Koko Taylor – South Side Lady – Evidence Records ECD 26007-2

This 1992 Evidence label 15-song CD re-release of an original 1974 Black & Blue label nine-song LP offering includes a tasty blues assortment from “The Queen Of The Blues” including some dynamic “live” cuts laid-down in The Netherlands in early December, 1973.

Taylor is in extremely great form throughout the entirety of this collection, her growling and testifying not hindered, as it was in her later years when breaks in her voice were common.  This is Taylor at her most formidable, with a sass and strength that were major components of her attraction, rendering her a striking blues chanteuse whenever she took the stage.

A great deal of the success of this assemblage is due to the bluesmen who lend their substantial support to the proceedings, including blues-drummer-without-peer Fred Below, Chess piano, harmonicist, and singer, Mr. “I Don’t Know” Willie Mabon, the tandem blues guitars of Chicago titans Jimmy Rogers and Louis Myers, and the always-locked-in low end frameworks of blues bass giant Dave Myers. 

Make no mistake, though, the focus here is on the exhilarating Taylor and her broad capabilities to put a song across; she succeeds one every front.  Recorded during a period when Taylor’s Chess Records career had stalled, and before she went on to her greatest acclaim as part of the Alligator Records stable of artists, each selection here shines with its powerful blues passion.

For those who only know Taylor after she began her career with Alligator Records in 1975 with I Got What It Takes (and her additional eights releases for the label), this is the place to start to understand the immense authority, dominance, influence, and success of Taylor in the traditionally male-ruled blues sphere.  Especially with the band backing her; it just simply doesn’t get any better.

This is both indispensable Koko Taylor and an essential blues release by the genre’s modern-day female super woman.  Add this to your personal blues holdings! 

Essential modern-day blues!