napolitano (Ani DiFranco), provides a fresh and modern sonic infusion on every song.
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 her album KICKS, a collection of songs from the great American songbook. The album spans two decades (50s-70s) of pop, rock and jazz, presenting her unique and sophisticated interpretations of these songs.
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 humor to songs like "Houston." The album is previewed by the infectious, insistent track of hope "Lonely People"; it was a Top Five Billboard hit in 1974, originally recorded by America.
Weaving the connection between 70s rock and 50s jazz was no leap for JONES. "It is all part of what I heard growing up," says JONES. "The radio played everything! 1960s 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, its 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 Lees musical smile.
Features:
• Vinyl LP
Selections:
Side A:
1. Bad Company (Bad Company, 1974)
2. My Fathers Gun (Elton John, 1970)
3. Lonely People (America, 1974)
4. Houston (Sanford Clark, 1964; made famous by Dean Martin, 1965)
5. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You (Russ Morgan, 1944; made famous by Dean Martin, 1960/1964)
Side B:
1. Nagasaki (Ipana Troubadours, 1928; most famous by Benny Goodman Quartet, 1952)
2. Mack The Knife (Louis Armstrong, 1956; made famous by Bobby Darin, 1958)
3. Quicksilver Girl (Steve Miller Band, 1968)
4. The End Of The World (Skeeter Davis, 1962)
5. Cry (Ruth Casey, 1951; made famous by Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads, 1951)
Covers Album On Vinyl LP!
Kicks is an eclectic album of ten cover songs - from "Mack The Knife" written in 1928 for a German musical (known in the U.S. as The Threepenny Opera) that became a jazz standard, to "Bad Company" the eponymous theme song for the British rock band written in 1974. The arrangement and instrumentation, by producer Michael Napolitano (Ani DiFranco), provides a fresh and modern sonic infusion on every song.
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 her album KICKS, a collection of songs from the great American songbook. The album spans two decades (50s-70s) of pop, rock and jazz, presenting her unique and sophisticated interpretations of these songs.
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 humor to songs like "Houston." The album is previewed by the infectious, insistent track of hope "Lonely People"; it was a Top Five Billboard hit in 1974, originally recorded by America.
Weaving the connection between 70s rock and 50s jazz was no leap for JONES. "It is all part of what I heard growing up," says JONES. "The radio played everything! 1960s 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, its 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 Lees musical smile.
Features:
• Vinyl LP
Selections:
Side A:
1. Bad Company (Bad Company, 1974)
2. My Fathers Gun (Elton John, 1970)
3. Lonely People (America, 1974)
4. Houston (Sanford Clark, 1964; made famous by Dean Martin, 1965)
5. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You (Russ Morgan, 1944; made famous by Dean Martin, 1960/1964)
Side B:
1. Nagasaki (Ipana Troubadours, 1928; most famous by Benny Goodman Quartet, 1952)
2. Mack The Knife (Louis Armstrong, 1956; made famous by Bobby Darin, 1958)
3. Quicksilver Girl (Steve Miller Band, 1968)
4. The End Of The World (Skeeter Davis, 1962)
5. Cry (Ruth Casey, 1951; made famous by Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads, 1951)
