Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks- Electric Lady - 2005 - Swing Cafe

The most outstanding British Female vocal talent of the past four decades returns with an incredible 2005 album of original material. 'Electric Lady' was produced by her son Jermanine Jordan during 2004 at their own studio in North Devon. Seven of the songs are brand new, with all lyrics written by Elkie and music being shared 50:50 between Elkie and Jermaine. The other four tracks are specifically and personally chosen covers of The Doors' 'Roadhouse', Bob Dylan's 'Grooms Still Waiting At The Altar', Paul Rodgers' 'Muddy Water Blues' and the Tony Joe White track 'Out Of The Rain'. Elkie hits include 'Pearl's A Singer's' (#8), 'Sunshine After The Rain' (#10) & 'No More The Fool' (#5). Swing Cafe. 2005. 1996 - 2010 CD Universe http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6859640

"Electric Lady" was not one of Elkie Brooks' best selling albums.
In fact, it didn't even make the mainstream charts. However, it is one of her best albums. Elkie remains one of the best soul/blues rock singers in the world. "Electric Lady" returns to Elkie's first love of roots blues and rock. Elkie wrote the lyrics, and shared the music composition with her son, Jermaine, on seven tracks. There are some great covers here of songs by Bob Dylan, and The Doors, and listen to her versions of Paul Rodgers' "Muddy Water Blues", and Tony Joe White's "Out of the Rain". This is the real Elkie Brooks. The lady never lost it ! "Electric Lady" is VHR by A.O.O.F.C. There is info on Elkie's great "Nothing But The Blues" album @ ELKIB/NBTB Search this blog for more Elkie Brooks/Vinegar Joe related releases

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1."Electric Lady" (Elkie Brooks, Jermaine Jordan) – 3:59
2."So Good Looking" (Brooks, Jordan) – 3:28
3."Try Harder" (Brooks, Jordan) – 3:29
4."Roadhouse Blues" (Morrison, Densmore, Manzarek, Kreiger) – 4:59
5."White Girl Lost in the Blues" (Brooks, Jordan) – 4:08
6."The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar (Bob Dylan) – 4:24
7."Back Away" (Brooks, Jordan) – 3:48
8."Muddy Water Blues" (Paul Rodgers) – 4:30
9."The Brighter Side" (Brooks, Jordan) – 3:58
10."Out of the Rain" (Tony Joe White) – 4:18
11."Trailer Trash" (Brooks, Jordan) – 3:42

MUSICIANS

Elkie Brooks – vocals
Geoff Whitehorn – guitar
Jermaine Jordan – guitar, bass, drums
Alan Welch – piano, keyboards
Steve Jones – saxophone
Lee Noble – backing vocals

BIO

British pop-jazz-blues crooner Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder) dominated U.K. radio in the late '70s with a series of hit singles that established her as "the biggest-selling female album artist in the history of the British pop charts." The Manchester native, who grew up in an extremely musical family, left school at the age of 15 to join a dance band in London. She eventually mad the jump to radio, as well as numerous appearances with legendary jazz bandleader Humphrey Lyttelton, before embarking on a career in pop music. The early '60s saw the budding young singer releasing singles for Decca and EMI, as well as opening for everyone from Carl Perkins to the Beatles, but commercial success remained elusive. She joined the blues-rock band Dada in 1970, which would eventually find success through a name change (Vinegar Joe) and the arrival of a new vocalist, Robert Palmer. The popular group released three beloved records before disbanding in 1974, and after a brief stint with U.S. Southern rock band Wet Willie, Brooks decided to take another crack at a solo career. The resulting Rich Man's Woman, Two Days Away, Shooting Star, Live & Learn, Pearls, and Pearls II, as well as frequent sold-out tours and numerous silver, gold, and platinum recordings, would go on to cement her reputation well into the 21st century. © James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide

BIO (WIKIPEDIA)

Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder, 25 February 1945 in Broughton, Salford) is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. She is known for her husky voice. Brooks was born to Jewish parents in Salford, England and grew up in Prestwich. She attended North Salford Secondary Modern School. A professional singer since she was fifteen, Brooks' debut, a cover of Etta James's "Something's Got A Hold On Me", was released on Decca in 1964. She spent most of the 1960s on Britain's jazz scene.It was on the jazz scene she met Humphrey Lyttelton the two remained friends till Lyttelton's death in 2008. Impressed by Steve Marriott's vocal and stage performances, she helped the mod band Small Faces with their early career by introducing them at several venues. In the early 1960s Brooks supported The Beatles in their Christmas show in London. She also toured the U.S with The Animals, among other acts and also supported Jimi Hendrix.After she met husband Pete Gage, she joined the short-lived fusioneers Dada before forming Vinegar Joe with Gage and Robert Palmer. After three albums, they split up in 1974, and Brooks and Palmer both went solo. After a time as backing singer with the American southern boogie band Wet Willie, she returned to England. Her first solo album on A&M records Rich Man's Woman (1975) came before a run of sixteen UK hit albums in twenty-five years, starting with Two Days Away, produced by the legendary duo Leiber & Stoller, who had also worked with Elvis Presley and many others (1977). Brooks wrote some tracks with Leiber and Stoller. The hits "Pearl's a Singer", "Sunshine After the Rain" came from this album. "Lilac Wine", Don't Cry Out Loud, came later. The albums Shooting Star (1978), Live and Learn (1979), Pearls (at the time, the largest selling album by a British female artist) (1981), "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" was a hit for Brooks taken from this album. Written by Chris Rea. Pearls II (1982), Minutes (1984) and Screen Gems the first album to be produced on CD in the UK (1984) were all UK chart successes. In 1986 No More the Fool gave her biggest hit single to date while the parent album reached the top 5. Following chart success ensued with the albums The Very Best of (1986), Bookbinders Kid On Bookbinders Kid, she covered "What's The Matter Baby" previously recorded by Timi Yuro. Yuro got in touch with Brooks to compliment her. (1988), Inspiration (1981), Round Midnight (1993), Nothin' But the Blues (1994), Amazing (1996) and The Very Best of (1997). In 1980 Brooks performed at the Knebworth festival with The Beach Boys, Santana and Mike Oldfield. Brooks' success has earned her recognition by the Guinness Book of Records as the most charted British female album artist of the last 30 years. Pearls stayed in the charts for 79 weeks and was still there when Pearls II charted a year later. In March 2003 she participated in the ITV music talent show Reborn in the USA, alongside musicians such as Peter Cox (Go West Singer), Tony Hadley and Leee John. The Electric Lady album (2005) saw a return to her blues and rock roots, featuring self-penned tracks alongside re-workings of numbers by The Doors, Bob Dylan, Paul Rodgers and Tony Joe White. The following year saw the release of her first official DVD, titled Elkie Brooks & Friends: Pearls featuring an array of guest musicians. Brooks is currently working on her 20th studio album. A popular live attraction, Brooks has toured almost every year during her solo career. Her 1982 UK concert tour was seen by more than 140,000 people in just three months.She has performed at every major UK theatre including sell out runs at the London Palladium, Dominion Theatre, Hammersmith Apollo, Ronnie Scott's, Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Arena.