Koko Taylor

Taylor's booming voice was a revelation when Chess released this album in 1969. It's still a revelation for anyone who's never had his or her ears ripped off by Taylor's OVER-the-over-the-top delivery. Funky, soulful and at full volume at all times, the blues singer made her name with this album. Her cover of "Wang Dang Doodle" is her signature moment.

Taylor sounds like you always wanted those women with Big in front of their names to sound--powerful, even rough, without ever altogether abandoning her rather feminine register. But though mentor Willie Dixon is the greatest contemporary blues composer, he's no more reliable album to album than any other song factory--the best lyric here, "Love You Like a Woman" ("But I'll also fight you like a man"), isn't his. Terrific production, though--his soul devices are so crude and obvious they're funny, amazing, or at least odd. (Grade - B+)