Erin Harpe and The Delta Swingers
Love Whip Blues
Juicy Juju 01

www.erinharpe.com
 

Erin Harpe is a hot mama blues singer. Love Whip Blues, her debut album, is a breezy and fun album of rocking blues. Those fishnet stockings and the flower in her hair in the cover shot constitute a true tell, as the 10-song set splits between originals and covers.

“The Delta Swing” opens the show with essentially a slinky credo, and “Love Whip Blues” sounds like a rewrite of Memphis Minnie’s “Chauffer Blues.” Both, along with “Good Luck Betty,” are co-writes with Vizztone’s Richard Rosenblatt. Harpe also co-wrote the 21st century blue “Virtual Booty Blues” with bass man Jim Countryman. “Future Blues” is from Willie Brown, and the grinding, steady “Charles River Delta Blues” is based on his “Mississippi Blues.” The only other slow track on the release is Lucille Bogan’s “The M&O Blues,” including some great guest guitar from Bob Margolin. All sounding great to me except Erin’s take on John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery,” with a cheery up-tempo arrangement that I don’t think meshes with the lyric well.

Technically the recording is bright and sunny, highlighting the fun the band clearly had making the album.

Erin Harpe is a good one. I look forward to hearing more from her. I’ve always been a sucker for a sexy red headed blues women!

— Michael Tearson