KFJC 89.7FM
Album Review
Shane, Jackie – “Any Other Way” – [Numero Group]
This is the most amazing thing I have reviewed in a long time. Jackie Shane, born in Nashville, soul singer who worked a lot in Toronto, left the scene in 1971 not to be heard from again for decades until just recently. Born a woman in a man’s body, she lived trans and gay, never apologizing, never turning away. Proud of who she was.
She was a soul singer supreme who would TESTIFY to the audience about herself, about how they needed to deal with it and get it together. Her voice went from cool to wail and all in between. The tracks on this exquisite collection sizzle and pop with covers of soul classics as well as lesser known, but equally superb songs. “In My Tenement” is THE hit, as are the numbers on the Live disc which keep up the full on banter she would give to her wudiences. Read the booklet. An amazing life including gangsters and kidnapping. Jackie Shane is the real deal.
you heard it 72 times on kfjc! most recently:
- 114 days ago, Kimbrosia played In My Tenement
- 156 days ago, Klaudhopper played Knock On Wood
- 170 days ago, Klaudhopper played You Are My Sunshine
- 184 days ago, Klaudhopper played Money (that's What I Want)
- 203 days ago, Maybelline played In My Tenement
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fintano says
I remember Jackie Shane playing around Toronto in the 1960s. I was too young to go to the clubs but I heard her on the radio and saw her appearances on CBC-TV. (Some of them are on YouTube.) I still have the 45 of "Any Other Way".
The funny thing was she was always very gender-ambiguous, which was not really accepted in the 1960s, but yet no one ever said anything about her. She would go on these very straight TV shows wearing makeup and flamboyant clothing and the host would just ignore it and give her the same vapid treatment they gave all the other guests. Same with newspaper reviews and the like. She was so out there that people didn't know how to deal with it, so they kind of pretended it wasn't happening.
Good to see this new release of her music.
Frank Motley, the leader of her backup band, was noted for being able to play two trumpets at the same time.
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