Saffire The Uppity Blueswomen
Having The Last Word
Alligator ALCD4927
In the male dominated world of Blues, they have been nothing short of a phenomenon – women writing their own songs, saying exactly what they want without fear or reserve, playing such a wide range of instruments between them – piano, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass – they didn’t need anybody’s help or permission. And now, after 25 years, they have made it official – Saffire The Uppity Blueswomen are telling us farewell. They’ve made us laugh and cry (Is “One Parent Christmas” quite possibly the saddest Christmas song ever written?), and now it’s time for them to go their separate ways and concentrate on their solo careers.
As a goodbye gift Gaye Adegbalola, Ann Rabson and Andra Faye will do one more tour, and have given us one more piece of their collective soul, Having The Last Word.
It’s not a solemn farewell – not from these wild women of the Blues. And they weren’t stingy either – the Alligator Records release boasts a full 16 tracks. Andra wrote 2, Ann wrote 4, and Gaye wrote 4. They flesh out the discs with six covers from artists including Deanna Bogart and EG Knight.
It’s got the passions of every Saffire release – there are happy songs and the bluest blues (both sad and bawdy) as well. They have always had the knack of taking everyday tragedies and finding a way to laugh through them. “Bald Headed Blues” continues on in that tradition, laughing in the face of losing your hair in the battle against cancer. “I really had a close shave, and my new do is a winner I paid thousands for it downtown at the Chemo center. It was hair today and gone tomorrow….dance with death or dance with life, which one do I chose? I gotta shake my butt to them bald headed blues.”
“I Can Do Bad All By Myself” talks about tough times circ 2009 – and quitting that person who’s dragging you down. Having poked fun at middle age before, these Diva’s do it one more time with “Too Much Butt,” lamenting the question most women ask at one time or another – how come they don’t make jeans that fit women with curves. What’s the point of making a pair of jeans that don’t fit the part of the body they’re supposed to cover? “I don’t buy jeans, I get reupholstered.” Amen, sisters. Amen.
This, of course, is their brilliance. Saffire has always been able to make the mundane and the seemingly hopeless situations seem bearable and manageable. This is one band that has never been about highlights or high heels. They are about being grown women and make women feel good about themselves, just as you are. I’m going to miss that most of all. Thank you Gaye, Ann and Andra – what a wonderful gift you have given us through the years!
Saffire end this CD and a 25-year remarkable journey through the blues with “The Bad Times,” reminding us “The bad times make the good times better. The bad times make our love grow strong. If we can keep on holding on together, the good times will be here before long.”
It takes a great wisdom to know when to call it a day, and, quite frankly I expected nothing less from these three amazing women. I admire their strength and courage and wave goodbye to them with tears in my eyes. Then, Having The Last Word, Saffire those incorrigibles, wild, Uppity Blueswomen exit the Blues train, have one last hug, and turn to head down different dusty paths to follow their dreams.
- Blue Lisa -
Southwest Blues CD Review - February 2009
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