Two-Fisted Mama! is an album by the American musician Katie Webster, released in 1989.[2][3] Webster promoted the album with a North American tour.[4] The album was nominated for a Bammy Award, in the "Blues Album" category.[5]
| Two-Fisted Mama! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Studio | Streeterville | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | Alligator[1] | |||
| Producer | Katie Webster, Bruce Iglauer, Vasti Jackson, Ice Cube Slim | |||
| Katie Webster chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editThe album was produced by Webster, Bruce Iglauer, Vasti Jackson, and Ice Cube Slim.[6] The Memphis Horns guested on Two-Fisted Mama![7] Webster wrote or cowrote six of the album's songs; "So Far Away" is a cover of the Dire Straits song.[7][8] "Red Negligee" is done in a talking blues style.[9] Many songs address women listeners by providing relationship advice.[10]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| Chicago Tribune | [12] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[13] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [14] |
| MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide | [6] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [15] |
Robert Christgau wrote: "Boogie as in woogie, not as in bar band, is her gift—a rolling piano style she certainly didn't invent and just as certainly owns—and here the experts get it down."[13] Newsday noted that, "like most great blues artists, she uses the irregular, the unexpected, to make musical points; where others might use a melisma, she sings the phrase straight and sweet; she purrs where others would growl, and vice versa."[8]
The Chicago Tribune wrote that Webster delivers "some comic relief with sharp and funny tales of the war between the sexes."[12] The Edmonton Journal called Two-Fisted Mama! "one of the most rewarding blues albums of the year," writing that "Webster is a superb, soulful singer and an immense piano player."[9] The Syracuse Herald-Journal praised Webster's "bawdy, quick-paced style."[16]
AllMusic deemed the album "another impressive showcase for Katie Webster's rollicking 88s and earthy vocals."[11]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Two-Fisted Mama" | |
| 2. | "Stood Up Again" | |
| 3. | "Red Negligee" | |
| 4. | "C.Q. Boogie" | |
| 5. | "Never Let Me Go" | |
| 6. | "Love Deluxe" | |
| 7. | "Pussycat Moan" | |
| 8. | "Money Honey or Honey Hush" | |
| 9. | "I'm Still Leaving" | |
| 10. | "The Katie Lee" | |
| 11. | "So Far Away" |
References
edit- ^ "Webster keys into boogie-woogie fans". USA Today. 22 Jan 1990. p. 4D.
- ^ Brennan, Brian (30 Nov 1989). "Katie Webster: Two-Fisted Mama". Calgary Herald. p. F3.
- ^ "Katie Webster Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Blackstock, Peter (4 Jan 1991). "On the town". Austin American-Statesman. p. A10.
- ^ "Grateful Dead in Running for 5 Bammies". San Francisco Chronicle. December 1, 1989. p. E11.
- ^ a b MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 393.
- ^ a b Paul, Alan (1 Dec 1989). "Last year's Swamp Boogie Queen...". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 17.
- ^ a b Anderson, John (29 Oct 1989). "'Two-Fisted Mama!' Katie Webster". Part II. Newsday. p. 19.
- ^ a b Campbell, Rod (1 Apr 1990). "Disc boosts blues artist's claim to stardom". Edmonton Journal. p. E4.
- ^ Narváez, Peter (Autumn 1991). "Sound Recording Reviews". The Journal of American Folklore. 104 (414): 513.
- ^ a b "Katie Webster Two-Fisted Mama!". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Heim, Chris (21 Dec 1989). "Katie Webster Two-Fisted Mama!". Chicago Tribune. p. 15E.
- ^ a b "Katie Webster". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 565.
- ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books Ltd. 2006. p. 691.
- ^ Bourke, Brian G. (April 6, 1990). "Swamp blues piano queen". Syracuse Herald-Journal. p. C4.