Ellen McIlwaine - "The Real Ellen McIlwaine" (1975) Vinyl rip @ 24/96

This lady is so much more than just a few obscure tracks on compilation albums. 'The Real Ellen McIlwaine' is the work of a musician who knows her stuff very, very well indeed and is enjoying every minute. Playful, energetic and soulful but above all fearless. Great voice, great playing. This album has become quite hard to find on vinyl, CDs are available if you can stand the horrible remastering, shame because as I'm sure you'll agree it's top drawer music from a real professional. McIlwaine's upbringing and influences conspired to create an artist who blows through boundaries and yet respects the past, you can hear the direct influences as you play through this album, Jimi Hendrix is often quoted as a huge influence and indeed she learned directly from the great man at one time. She was also raised as a young girl in Japan, where she picked up on the local enthusiasm for all things rock'n'roll, check out her version of 'Blueberry Hill' and see if you can't help smiling! Very occasionally you wonder if she's going too far but that's the beauty of life on the edge of a talent like hers. Hell she even yodels and gets away with it. This set opens with her killer version of Stevie Wonder's 'Higher Ground', much used for deejay breaks and known to the goatee sportin' head-nodders, but also has some truly excellent support material with a carefree mix of folk, blues, rock and funk. And the guitar, boy, this chick can play a slide guitar like very few others and could wipe the floor with Seasick Steve, and she plays the piano, and the harmonica (and how!). With a genuinely powerful voice, like a less introverted Joan Armatrading maybe, with a personality and libido to crack a smile on the hardest face. I just love it. Hope you do too. Audio quality is very good indeed, from a genuine Canadian first pressing in mint condition. Enjoy!Tracklisting:
A1 Higher Ground (3:44)
A2 Lazy Day (3:17)
A3 He The Richmond (5:21)
A4 Up In Heaven Shouting/ I Am So Glad (1:57)
A5 Blueberry Hill (3:01)
A6 The Secret In This Lady's Heart (3:48)
A7 Virginia Creeper (3:00)
B1 Thirty-Piece Band (2:22)
B2 Tennessee Ridgerunner (2:14)
B3 Crawling Kingsnake (2:07)
B4 Down So Low (3:59)
B5 Let's Go Down To The Ocean (2:33)
B6 Born Under A Bad Sign (3:26)
B7 Let Me Be (3:12)

Personnel:
Ellen McIlwaine, vocals, guitar
Christian St. Roch, drums on A2, flute and bridge harmony on B7
Bill Gagnon, bass on A2, Side 2, 7
Marcel Huot, drums on A7, B7
Lance Nagle, tuba on A7
Cassie Montgomery and Tout La Gang, party on A7
Michel Seguin, drums on B2
Bill Gagnon/Michel Seguin, old men's voices on B2

Recording details:
Recorded in Montreal in 1975 with members of the Ville Emard Blues Band