Just Won’t Burn (25th Anniversary Edition)
Artist: Susan Tedeschi
Label: Fantasy
Released: 2023
Number of Tracks: 16
Duration: 70:51
Website: https://susantedeschi.com/
Review by Mixmaster Linc
The Susan Tedeschi Band released its debut album in 1995 (which includes a picture of Susan topless on the cover), but it was not until she released Just Won’t Burn under her own name in 1998 that she really made a splash on the blues scene. By 2000, the album had gone Gold (over 500,000 copies sold), which rarely happens with blues records (especially on smaller independent labels like Tone Cool), and Susan was nominated for a Grammy for best new artist, another rarity for a blues artist. Reviews of the original album (over the last 25 years) have ranged from praise to derision, of course depending on the point of view of the reviewer. Following is my unabashed review:
The opening cut “Rock Me Right” sounds derivative of Gretchen Wilson’s “Here for the Party”, and doesn’t do anything for me. Her reinterpretation of Ruth Brown’s “Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean” and lightweight cover of Junior Wells’ “Little by Little” are a step (or two) down from the originals. Her cover of John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery”, however stands up quite well. It is reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt’s cover, and could arguably be called just as good. The title track defies its title and absolutely burns, and “Looking for Answers”, “You Need to Be With Me”, and “Friar’s Point” are all excellent blues songs as well. The balance of the songs are serviceable, but not outstanding.
The five bonus tracks on the 25th Anniversary edition are a mixed bag. The alternate take on “Looking for Answers” adds nothing to the canon, and the unissued track “Waste Of My Time”, is aptly named. The unissued “Voodoo Woman”, however, is quite worthy, and the two live tracks from the Tedeschi Trucks Band in 2022 are both excellent as well.
Hear for yourself: Listen on Youtube
