Upon checking out the title, along with the track list, which includes song titles such as “Voodoo Woman”, “Voodoo Voodoo”, “It’s Your Voodoo Working” , and “Love Spell”, one might be able to identify the recurring theme of Teeny Tucker’s latest album, if hard-pressed. That being said, Teeny Tucker doesn’t need voodoo to get anyone to love this recording, Voodoo To Do You! She’s got it covered with powerful vocals, down-home blues, choice song selections and a great band which includes guitarist Robert Hughes, bassist Robert Blackburn, drummer Darrell Jumper, David Gastel on harmonica and keyboards.
Tucker kicks this thirteen track album off with a fantastic cover of Koko Taylor’s “Voodoo Woman”. It’s fast paced Blues, buttered on one side with her cool raspy vocals, and on the other side, with Hughes’ killer electric riffs. Linda Dachtyl, sitting in on this one with her B3, adds a cohesive bonding that nicely pulls the song together. Then without skipping a beat, the intro to Howlin’ Wolf’s “Commit a Crime” gently rolls in. Hughes scores big points on this one as he nicely sets the song in motion. Introducing new lyrics, Tucker tackles this one from a woman’s point of view. “Tough Lover” is another cover, with a little modification. This one isn’t your Etta James’ version. Tucker takes the original and slows it down a bit, which I think is a great decision. Interestingly, as the tempo increases, Hughes briefly steers the song from Blues to Rockabilly before bringing it back home again.
One of my favorite tracks on the album is Tucker’s rendition of “Death Don’t Have No Mercy”, originally by Gary Davis, and covered later by the Grateful Dead. I love the guitar licks Hughes lays down on this dark and sullen song. I can feel the emotion pouring off his guitar strings as he plays. This is probably the coolest song on the album.
Tucker must have had her mojo working double time when she got the idea for the closer song, “Sun Room”. This upbeat original, about the history and spirit of the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, coincidentally was recorded at the Sun Studios. When this song plays, I feel momentarily transported to the studio itself. Tucker makes it easy to envision the iconic building at 706 Union Avenue, with her crafted lyrics. (by Phillip Smith)
Teeny Tucker comes honestly to the blues. Her father Tommy Tucker was the first to have a hit with “Hi-Heel Sneakers”. Her earliest musical experiences were in church in Dayton, Ohio but in her teens, Teeny discovered her true calling: deep, down-home blues. Since then she has paid her dues and gained national recognition as an independent recording artist, singer and songwriter. “Voodoo To Do You” is her fourth disc on TeBo Records. The fourth time may be the “charm” to catapult Ms. Tucker to worldwide fame. She tells great stories, struts her tough stuff, rocks with her band, delivers fresh covers of classics such as “I’m A Woman”, laughs at herself and croons tender blues ballads such as “Death Don’t Have No Mercy”. Many of the songs revolve around the mystique of “voodoo” from working it on a miscreant lover to the spells cast by a new love interest. Many CDs today are not worthy of listening from start to finish, but “Voodoo To Do You” by Teeny Tucker is one terrific tune after another. (by Linda Yohn)
Personnel:
Robert Blackburn (bass)
David Gastel (harmonica, keyboards)
Robert Hughes (guitar)
Darrell Juper (drums)
Teeny Tucker (vocals)
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background vocals:
Mary Lusco-Ashley – Paula Brown . Teeny Tucker
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Linda Dachtyl (organ, piano on 01., 03., 06. + 09.)
Tracklist:
01. Voodoo Woman (Taylor/Eyebell) 3.27
02. Commit a Crime (Burnett) 3.26
03. Love Spell (Hughes/Tucker) 3.59
04. Voodoo Voodoo (Coleman/Avril) 2.26
05. Tuff Lover (James) 2.22
06. Can Do All That (Hughes/Tucker) 3.18
07. Shoes (Tucker) 2.48
08. It’s Your Voodoo Workin’ (Sheffield) 2.28
09. Muddier Things Get (Hughes/Tucker) 2.47
10. I’m a Woman (Leiber/Stoller) 2.57
11. Hard Time Killing Floor Blues (Curtis) 2.51
12. Death Don’t Have No Mercy (Davis) 3.12
13. Sun Room (Hughes/Tucker) 3.12
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