Ignored Obscured Restored
Today marks the 16th anniversary for the Song of the Week (SotW). It all started back in the first week of February 2018. I sent out a couple of MP3s attached to an email without any write up. One of those songs was the Beatles’ “All My Loving” from the Ed Sullivan Show, which aired 60 years ago yesterday! Truly a performance that changed the world – and that’s not hyperbole. Thanks for supporting my posts for all these years.
February is Black History Month. I enjoy paying tribute to the occasion by featuring artists that speak to the African American experience. Today let’s shine a spotlight on Allison Russell, a contemporary, Grammy nominated artist. Russell is a Canadian born resident of Nashville who was nominated for best Americana album last year for Outside Child.
Last September she released her second solo album, The Returner, which might be even better than Outside Child. The provocative “Eve Was Black” is one of the highlights of the disc.
Eve was Black, haven’t you heard?
The Mother of All was Dark and Good
Eve was Black, didn’t you know?
Is that why you hate my Black Skin so?
Is that why you hate my Black Skin so?
This is boundary pushing Americana! Russell is a woman that wants to speak her mind, and I like it.
Before focusing on her solo career, Russell was in the band Po’ Girl with Trish Klein (The Be Good Tanyas). She moved on from there to join her husband JT Nero in Birds of Chicago. (They have a child together, though Russell identifies as queer. It’s complicated.) Later she joined forces with Rhiannon Giddens, and others, in the group Our Native Daughters.
But now her focus is clearly on her doing her own thing, and I’m glad it is.
Enjoy… until next week.