Pinky’s Blues
Stony Plain, 2021
9/10
The esteemed blues guitarist and vocalist Sue Foley never disappoints, and here with Jon Penner (bass), Chris Layton (drums), Mike Flanigin (keys) and a very special appearance from a blues legend, she delivers a well executed mix of originals and covers.
The title track gets the album off to a strong start with Foley’s soulful and powerful guitar alongside Layton’s thumping drums, and “Two Bit Texas Town” follows with plenty of rhythm as Foley’s rugged yet tuneful pipes guide the flowing blues spirit.
At the halfway point, “Say It’s Not So” trims the volume back so we can digest the full scope of Foley’s soaring voice before building into some warm R&B influences, while “Hurricane Girl” bounces and shakes with a playful energy that welcomes Jimmie Vaughan on rhythm guitar. “Stop These Teardrops” then points towards the early days of rock’n’roll as Foley’s versatile singing makes for an irresistible tune that’s impossible not to admire.
Closer to the end, “Think It Over” offers an emotive and raw moment that benefits much from Flanigin’s organ prowess, and Willie Dixon’s “When The Cat’s Gone The Mice Play is a lively finish with some funk nods as Foley puts an inimitable spin on the classic.
Now in her 50’s and well over a dozen albums deep into her body of work, although she’s still first and foremost a Canadian, Foley plays with the timelessness of the blues found in Chicago, Memphis and, of course, Austin, where she’s spent much time, and it sounds better than ever here.
Travels well with: Joanna Connor- 4801 South Indiana Avenue; Erin Harpe- Meet Me In The Middle