Maria Muldaur
"I'm A Woman"
(Thirty Years Of Maria Muldaur)
It's really hard to believe that after thirty albums and recording for forty one years, no type of greatest hits album has ever been done for rootsy, jazzy sounding great, Maria Muldaur. Muldaur is a pioneer of Americana music dipping into all types of sounds with her versatile voice and wide variety of styles.
Maria grew up listening and developing a love for country and western singers
like Kitty Wells and Hank Williams. Her aunt was an influence to her, playing
"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" on the piano. As a teenager she
starting listening to early rhythm and blues like Fats Domino and Little
Richard.
Growing up into the Greenwich Village scene along with artists like John
Sebastian, Dylan and others was where she paid her dues. Maria's first recording
experience came as a member of the "Jim Kweskin Jug Band", where she first
recorded "I'm A Woman" which became her theme song and is the opener on this
compilation of nineteen songs, which include a combination of her favorites and
also popular audience requests. This album spans her ongoing forty one year
career which is still in a very active mode, doing about two hundred shows a
year.
This is a very high quality recording, compliments of Rhino Mastering who make
a living of making great recordings sound awesome. Muldaur is an incredible song
stylist, one of the best female singers of our times.
The song that Maria is known for "Midnight At The Oasis" was an add on to her
first solo album. Her producer said one more mid tempo song was needed and Maria
suggested this song that her guitarist had written. The song went on to be one
of those once in a lifetime events becoming a number one hit all over the world.
Maria's beautiful rendition of Dolly Parton's "Tennessee Mountain Home" with
David Grisman on mandolin shows how sweet and pure her vocals are.
Her version of John Hiatt's "Feels Like Rain" is smoky, sensuous with some
great, jazzy guitar going on and some great background vocals. "Me And My
Chauffeur Blues" is a great acoustic, bluesy tune with some great pickin'. This
song really takes off.
Included is a great booklet which tells the story behind each song with many
great pics. "Get Up, Get Ready" is a great upbeat, jazzy gospel song with the
Chambers Brothers, most of her songs here have a live feel to them.
"Somebody Was watching Over Me" with Bonnie Raitt is another upbeat gospel
song. This album is really full of a great selection of guitarists. "Well, Well,
Well", a Dylan song is a very haunting melody with Maria singing a real raspy
reading. Some great acoustic slide in a real rootsy song.
The tracks are all emotionally charged with much talented help. This is a
great photograph of a long career that is still going strong.
In closing, you hear the precursors of "Oh Brother ,Where Art Though" type
music to "Norah Jones" style, but Maria is an American Icon in herself. This is
a must have for fans of American roots music.
Visit Maria at:
www.mariamuldaur.com
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