Dana Fuchs "Love To Beg"

 

 

On April 12, 2011 Ruf Records released the newly signed Dana Fuchs, Label Debut "Love To Beg" and after having just listened to the first two tracks, it was abundantly clear to me that another female Rock N' Roll Blues Star has just been born. With a voice compared to Janis Joplin, so much so that she actually played the lead part in the Off Broadway Musical, Love Janis, Dana Fuchs has now staked her territory as being one of the more exciting female singers to hit the music scene in a very long time, harking back to the glory days of the likes of Joan Jett and Chrissie Hynde. With "Love To Beg", Dana Fuchs does not waste any time at all showing us that there is certainly a new and very talented kid on the block, one that is not afraid to tear at the fabric of conventional musical wisdom to expose something that is a lot more refreshing to the palate'.

 

One only needs to listen to "Love To Beg", and know a bit about Dana Fuchs, to realize she is not about to become an Overly Pretentious Single Talented Diva. At still a relatively young age, she is already a critically acclaimed Singer and Actress, with additional talents of Songwriter, Producer, and Executive Producer.

 

"Love To Beg" consists of 13 Tracks, all songs but one are written by Dana Fuchs and Jon Diamond. As well as co-writing with Dana Fuchs, Jon Diamond also plays Guitar on all the tracks, and on a few of them, he also plays the Harmonica. Other performers on "Love To Beg" include Whynot Jansveld (Bass), Carter Mclean (Drums), whom play on all the Tracks. Additional performers on various Tracks included Jenny Douglas (Background Vocals), Vivian Sessoms (Background Vocals & Background Vocal Arrangement), Glen Patscha (Hammond Organ/Piano/Wurlitzer), Craig Dreyer (Horn Arrangement/Tenor Sax), Tim Quimette (Trumpet/Flugelhorn), Rick Crisca (Baritone Sax), Clark Gayton (Trombone), and Dan Yeager (Trumpet). The Background singers are on most of the Tracks, with everyone together with the Horn section on Track 9 "Summersong". "Summersong" reminded me a lot of Tina Turner, both in style and sound. This is one really good track especially when the horn section kicks in full tilt. The Cover song "I've Been Loving You Too Long" is a song written by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler. It was first recorded by Otis Redding, whom Dana Fuch's says is her most "favorite male soul vocalist in the world". The job that Dana does on this song, is nothing less then magical.

 

"Love To Beg" came across to me as a very well rounded musical excursion, from full steam ahead Guitar Driven Rockin' Blues to Sexy and Sultry R&B, and even some good old Soulful Blues thrown in for good measure. My favorite tracks were the Guitar Driven ones,  "Love To Beg", "Nothing's What I Cry For",  and "What You See". I especially liked when Jon Diamond showed off his great talent on the Harmonica. Together with Dana Fuchs, "Love To Beg" is a tremendously good release, of the kind not often heard in today's so so musical landscape.

 

Ruf Records has made a point of signing some of the best artists, of the female persuasion, to their label, such as Sue Foley, Ana Popovic, Joanne Shaw Taylor, and Shakura S'Aida, to name a few. With the addition now of Dana Fuchs, Ruf Records continues it winning ways of presenting us Simply The Best and has us all Begging For More.

 

I give "Love To Beg" my highest rating of 5*****. Very Very Impressed with this Exceptionally Good Album and Exceptionally Good Artist.

 

Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

 

Additional Info

 

Tracklist

 

1.Love To Beg
2.Nothing's What I Cry For
3.Golden Eyes
4.Keepsake
5.Set It On Fire
6.Faster Than We Can
7.Keep On Rollin'
8.Drive
9.Summersong
10.Pretty Girl
11.I've Been Loving You Too Long
12.What You See
13.Superman

 

Listen To Samples Here...