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An Introduction to Amelia Blake by Miss Lana |
Amelia Blake, a totally unfamiliar name to me before I received a copy of her self-produced CD in the mail along with a letter requesting a review. I was flattered at the time, but now I am both flattered and thankful. I may not have ever known about her music if she hadn't taken the initiative to send me her CD. It would have been me that missed out. Her letter to me said that she recorded the CD simply because people were always asking her for one after they saw her show. After listening to this album, I can understand why.
Amelia Blake is from the Bossier City area of Louisiana.
Knowing nothing about Amelia's background, I took a peek at her website
looking for a bio. There isn't one, so I still don't have any
insight to Amelia's musical influences or personal history. What I
can tell you is that this gal has managed to produce a quality sounding CD
with original music that surprised me and will probably surprise you as
well. This is an album that is as pure as it gets...a singer with a
guitar, end of story. Not quite. It's soft, gentle music that
flows with the lyrics like a tree branch floating lazily down a glistening
stream.
Sometimes I struggle to find the words to describe music I hear, to describe it to readers so that they can almost hear what I'm describing, or at least get some idea. In Amelia's case I would tell you that if she had Champ Hood, Casper Rawls and Scrappy Jud Newcomb backing her, Amelia would sound almost like Toni Price. Not that she needs a back-up band, she's great solo. I'm just trying to give you an idea of what Amelia's music is like - that bluesy voice that is smooth as glass and easy on the ears. I would call it a country blues sound with a folk flair. On top of this, Amelia writes her own songs, penning all but one song on this CD herself. She co-wrote "Stop Me (If You've Heard this One)" with Theresa Ball.
The first cut is called "It's a Good Thing", a song with a pleasing melody about a woman telling another woman that "it's a good thing" she knows how lucky she is to have the man she has and how many women would like to be that lucky. I liked the tune, especially the lyrics.
"She Needs Someone" is a slow song with sad lyrics that are well
sung by Amelia relaying the story of a woman who is mistreated by her man
but stays with him because "she needs someone". It brought to mind
a couple of women I've known that have been there before.
One of my favorites on the CD is "Long Story". This song is about a woman who wants to understand what her man has been through in his past, but all he will tell her is "it's a long story". I am impressed with Amelia's talent of mixing the right music with the right lyrics. I would find myself concentrating on the lyrics and then distracted by her guitar work. She plays beautifully, as if she was born with a guitar in her hands. It works, and it works well. Some people just have that kind of talent, and Amelia Blake certainly does.
"The Right Side of Love" is also a good song with clever lyrics. Amelia has a smooth voice with a softness she can crescendo with the tempo easily. I'd like to see her perform in person. I'd like to see her expressions and style and how they emphasize her music.
"Stop Me (If You've Heard This One)" is a song about a woman trying to tell a man how she feels about him but afraid that he's heard it before. I enjoyed this song for the unique way she and Theresa Ball deliver the message of the song through the lyrics.
"Hole in My Heart" is one of the best-written songs on the CD,
in my opinion. It's one of those songs that grab you and hold your
attention until the end, anticipating the next verse like a child waiting
anxiously to hear the end of a fairy tale.
The last two tracks on the album are "Nowhere" and "Nothing Else to Do". The music in "Nowhere" is as interesting as the lyrics, with a familiar guitar riff I have yet to pinpoint. This chorus line gives you an idea of the song.
"It's been a long hard ride to nowhere,
Now I've got to wonder where I've been.
I always believed we were getting
somewhere,
but no where's where I am".
The last track on the CD, "Nothing Else to Do" quickly became
one of my favorites. Perhaps she saved the best for
last.
Regardless, all of the songs on this CD are good, solid
songs. When a musician can write songs that make people stop and
think (or listen), a story people can relate to and then put it with the
right music, it's solid. I don't know how long Amelia has been a
musician, but she is solid in every sense of the word. Her singing,
songwriting and picking are all good together it's more than good,
it's great. It is very apparent without ever seeing her perform that
she can hold her own on a stage. I also don't know what kind of fan
base Amelia has in Louisiana, but I know she should have a regular
following. I'm hoping she might come to Dallas and expand her fan
base. I know she already has at least one here.
Written by Lana Hughes, 2000
You can order Amelia Blake's CDs through her website
or through snail mail for $10 at
P.O. Box 8234, Bossier City, LA 71113-8234. You can tell
her I recommended her, and I highly do.
Read the review of Amelia's CD "Nothing Else To Do"
Texicana Music Central
