August 2021 News

By THE A.D. Amorosi



Before discussing country-rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson's so-called final album, it's best to clear up a few things.

When most think of the last 20 years of Wanda Jackson's career, and her return to secular music after a decade doing songs of praise, it is often more in consideration of the producers and collaborators who aided and abetted her mission to raise hell. The latest of these is the just-released "Encore," produced by JOAN JETT and KENNY LAGUNA and released on their Blackheart label in partnership with Nashville's Big Machine.

Preceding this was a run of albums that included "Heart Trouble," from 2003, with contributions from Rosie Flores, Elvis Costello and the Cramps; the brash, Jack White-produced "The Party Ain't Over" (2011); and the spare, soulful "Unfinished Business" (2012), produced by Justin Townes Earle. With any of these, the temptation is there to focus on the younger makers, rather than their wiser mistress.

Make no mistake, however: Wanda Jackson is the boss Ð soft spoken at 83, yet commanding Ð and has been since her major label start, making singles for Decca in 1954, then albums for Capitol beginning in 1958, always blending country sides with rockabilly tracks.

"There was a time when you had managers, assistants, stylists telling you what to wear and how to wear it, but musically, I had final say," says Jackson, in a gravelly voice ever-so-slightly roughed-up by Oklahoma City's allergy season. "That's how I got to rockabilly in the first place, when everyone thought I would exclusively be a country artist Ð which I was, too. I crossed the line, and they didn't know what to do with me. But that's what made me meÉ I was a maverick in that sense."

That me, especially on self-penned songs of the late '50s such as "Mean Mean Man," "Baby Loves Him" and "Cool Love," found a far-ahead-of-her-time Jackson ripe with rude innuendo and aggressive sexuality, to say nothing of her frisky vocals' rasp.

At a time in post-WWII America when country and pop were filled with men commanding women to be demure and sing sexlessly - and when the Grand Ole Opry was a model of purity - Wanda Jackson was unceasing in her command of primal rock 'n' roll with hyper-passionate sensuality attached (and a band that dared to feature a Black pianist, Big Al Downing, in the segregated South).

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS



Madonna, the top-selling female artist of all time, will bring her entire catalog of recorded music under the Warner Music umbrella as part of a career-spanning global partnership announced Monday.

The singer, who launched her career with Warner, has sold more than 300 million records worldwide, won seven Grammys and dozens of other major awards, including 24 ASCAP Pop Music awards, MTV VMAs, Brits, Ivor Novellos, Junos and more, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. Madonna's compositions are already administered globally by Warner Chappell Music publishing, so the move brings her entire solo music catalog under one roof.

A rep for Warner confirmed that the partnership does not address new recordings; Madonna's deal with Interscope Records ended last year, so she apparently remains a free agent for future music projects.

Madonna said. "Since the very beginning, Warner Music Group has helped bring my music and vision to all my fans around the world with the utmost care and consideration. They have been amazing partners, and I am delighted to be embarking on this next chapter with them to celebrate my catalogue from the last 40 years."

The partnership, which comes in advance of next year's 40th anniversary of Madonna's debut single, encompasses her entire Sire/Maverick/Warner catalog, including top-sellers and critical favorites "Madonna," "Like a Virgin," "True Blue," "Like a Prayer" and "Ray of Light." The main update in the deal sees her three most recent studio albums, "MDNA," "Rebel Heart" and "Madame X," which were released on Interscope, joining the Warner catalog beginning in 2025. In total, the new pact includes 17 studio albums plus singles, soundtrack recordings, live albums, and compilations.