Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women was a three-woman blues musical ensemble in the Washington, D.C. area. It was founded in 1984 by Ann Rabson, Gaye Adegbalola and Earlene Lewis. Lewis separated from the band in 1992 and was replaced by Andra Faye.The group then featured Rabson
on piano, vocals and guitar, Adegbalola on vocals and guitar, and Faye on vocals, bass, mandolin, violin and guitar. At one point in the early '90s, the ladies from Saffire just considered themselves blues historians, but since their performing career has gotten launched on the festival circuit, they've become much more than that. All three have developed into talented songwriters. Since blues fans are always looking for fresh themes or new twists on old themes, this trio is a sought-after club and festival act.
These acoustic musicians inject a sense of humor into their songs and take it with them on-stage. There is also a strong thread of feminism running through Saffire and their recorded output. The group's other albums for Alligator include their 1990 debut, Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women (1990), Hot Flash
(1991), and Broadcasting (1992). Their prolific output as songwriters is matched only by their desire to tour, as they perform everywhere and anywhere, having already made several U.S., Canadian, and European tours. In 1998 the trio released Live and Uppity, a rousing document of their crowd-pleasing stage act. After a five-year layoff since their last studio recording (during which time Rabson recorded two solo records), Saffire returned with another strong record, Ain't Gonna Hush, in 2001. Havin' the Last Word appeared in 2009.
Saffire was the first acoustic band to be signed by Alligator Records. Their song "Middle Aged Blues Boogie," written by Adegbalola, was named best original song at the W.C. Handy Awards (now the Blues Music Awards) in 1990. Saffire has shared the stage with B.B. King, Ray Charles, Willie Dixon and Koko
Taylor. The group's fundamental appeal -- to growing numbers of music fans who don't know much about blues -- is their original songs and their ability to dig up and reinterpret old blues gems from the 1920s and '30s. They specialize in songs made by the sassy original blues divas including Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Memphis Minnie, and Ida Cox. An announcement on the group's website in November, 2009, stated Saffire had retired and amicably disbanded. Rabson died on January 30, 2013, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, after a long battle with cancer. She was 67. Andra Faye is now living and playing in the Indianapolis, Indiana area.
01. SAFFIRE - UPPITY BLUES WOMEN 1990
In 1984, three middle-aged women (guitarist Gaye Adegbalola, bassist Earlene Lewis and pianist Ann Rabson) came together to play blues as Saffire. Their 1990 Alligator CD is still Saffire's best all-around
recording. Even overlooking the novelty of three women giving a female and middle-aged slant to the blues, this is a highly enjoyable and musical set. Assisted on three numbers by Mark Wenner's harmonica, Saffire plays spirited versions of such tunes as "Middle Aged Blues Boogie," "Even Yuppies Get the Blues," "Fess Up When You Mess Up," "I Almost Lost My Mind" and their theme "Wild Women Don't Have the Blues." Gems precisely and beautifully performed. Recommended.
Saffire -The Uppity Blues Women – 1990 - The Uppity Blues Women
Label:Alligator Records – ALCD 4780
Format:CD, Album
Country:UK & Europe
Released: 1990
Genre: Rock
Style: Chicago Blues
TRACKS
01. Middle Aged Blues Boogie 5:42
02. Take It On Back 2:33
03. Annie's Blues 3:57
04. Even Yuppies Get The Blues 2:39
05. Drown In My Own Tears 5:40
06. Three Time Loser 3:33
07. Fess Up When You Mess Up 3:31
08. Silent Thunder In My Heart 3:19
09. School Teacher's Blues 3:38
10. I Almost Lost My Mind 5:10
11. Wild Women Have The Blues 2:41
LINE - UP
Piano, Vocals – Ann Rabson
Bass, Vocals – Earlene Lewis
Guitar, Vocals – Gaye Adegbalola
Harmonica – Mark Wenner (tracks: A2, B1 & B6)
Flac Size: 279 MB
02. SAFFIRE - HOT FLASH 1991
In many ways, Hot Flash is the definitive Saffire album. Racy and sassy -- and to some tastes cutesy -- the
album is a fun, free-thinking update of classic female blues, performed with gusto and verve. The instrumentation is sparse -- a piano, guitar, bass, harmonica, and kazoo provide the foundation of the music -- but the focus of these songs is solely on the vocals, which are vigorous and humorous. If you share Saffire's sense of humor, it's a rollicking good time.
Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women – 1991 - Hot Flash
Label: Alligator Records – ALCD 4796
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1991
Genre: Rock
Style: Chicago Blues
TRACKS
01. Two In The Bush Is Better Than One In The Hand 3:12
Harmonica – Billy Branch
Written-By – Adegbalola
02. Sloppy Drunk 3:06
Written-By – Bogan
03. One Good Man 2:37
Written-By – Bryson
04. Dirty Sheets 4:11
Harmonica – Billy Branch
Written-By – Adegbalola
05. Tom Cat Blues 2:47
Written-By – Rabson
06. Learn To Settle For Less 4:32
Written-By – Adegbalola
07. You'll Never Get Me Out Of Your Mind 3:11
Written-By – Rabson
08. (Mr. Insurance Man) Take Out That Thing 3:51
09. Hopin' It'll Be Alright 3:33
Written-By – Rabson
10. A Little Bit Of Your Loving Goes A Very Long Way 3:00
Guitar – Ann Rabson
Harmonica – Billy Branch
Written-By – Adegbalola
11. Shopping For Love 3:27
Written By – Caswell & Clark
12. Elevator Man 3:31
Guitar – Ann Rabson
Written-By – Rabson
13. Torch Song #1 / Torch Song #2 4:18
Written-By – Adegbalola
14. Why Don't You Do Right? 2:40
Written-By – McCoy
15. Prove Me Wrong 3:02
Written-By – Rabson
16. (No Need) Pissin' On A Skunk 3:39
Written-By – Adegbalola
LINE - UP
Vocals, Guitar – Gaye Adegbalola
Vocals, Piano, Kazoo – Ann Rabson
Vocals, Bass – Earlene Lewis
Flac Size: 292 MB
03. SAFFIRE - CLEANING HOUSE 1996
Another generally likable album from Saffire, Cleaning House contains plenty of the bold, sassy material (e.g., "Hungry Woman's Blues," "If Love Hurts, You're Not Doing It Right," "Tomorrow Ain't Promised")
listeners have come to expect from the band that half seriously, half tongue-in-cheek, bills itself as the Uppity Blues Women. All three women take turns on lead vocals; Andra Faye McIntosh's singing is particularly enjoyable. The 17-song acoustic set includes five originals from band member Gaye Adegbalola, three originals from bandmate Ann Rabson, and a spirited variety of songs written by old-timers like Memphis Minnie and contemporary songsmiths like Rick Estrin.
Saffire -The Uppity Blues Women – 1996 - Cleaning House
Label: Alligator Records – ALCD 4840
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genre: Blues
Style: Chicago Blues
TRACKS
01. Because Of You 2:37
Written-By – Barnes
02. Hungry Woman's Blues 4:06
Written-By – Abegbalol
03. Rocket Ship 2:46
Written-By – Rabson
04. In My Girlish Days 3:32
Written-By – Lawler
05. Don't Do It 4:49
Written-By – Estrin
06. (I'll Be Your) Sweet Black Angel 4:40
Arranged By – Abegbalola
Written-By – Bogan
07. I'd Rather Be Alone 4:46
Written-By – Rabson
08. Love Me To Death 4:45
Written-By – Dixon
09. I Lost My Baby To Another Man 4:28
Lead Guitar – Steve Freund
Written-By – Abegbalola
10. If Love Hurts (You're Doing It Right) 2:52
Written-By – Fred Koller, Brandon
11. Nobody But You 3:51
Written-By – Copeland
12. I Want My Money Back 3:31
Written-By – Abegbalola
13. Blues Is In The House 5:05
Written-By – Abegbalola
14. Bad Debt 2:59
Written-By – Chapman
15. Things Are Seldom What They Seem To Be 3:57
Written-By – Rabson
16. Tomorrow Ain't Promised 3:18
Written-By – Abegbalola
17. The Equalizer 4:19
Written-By – Abegbalola
LINE - UP
Vocals, Guitar, Percussion, Harmonica – Gaye Abegbalola
Vocals, Mandolin, Fiddle, Guitar, Bass – Andra Faye McIntosh
Vocals, Piano, Guitar – Ann Rabson
Thanks Kostas ! I'm always amazed by how much you know. I've already added all 3 to my cart, cheap.
ReplyDeleteI uploaded 4 rare bands to the Oldrockerbr blog, but my friend couldn't find them. Monks, Filigree...
if you or anyone else is interested you can download them at 320@.
Amazing female blues band 😍.
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