Teeny Tucker – Keep the Blues Alive (TeBo) – CD review –

Teeny is the daughter of blues legend Tommy Tucker, best known for his “Hi Heel Sneakers,” from 1964.  As the title suggests, she’s carrying on in her father’s tradition.  Stylistically, it’s straight-ahead blues.  Heck, if she’s gonna “keep the blues alive,” there ain’t going to be no watering down things on this one, right?

The disc opens with the heavy “Ain’t That the Blues,” a story of a girl she came in contact with, that’s fallen on bad times.  The best songs are the ones that let in a little humor, as in “Old Man Magnet,” the true story of an audience member going after one of her backup singers, or “I Live Alone,” which deals with the unique relationship Tucker has with her husband.   Oddly, the biographical “Make Room For Teeny” was not written by her, but was penned by some friends of hers.

What lifts these tracks to another level is the searing guitar playing of Robert Hughes, who also cowrote many of the tracks, served as executive producer, and even took the photographs on the front and back cover.  At a mere 5 feet 1 inches tall, Teeny still packs a wallop. –Tony Peters

Hear the Icon Fetch interview with Teeny Tucker