JEANETTE WILLIAMS, IF I COULD STOP THE WORLD

JEANETTE WILLIAMS
IF I COULD STOP THE WORLD

Off Row Records
No Number

Three-time SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year Jeanette Williams may not stop the world with her new CD, but she’ll have fans stopping in their tracks with each of the ten tunes on her latest project. Adding to her repertoire of bluegrass and gospel, Williams mixes in her influences of classic country, blues, roots, and rock’n’roll.

Her voice brings alive the enormity of lost love on “What Leaving Feels Like” and chokes up listeners on songwriter Mark Brinkman’s “Mama Loved The Redbirds.” The lead-off single, “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” made popular by Bonnie Raitt, was a gutsy song to tackle, but she delves into the soulful blues with seemingly little effort. In fact, singer/songwriter Mike Reid who wrote the song with Allen Shamblin, said, “Her intent is pure; just the music, sung with an ethereally gorgeous voice deeply felt.” Williams brings in an added treat with male vocal powerhouse Daryl Mosley of the Farm Hands on the CD’s title cut.  She performs a heavenly version of another Mike Reid (and Jeff Penning) song, “She Saw Angels.” Then, Williams steps up to the plate and knocks a homerun with the closing track, her version of rocker Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”

Rob Ickes contributes his resonator guitar work along with Jody King (banjo), Dow Tomlin (bass), Bruce Watkins (guitar), Scott Neubert (guitar), Jason Roller (mandolin, fiddle, and guitar), Steve Holland (drums and percussion), Steve Peffer (piano, Wurlitzer, and accordion), and Lisa Silver (harmony vocals). Produced by Bruce Dees, this album gives fans a deeper glance into the different layers of music that Williams evokes. (www.jeanettewilliams.com.)BC