The Party Ain't Over

Working with Hank Thompson as far back as 1954, Wanda Jackson, now 73, was one of the first female country stars, probably the first female rock 'n' roller and definitely the first female rockabilly performer. She toured with Elvis Presley and was blessed with a powerful voice that presaged Brenda Lee and Connie Francis.

Her success with rock 'n' roll and rockabilly numbers such as "Let's Have A Party" and Fujiyama Mama" was based on a simple formula - keep the band pared down, don't over produce and let the voice play.

Enter Jack White and determined to reprise "Van Lear Rose", his 2004 production with Loretta Lynn. But "The Party Ain't Over" is an album of two parts. As with her 50s and 60s material, Wanda works best when the production is simple. Her version of the Jimmy Rodgers classic "Blue Yodel #6" is a smouldering interpretation with a simple acoustic guitar accompaniment. "Teach Me Tonight" is a powerful version of the Sammy Cahn/Gene de Paul classic while the country standard "Dust On The Bible" is a jump blues with horns and brass that suit Wanda's voice.

So, on one level the album works but, too often, Jack White's vision is intrusive. The Harlan Howard masterpiece "Busted" should work but it is punctuated by explosive big band sounds that deny it the emotional depth that the song demands, a la Ray Charles or Johnny Cash.

On her version of the Amy Winehouse song, "You Know I'm No Good" she struggles to rise above the heavy production. Amy wins, I'm afraid. "Like A Baby" almost gets there but the brass overwhelms and with classics such as "Rip It Up" and "Shakin' All Over" Wanda struggles against Jack's vision of retro rock 'n' roll, all sound but no subtlety.

It's not a bad album by any stretch and I loved her version of Dylan's "Thunder On The Mountain", brass and all! But for me, the rule must be - keep the production simple and let the voice play.

If I could I would give the album 3 1/2 stars because of my reservations over the production but Wanda's contribution can't be faulted so four stars rather than three.

From the moment you know that Jack White is producing something, you know that it will be very good. But when you know that Jack White is producing a Wanda Jackson album, you know it will be brilliant! And well ... It really is!
He didn't only produce, but played in most of the songs and they both shine! Jack White makes some amazing solos, mostly in "Thunder On The Mountain" (which is a great cover of Bob Dylan). Wanda never disappoints and uses that big vocal power that she always had. The Third Man Band does a really good job too.
In the end of the day, you realize that it was really a party!

First of all let me say that I have been an ardent fan of Wanda Jackson since 1964, and I have 8 of her original LP's, which I have since put onto CD's. I also have a few of her CD releases.I have also seen her perform live in the early 1980's at the (then) Cornwall Coliseum. Therefore I am more than familiar with the way she should sound ! However, on this CD her voice was drowned out by the music, and also there was, in most cases, more music than there was actual singing. Perhaps this was done on purpose, because after all she was in her late sixties when this CD was recorded. One would not expect her voice to be as good as it was back in the 1960's and 1970's. This fact can also be heard if one watches some of her recent performances on 'YouTube'.All in all this CD does not do her justice in any way.