Well before Jack White could sprout a wispy little ’stache, Wanda Jackson was revered as the queen of rockabilly and the lady who broke Elvis’ heart. The 73-year-old sexy nana proves she can still give the dance floor a mighty shake, while White does some of his best production work since his collaboration with Loretta Lynn. As Jackson purrs, growls, squeaks and shimmies over covers ranging from Little Richard’s “Rip it Up” to Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good,” White does, at times, go a bit overboard on horns and the back-bar arrangements, but the queen can keep up, not problem. Still, the album’s highlight is a stripped-down version of “Blue Yodel #6:” just a guitar and a timeless, iconic voice.
This article appears in Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2011.