Hurricane Ruth -- "Ain't Ready For The Grave"

Hurricane Ruth LeMasters was raised in the blues. Her father owned the Glendale Tavern in Beardstown Illinois. Her love of the blues led to a life singing the blues--and that life has now resulted in this release "Ain't Ready For The Grave." Ruth enlisted Tom Hambridge, mega hit-man producer, songwriter, drumming master and Grammy winner, to work his magic on 12 tracks, recorded in Nashville with a group of A-list players; Reese Wynans (Stevie Ray Vaughan) on keys, Michael Rhodes (Joe Bonamassa) on bass, guitarists Pat Buchanan (Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney) and Rob McNelley (Delbert McClinton), who all together make a deep and wide pocket for Ruth's vocal artistry.

I can't describe the album any better, song by song, than Rick J Bowen does on Ruth's website:

The album kicks off with the good time blues ‘Barrelhouse Joe’s’ setting the scene of Friday night at a juke joint just like her old man’s place. Ruth then lays out her modus operandi as self-described ‘Hard Rockin’ Woman,’ with gritty vocals over a driving four on the floor house rockin’ blues. The album title comes from a line in the low-down blues ‘Far From The Cradle,’ with Ruth delivering testimony to her musical mission. Ruth chastises a young woman for messing with a married man on the smoking hot ‘Estilene.’ Hambridge lays down a fat boogaloo beat for the playful dance track ‘Beekeeper’ and Wynans tickles the ivories ramping up the drama of the classic slow blues ‘My Heart Aches For You.’ An ice-pickin’ groove and razor sharp vocals are featured on the tight track ‘Cheating Blues.’ The crew then goes for broke, taking on an AC/DC classic ‘Whole Lotta Rosie,’ delivering it with fury and southern rock sizzle. Some blistering slide guitar and swampy drums punctuate the provocative ‘For A Change,’ and the double shuffle, ‘Let Me Be The One,’ feels like one of the top ten hits Hambridge wrote for Susan Tedeschi. The legendary McCrary Sisters join Ruth for the saucy soul rocker ‘Good Stuff’ and the album’s gospel encore ‘Yes I Know,’ adding pure joy to the Sunday go-to-meeting revival.

Suffice to say this is the best album of Ruth's career, and clearly a Top Ten Of 2017 nominee. On every song here Ruth and the band take your ears and your soul for a joyful ride. When you finish listening to this one, you'll want to hear it again.

You can buy this cd at: https://hurricaneruth.com/