''Two-Fisted Mama!'' is an album by the American musician
Katie Webster
Katie Webster (January 11, 1936 – September 5, 1999), born Kathryn Jewel Thorne, was an American boogie-woogie pianist.
Career
Webster was initially best known as a session musician behind Louisiana musicians on the Excello and Goldband reco ...
, released in 1989. Webster promoted the album with a North American tour. The album was nominated for a
Bammy Award, in the "Blues Album" category.
Production
The album was produced by Webster,
Bruce Iglauer,
Vasti Jackson
Vasti Jackson (pronounced Vast-eye) (born October 20, 1959) is an American electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He has also been the musical director, and guitarist for Z. Z. Hill, Johnnie Taylor, Denise LaSalle, Li ...
, and Ice Cube Slim.
[ ]The Memphis Horns
The Memphis Horns were an American horn section, made famous by their many appearances on Stax Records. The duo consisted of Wayne Jackson (November 24, 1941 – June 21, 2016) on trumpet and Andrew Love (November 21, 1941 - April 12, 2012) on ...
guested on ''Two-Fisted Mama!''Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Pick Withers (drums and percuss ...
song.[ "Red Negligee" is done in a talking blues style.][ Many songs address women listeners by providing relationship advice.
]
Critical reception
Robert Christgau
Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...
wrote: "Boogie as in woogie, not as in bar band, is her gift—a rolling piano style she certainly didn't invent and just as certainly owns—and here the experts get it down."Newsday
''Newsday'' is an American daily newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, although it is also sold throughout the New York metropolitan area. The slogan of the newspaper is "Newsday, Your Eye on LI", and f ...
'' noted that, "like most great blues artists, she uses the irregular, the unexpected, to make musical points; where others might use a melisma, she sings the phrase straight and sweet; she purrs where others would growl, and vice versa."Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' wrote that Webster delivers "some comic relief with sharp and funny tales of the war between the sexes."[ The '']Edmonton Journal
The ''Edmonton Journal'' is a daily newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta. It is part of the Postmedia Network.
History
The ''Journal'' was founded in 1903 by three local businessmen — John Macpherson, Arthur Moore and J.W. Cunningham — as ...
'' called ''Two-Fisted Mama!'' "one of the most rewarding blues albums of the year," writing that "Webster is a superb, soulful singer and an immense piano player."Syracuse Herald-Journal
The ''Syracuse Herald-Journal'' (1925–2001) was an evening newspaper in Syracuse, New York, United States, with roots going back to 1839 when it was named the ''Western State Journal''. The final issue — volume 124, number 37,500 — was publi ...
'' praised Webster's "bawdy, quick-paced style."AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
deemed the album "another impressive showcase for Katie Webster's rollicking 88s and earthy vocals."
Track listing
References
{{reflist
1989 albums
Alligator Records albums