And Lawrence is just how she describes herself… this blues set presents her singing sweet but soulful in an early 50s style, with sentiments, enunciation and sometimes arrangements that hark back strongly to days gone by – try ‘Happy Anniversary, Baby – Remix’ which recalls the likes of a young Ruth Brown, LaVerne Baker, Lil Green and others of that ilk. The use of accordion on ‘Stop Shouting Your Business’ underlines her old school approach, as does the slightly mambo inflected rhythm and that coy but knowing tinge in her voice. On the opening track, ‘You’ve Got A Secret’, there’s a tinge of early 70s Memphis soul-blues, with a fine organ cushion from Larry David and a strong guitar break by Tony Mandracchia, whilst the title track is a nice straightforward shuffle with clever lyrics that set out Lawrence’s approach and name-check Etta James and BB King – both influences that can be heard here. The album’s only cover version is T-Bone Walker’s ‘Stormy Monday’ with Lawrence and the guys very, very controlled, giving this slow blues the kind of deliberate jazz-tinged treatment rarely heard these days. A couple more fine blues complete this release. My only complaint about this set is that it’s a CD EP and only runs to just under half an hour. More please Lawrence, and don’t make us wait too long…
Norman Darwen