2019 (A radio station in Belgium playing Jenn Cleary. Google translated.)

If you want to meet singer-songwriter Jenn Cleary, you have to go to Boulder in ‘Centennial State’ Colorado. Jenn has been performing solo since 2006 or as a duo with blues harpist Mad Dog Friedman. Jenn has released her third album ‘Blues Full of Heart’ in the past year. For fans of rock classics and / or fans of Janis Joplin, Stephen Stills, Bonnie Raitt, Bessie Smith or John Prine, a bell should ring.

Jenn Cleary went for ‘Blues Full of Heart’ (the successor of ‘Back to the Wheel’ [2010]) with some of Colorado’s best musicians and producer John McVey to the Cinder Sound Studio in Longmont, for her favorite, much-needed songs from her live shows. Besides McVey (lap steel, electric guitar, bass and background vocals) she could also count on drummer Christian Teele, bassist Brad Morse, pianist / organist Eric Moon, the background vocals of Kate Hope & Mark Oblinger and her regular harmonica player Mad Dog Friedman.

With the live “classics” that Jenn recorded for “Blues Full of Heart,” I mean songs like Stephen Stills “For What It’s Worth”, Janis Joplin’s “Turtle Blues” and “Me and Bobby McGee” (Kris Kristofferson & Fred Foster), the Dusty Springfield hit from 1969 “Son of a Preacher Man” (Ronnie Wilkins & John Hurley) and Louis Armstrong’s title song from his eponymous album from 1968, “What a Wonderful World” (George Weiss & Bob Thiele). The last kassieker was originally offered to Tony Bennett, but this turned down the proposal. George Weiss, co-author of the song, said he wrote the song specifically for Armstrong, as he was inspired by the fact that Armstrong brought different breeds together. Bennett himself recorded the song a number of times later as a tribute to his good friend Armstrong.

The four “remaining” numbers earn, some o.w.v. the story around it, certainly as much attention. James Messina (former Poco and half of the American pop and country rock duo from the early 70s, Loggins & Messina) who wrote the opener “Peace of Mind” wrote the song together with “Lovin ‘Me” and ” To Make a Woman Feel Wanted “. This trilogy, which can be found on their debut album ‘Sittin’ In ‘[1973], was originally intended for Kenny Loggins’ solo album, but was eventually recorded under the name Loggins & under pressure from Jim Messina, who was the producer. Messina. Jim Messina wrote the song when he was still playing at Poco. The song sounds like a protest song. During the reunion of Loggins & Messina in 2005, Loggins sang his own version, which can be heard on the DVD ‘Live Sittin’ In Again at the Santa Barbara Bowl ‘.

“Is not Nobody’s Business” is one of the first blues “standards”. It was published in 1922 by Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins. “Is not Nobody’s Business” has the theme “freedom of choice” and is a jazz-like musical approach in vaudeville. The song was recorded for the first time in 1922 by Anna Meyers (& the Original Memphis Five) as “Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness if I Do”. Blues ladies like Sara Martin, Alberta Hunter, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith (1923), Diana Ross, Cher, Susan Tedeschi … recorded the song. In 1947 it was “refreshed” by Jimmy Witherspoon. “Is not Nobody’s Business” became a best-seller in 1949.

In 1994 Warren Haynes (as a member of) with The Allman Brothers Band released the studio album ‘Where It All Begins’. A song that Haynes and Gregg Allman wrote for the album was “Soulshine”. The name of the song was the nickname that Haynes’ father Edward gave to his son Warren. When Haynes and bassist Allen Woody formed the band Gov’t Mule, the song became a frequently played song during live shows. It can be found on ‘Live … With a Little Help from Our Friends’ [1998], ‘The Deep End, Volume 1’ [2001] and ‘The Deepest End, Live in Concert’ [2003]. Beth Hart also recorded the song for her ’37 Days’ [2007] album. “Soulshine” was recorded in 1993 (with permission of Haynes) by blues man Larry McCray on his album ‘Delta Hurricane’.

“Last but not least” there is John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery”. Country folk singer-songwriter John Prine wrote the song after a friend had proposed (referring to “Hello In There”) “even” a song about old people to write. Although Prine had already said “everything” about them, he was fascinated by the idea of ​​writing a song about a middle-aged woman, who feels older than she is, in order to portray a woman who ” the dishwashing water stood, with soap in her hands and, coming out of her house and her wedding and everything, she just wanted an angel to come and take her away from it all … “. Prine was attracted by Montgomery, because he was a fan of Hank Williams, who had ties with the capital of Alabama. “Angel From Montgomery” was the original title of the Cherie Bennett / Jeff Gottesfeld scenario that the movie “Broken