Emma Wilson

A Spoonful Of Willie Dixon

Select-O-Hits

British Rhythm & Blues Artist Emma Wilson just released her 3rd recording, a six-song EP on  Select-O-Hits Records. Following on the heels of her successful 2022 all original Americana  debut “Wish Her Well” and her exquisitely soulful STAX-esque 2023 “Memphis Calling”,  recorded at Sam Phillips Recording Studios’ with The Hi Rhythm Section, and featuring the  international hit “What Kind of Love” sung with Don Bryant. Returning to her beloved Memphis  in May 2024, Emma performed at the inaugural “RiverBeat” fest as a guest of “The Bo-Keys”  (Scott Bomar). She attended the Blues Music Awards and drove to Clarksdale to perform at  the “Ground Zero Club”, at the invitation of the Pinetop Perkins Foundation. Visiting Clarksdale  inspired Emma to make this recording, and show her deep respect for the Blues and the brilliant  compositions of the great Willie Dixon. Emma, sings all lead vocals; and is joined by Nik Svarc,  guitar; Bennett Holland, Hammond organ, piano, and backing vocals; bassist Ian Leese; and  drummer, Mark Barrett. “A Spoonful Of Willie Dixon” was recorded live and mixed by Tom  Henthorn at the Crystalship Studios in Sheffield, England.

“Spoonful” originally recorded by The Rats in 1964, opens this recording with Emma singing  “it could be a spoonful of sugar, it could be a spoonful of tea, all I need is your special love,  that’s good enough for me…gonna lie about that spoonful, gonna cry about that spoonful,  gonna die about that spoonful, everybody’s talkin’ ’bout that spoonful, that spoon, that spoon,  that spoonful”.

“Good To The Last Drop” was written by Marie Booker Dixon, the wife of Willie and recorded  by Buster Benton in 1974; included is some great piano from Holland, as Emma chimes “so  good, to the last drop…your love, ya’ll, good to the very last drop…you see a spoon of coffee  good to the very last drop, I’d be a fool to stop, so good til the very last drop”. On  “I Can’t  Quit You Baby” written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Otis Rush in 1956, Holland is on the  Hammond B-3, and Nik Svarc on guitar; as Emma sings “you messed up my happy home… can you see me crawlin’ now…I don’t know what to do”.

“Wand Dang Doodle” was written by Willie and first sung by Howlin’ Wolf in 1961 “gonna romp and stomp til midnight…all night long…we’re gonna break all the windows, kick down the doors, we’re gonna romp and stomp til midnight…all night long”. “I Want To Be Loved”, written by Willie, and recorded by Muddy Waters in 1955, “everytime I ask you for a date…baby, I want to be loved”.  On the closer “It Don’t Make Sense (You Can’t Make Peace) written and recorded by Willie Dixon in 1984, Emma croons on this “airy” anthem, “it don’t make sense, you can’t make peace” and it’s  as topical and appropriate today as at any other time.

Hi Rhythm Section pianist Archie “Hubbie” Turner once exclaimed “She’s not from Middlesbrough, she’s from Mississippi. On “A Spoonful Of Willie Dixon” Emma Wilson shows her deep respect for  Blues and the songs of the great Willie Dixon. This recording just begs to be heard.

Richard Ludmerer

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