The Swamp Boogie Queen

The Swamp Boogie Queen
Studio album by
Katie Webster
Released1988
GenreBlues
Length41:52
LabelAlligator
ProducerBruce Iglauer, Ice Cube Slim
Katie Webster chronology
The Many Faces of Katie Webster
(1987) 		The Swamp Boogie Queen
(1988) 		Two-Fisted Mama!
(1989)

The Swamp Boogie Queen is an album by the American musician Katie Webster, released in 1988.[1][2] It was her first album for Alligator Records and her first with distribution throughout the United States and Canada.[3] Webster supported the album with North American and European tours.[4][5]

Production

The album was produced by Bruce Iglauer and Ice Cube Slim.[6] Webster was backed by the Silent Partners on most of the tracks.[7] The Memphis Horns contributed to a few tracks, as did the Paladins.[7] Kim Wilson played harmonica and sang on the cover of Johnnie Taylor's "Who's Making Love?", which also featured Robert Cray on guitar.[4][8] "Try a Little Tenderness" is a cover of the song written and originally performed by Otis Redding, Webster's former employer.[9] "Hold On to What You Got" is a version of the song by Joe Tex.[10] "Sea of Love" is a cover of the 1959 Phil Phillips song, on which Webster also played.[6] "Black Satin" is an instrumental.[6] Webster duetted with Bonnie Raitt on "Somebody's On Your Case".[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
The Cincinnati Post[13]
The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD[14]
Lincoln Journal Star[15]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide[16]
Oakland Tribune[11]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[17]
Rolling Stone[10]
The Times[18]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues[19]

The St. Petersburg Times stated that "Webster's boogie-woogie piano style is highlighted by the dexterity of her left hand, which can pound out dense, bass-heavy boogie riffs that many pianists would find difficult with both hands."[7] The Gazette said that "Webster's spicy musical stew of blues, gospel, soul, R&B and Louisiana stomp is a perfect vehicle for her unaffected, heartfelt singing."[20] The Whig-Standard noted that the album "isn't any of your glossy Motown stuff but the earthy, sexy soul you never hear in any movie soundtrack."[21]

The Press of Atlantic City called The Swamp Boogie Queen "the finest and most consistent blues album yet to be available in 1988."[6] The Lincoln Journal Star said that Webster's "piano playing, a super mix of gospel, blues, jazz and boogie woogie, is a welcome break from the guitar-oriented world of the blues."[15] The Herald labeled Webster "the essence of heartfelt Southern music-making."[22] The Cincinnati Post deemed the album "one of the year's best blues LPs".[13] The Times praised Webster's "gospel-influenced backwater blues style".[18]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Who's Making Love?" 
2."Sea of Love" 
3."Black Satin" 
4."After You Get Rid of Me" 
5."Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)" 
6."No Bread, No Meat" 
7."Whoo-Wee Sweet Daddy" 
8."Try a Little Tenderness" 
9."Hold On to What You Got" 
10."Somebody's On Your Case" 
11."On the Run" 
12."Lord, I Wonder" 

References

  1. ^ Krampert, Peter (2002). The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica. Mel Bay Publications, Inc. p. 182.
  2. ^ Shea, Kathleen (July 29, 1988). "She's Sittin' on the Dock of the River". Features Friday. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 42.
  3. ^ Long, Tom (August 13, 1989). "Playing the Blues and Beyond". New Hampshire Week. The Boston Globe. p. 13.
  4. ^ a b Arnold, Thomas K. (September 21, 1988). "El Cajon Has New Home for New, Old Rock Stars". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
  5. ^ Hudson, Kathleen (October 9, 1988). "Texas Heritage Music Series". Kerrville Daily Times. p. 11A.
  6. ^ a b c d Allen, Greg (September 30, 1988). "How blue this lady can get". The Press of Atlantic City. p. C4.
  7. ^ a b c Hall, Ken (November 6, 1988). "Boogie from the swamp". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
  8. ^ Point, Michael (September 28, 1988). "Album is added jewel in Swamp Boogie Queen's crown". Austin American-Statesman. p. C5.
  9. ^ Lewis, Randy (September 22, 1988). "'Swamp Boogie Queen' Thins the Stew". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 11.
  10. ^ a b Gleason, Holly (January 26, 1989). "Recordings: The Swamp Boogie Queen". Rolling Stone. No. 544. p. 42.
  11. ^ a b Kelp, Larry (October 30, 1988). "Recordings". Calendar. Oakland Tribune. p. 8.
  12. ^ "The Swamp Boogie Queen Review by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Nager, Larry (October 22, 1988). "Color fall music blue: Some fine, funky listening". The Cincinnati Post. p. 6B.
  14. ^ Hadley, Frank-John (1993). The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD. Grove Press. p. 237.
  15. ^ a b Wolgamott, L. Kent (October 4, 1988). "Music". Lifestyle. Lincoln Journal Star. p. 7.
  16. ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 393.
  17. ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 691.
  18. ^ a b Lounges, Tom (January 20, 1989). "Katie Webster 'The Swamp Boogie Queen'". The Times. p. D2.
  19. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues. Virgin Books. p. 366.
  20. ^ Lepage, Mark (January 26, 1989). "Katie Webster sings up a spicy musical stew". The Gazette. p. B5.
  21. ^ Burliuk, Greg (February 11, 1989). "The Swamp Boogie Queen Katie Webster". Magazine. The Whig-Standard. p. 1.
  22. ^ Kelton, Jim (October 9, 1988). "Swamp Boogie Queen will steam up your ears". The Herald. p. 10F.
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