Monday, February 14, 2011

Wanda Jackson's 'The Party Ain't Over' review

Rockabilly

Even the greatest fans of the White Stripes have to acknowledge that Jack White can make real magic happen when he teams up with an older stalwart. He did it already with Loretta Lynn. Now he's topping himself, if that's possible, with his work on "The Party Ain't Over" by the incredible Wanda Jackson. She is, now and forever, the Queen of Rockabilly, and she shows it again and again on the album's 11 cuts. But she and White also prove that her singular talent and feline vocals can adapt just fine to Bob Dylan ("Thunder on the Mountain") and the Andrews Sisters ("Rum and Coca-Cola"). Jackson (due May 4 at the Great American Music Hall) has never lost the power she displayed years ago - in fact, she seems to have gotten better with each new CD. But with White as producer and on electric guitar, she displays jaw-dropping power on classics such as "Shakin' All Over," "Busted" and "Teach Me Tonight."

WANDA JACKSON

THE PARTY AIN'T OVER

NONESUCH

$18.98

This article appeared on page Q - 33 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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