In the last year, Marshall has toured internationally as part of CAT POWER & THE MEMPHIS RHYTHM BAND, appearing on Austin City Limits, The Late Show with David Letterman and on the BBC's hit television show, Later...With Jools Holland.
influances range from Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Greg Dulli, Big Star, Lucinda Williams, Afghan Whigs, Ella Fitzgerald, Anna Moffo, Reba Russell, Steven Tyler, Ann Peebles, Dusty Springfield, Mavis Staples, Miles Davis, Rolling Stones, Cat Power, Tim Easton, Bette Midler, Rob Jungklas, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Beth Orton...and many more.
Sounds Like
Susan Marshall: Little Red
Marshall delivers on her best album yet.
by Chris Herrington
Susan Marshall is arguably the contemporary Memphis scene's most powerful and versatile pure singer, and, with this third solo offering, she delivers her strongest album yet. Little Red is a mix of covers (four) and originals (five), all united by Marshall's consistently electric vocals, which grab you whether going for calm or thunder and all points in between.
There are some notable guest stars here, but they aren't bait. Each provides a useful sonic counterpart for Marshall. On a cover of "Femme Fatale" that seems to draw equally from the Velvet Underground original and the Big Star interpretation recorded in the same Ardent studio Marshall is singing from, former Afghan Whig Greg Dulli whispers the title refrain at the center, around which Marshall spins silk. (Marshall also opens with a bluesy torch-song cover of the Whigs' "Going to Town.")
Another cover/guest-star combo is Marshall's take on the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down," which turns out to be the perfect Fab Four song for someone like Marshall to cover, because it's a great skeleton for a singer to flesh out. You can pay attention to the performance rather than the composition. And in this case, it's Marshall trading vocal riffs with Lucinda Williams, whose refrains are more familiar but less dynamic.
And the great Teenie Hodges laces a gritty Hi-style guitar riff into the Marshall original "Oh My Soul," which gets increasingly bluesy and hypnotic, like classic Hi meets hill-country blues. Marshall worries her way around it beautifully.
Many of Marshall's originals are carnal slow-burns ("Little Red," "Already Gone"), but the best of the bunch is the lighter, more rhythmic album-closer, "Back to You." You'd be forgiven for assuming Hodges is playing on this one too, but that's Dave Cousar on electric guitar and Harry Peel doing his best Al Jackson Jr. on drums. With Jim Spake and Scott Thompson providing horn punctuation, this is the best modern-day Hi Rhythm homage/approximation not heard on the last Al Green records. The likes of Green and Ann Peebles find a worthy inheritor here in Marshall. — Chris Herrington
In a city of singing legends, from Elvis Presley and Otis Redding to Al Green and Aretha Franklin, Memphis vocalist Susan Marshall proudly holds her own, an award-winning paragon of hometown talent.
While she might not be a household name yet, anyone who has listened to Lenny Kravitz, the Afghan Whigs or Lynyrd Skynyrd has heard Marshall's impressive singing chops, a gift that never fails to stop people in their tracks.
"Where this woman has been hiding, I don't know," ran a comment on Rockphiles.com, while Rolling Stone made special mention of Marshall's performance at a Gram Parsons tribute that featured Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams and Keith Richards: "The spine-chill award went to Memphis soul singer Susan Marshall, who belted a powerful 'Do Right Woman' that practically brought people to their knees."
Marshall's resume now boasts studio and/or stage time with the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Norah Jones, Keith Richards, Primal Scream, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mavis Staples, Greg Dulli and the Afghan Whigs, Mya, The Memphis Horns, The Doobie Brothers, Dionne Warwick, Jerry Butler, the North Mississippi Allstars, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Steve Earle, Ann Peebles, Jay Farrar, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Adam Levy, Jim Lauderdale, Todd Snider, John Doe, Emerson Hart of Tonic, and many others. She's also worked with such legendary engineer/producers as Tom Dowd, Chips Moman, Jim Dickinson, John Hampton, Joe Hardy, Dusty Wakeman and Jeff Powell.
Whether it's rock, blues, soul or jazz, Marshall -- who won Best Female Vocalist in 2003 from the Grammy organization's Memphis chapter -- gets the call for a reason.
"SUSAN MARSHALL IS HONEY MOUTH" and "FIREFLY" available at www.susanmarshall.net, iTunes, Amazon.com, CDBABY.com and http://www.vividsound.co.jp/ctlg.php
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Make sure and get Katharine McPhee's debut album on Jan. 30. As some of you know Katharine recorded "Better Off Alone," by Austin Carroll & Susan Marshall. You can preview Kat's version of the song on Vh1.com
Step Right Up, Don't Be Shy!! The Memphis Belles Carnivale of Burlesque has arrived!! Join us for an evening of Carnival Cuties, Burlesque Beauties, Sultry Sideshow, and Special Guests from St. Louis - The Alley Cat Revue!!
There will be Contests, Prizes, DJ, and Surprises!! One lucky lady will leave with the grand prize of a seat in Pretty Things Pin-Up Class!! You will spend the day with some of the best in Pin-up & Burlesque - go-go Amy & Bettina May!! They will teach you the ways of Pin-up hair, make-up, and posing. At the end of the day, you'll be leaving with images from your own Pin-up photoshoot!
Ciao,Susan Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot,and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis I feel great admiration for, talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy..and good week end neal
August 7th at Keller 8 Theater in South St. Louis County
THE BROWNCOATS will host a special concert with the charity group "Can't Stop the Serenity", benefiting Equality NOW, a charity group for abused women worldwide. Shindig starts at 9pm, the movie screening of the film "Serenity" starts at 12midnight. Ticket available now at www.stlserenity.org
Keller 8 Cine 4572 Lemay Ferry Rd Saint Louis, MO 63129-1614
Will Scott's new album, GNAWBONE is here!!! The CD is available at CDBaby and other online retailers.
Over three years in the making, GNAWBONE is Scott's fully-produced studio debut and features a crack team of hand-picked musicians as well as guest performances by Jan Bell, Jolie Holland, Samantha Parton, and Preacher Boy (the album's producer).
Just wrote a review of 'Little Red' on www.altcountryforum.nl (only available in Dutch, sorry!). You totally knock me of my feet, girl. This one's more then a little red hot! Hope to see you in Holland or Belgium one day.
We have
Fire, Feathers, Garters, and Lace... and Several Women... You'll Want
to embrace. ;) Save the date and Step Right Up! Don't Be Shy, The
Memphis Belles Carnivale has arrived!! We invite you to be Dazzled by
our Burlesque Beauties and Wowed by our Sultry Sideshow - July 18th at
The Hi-Tone!!
TEASER: The Belles have something up their garters!
Online Now!
