We recently spotlighted one of the singles off blueswoman Janiva Magness‘ new album Back for Me (Blue Élan Records), “a slinking, edgy, ‘you done lost your good thing now’-kind of track with some gritty vocals, grungy guitar, and terrific grooves” called “I Was Good To You Baby”. If you like what you heard there, there’s plenty more good stuff to take in across the rest of the album, from the hard nosed, shuffling “Masterpiece” that opens the album to solid covers of tracks from Bill Withers, Allen Toussaint, Doyle Bramhall II, and others.
With tough licks from Joe Bonamassa on guitar to match such lyrics as “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but you might be my masterpiece”, “Masterpiece” is a great start to the album, but things only get better from there with the masterpiece that follows in the album’s title track: moving from a quiet, vulnerable start to the trembling, aching lyrics of “I know, that you’re gonna leave” and then soaring chorus, accompanied throughout by some restrained, tender guitar, you can really feel the emotion from Magness on this one. Not only is this the best track on the album, but it’s probably one of most beautiful songs you’ll ever hear, and very likely another Song of the Year winner for Magness, an honor she previously claimed at the 2013 Blues Music Awards for “I Won’t Cry” from her Stronger For It album.
Magness more than does justice to each of the songs she covers here, beginning on a smoky “The Same Love That Made Me Laugh” (Bill Withers) that features handclaps and some terrific keyboards in addition to Magness’ biting vocals. A delicate, swaying “November” (Doyle Bramhall II) and muddy, creeping “You Can Bring Me Flowers” (Ray LaMontagne) both nicely showcase the slower and quieter — but still powerful — side of Magness’ range, while a crawling and clawing “Down So Low” (Tracy Nelson) moves things a bit deeper into blues territory. A bouncing, New Orleans-flavored, Marcia Ball-like “Hittin’ on Nothin'” (written by Allen Toussaint and originally performed by Irma Thomas) closes the album in a way that’ll leave you feeling good, accompanied by handclaps, gospelish backing vocals, and some gritty guitar from guest Jesse Dayton.
A pair of grooving numbers round out the album. With scorching guitar work from Sue Foley, the driving “Holes” is a track you’re sure to, well, dig, while the bittersweet “Do I Need You” finds Magness engaging in some heavy soul searching through such lyrics as “I don’t need no playin’, I already know the game/ I need more lovin’ in my life, to chase away the pain” and the pointed query of its chorus, all delivered through some steamy, sweetly delivered vocals.
Produced by Magness’ longtime friend and guitarist Dave Darling, Back for Me includes some great playing in addition to Magness’ talented voice, and sounds like a sure bet for an Album of the Year nomination, if not win!