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Queen of the Blues is an album by the American blues singer Koko Taylor, released in 1985.[2][3]

Queen of the Blues
Studio album by Koko Taylor
Released	1985
Genre	Chicago blues, blues
Label	Alligator Records[1]
Producer	Koko Taylor, Criss Johnson, Bruce Iglauer
Koko Taylor chronology
From the Heart of a Woman (1981) Queen of the Blues (1985) Live in Chicago: An Audience With the Queen (1987)

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Traditional Blues Recording" category.[4]

Production

The album was produced by Taylor, Criss Johnson, and Bruce Iglauer.[5] Taylor used her Blues Machine Band on the album, with guest turns by Son Seals, Albert Collins, Lonnie Brooks, and James Cotton.[6] "Flamin' Mamie" was written by Willie Dixon.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[8]
Robert Christgau	B+[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[10]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide	[5]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[11]
The Philadelphia Inquirer	[12]

The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed the album "tough, shouted blues by one of the genre's most vehement practitioners."[12] The Kingston Whig-Standard thought that Taylor "comes across as a gruff earth mother," and noted that her guitar player, Criss Johnson, "more than holds his own on his solos" despite the many famous guest musicians.[13]

The New York Times wrote that Taylor's "penetrating growl is menacing on the Willie Dixon stomp 'Evil', and self-assured on 'The Hunter'."[14] The Columbus Dispatch concluded that "Taylor is in superb form, belting out ballads about passion, slow blues about broken hearts and barroom romance rockers."[15]

AllMusic thought that "Taylor's gritty 'I Cried like a Baby' and a snazzy remake of Ann Peebles' 'Come to Mama' are among the many highlights."[8]

Track listing

References

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