SHELLEY KING: KICK UP YOUR HEELS
BIG BLEND RADIO INTERVIEW: This episode of Big Blend Radio’s Champagne Sundays show features Austin-based singer-songwriter Shelley King, who shares the songs and stories behind her album, “Kick Up Your Heels!” Plus, she plays a fun round of Spontuneous “The Song Game” with Jerri Hagman of Homestead Inn, and actor/entertainer Steve Schneickert, who also features his Hollywood History segment covering Rex Allen “The Arizona Cowboy.” Listen or download the podcast on YouTube.com, SoundCloud.com.
“Kick Up Your Heels”, is Shelley King’s ninth release on her own Lemonade Records. Career defining albums are something musicians always strive for. Sometimes it’s their first, as it certainly was for Shelley’s debut “Call of My Heart”. Sometimes it comes mid-career, as was certainly true with Shelley’s Subdudes collaboration CD, the much-heralded “Welcome Home”. Definition though, comes often from steady attention to detail, perseverance and opportunity meeting preparedness. Utilizing the talents nearest to her- her A-team band and fellow musician/ friends gathered throughout a veritable lifetime of gigs, Shelley King has certainly created a defining album in “Kick Up Your Heels”.
Starting with her own band – Austin Hall of Fame bassist Sarah Brown, multi-instrumentalist string go-to man, Marvin Dykhuis, uber-keyboard and accordionist Chip Dolan and longtime drummer Perry Drake, Shelley added Grammy award-winning steel guitar goddess Cindy Cashdollar, Grammy-nominated pianist Marcia Ball, and Grammy-winning vocalist Delbert McClinton and topped it off with guitar licks and vocals from Carolyn Wonderland. Appearances by Lumineers bassist Byron Isaacs, guitarist Tony Redman and, Shelley’s favorite vocalists and bringers of Louisiana style soul and grease, Subdudes members Tim Cook, Steve Amedee, and John Magnie, complete the recording’s entourage.
The resulting “Kick Up Your Heels” collection of songs moves from the opening storm-set “Levon’s New Drumset”, to the southern rock, Cindy Cashdollar lap steel infused “Stormin in the South” to the King, Ball and McClinton shared lead vocals on “Hurricane Party” and closes out side one with the rockabilly tinged, sure to be dancehall classic “One Shot At a Time” featuring dual guitar duels from Marvin Dykhuis and Tony Redman.
Side two opens with the title track, “Kick Up Your Heels” to which the Subdudes members added a little “crazy”, some second-line snare rhythm, their rich harmonies, and fun extras. Marcia Ball plays piano and John Magnie backs her on accordion, a first-time musical collaboration for them. “Soulville” is Dinah Washington penned RnB classic redone by Shelley and band with Carolyn Wonderland adding guitar and background vocals. The final track, “How Eagles Fly” brings the album to a rockin’ close, couching patriotism without jingoistic pride into uplifting, feel-good riffs.
More: www.ShelleyKing.com
