While Texas native Ruthie Foster is called a blues singer, she can expand beyond that base into pure soul music. 2012's Let It Burn—the studio follow-up to her GRAMMY®-nominated The Truth According to Ruthie Foster—features an unerring ear for the heart of the song. She brings William Bell (the veteran soul singer who penned "You Don't Miss Your Water") out for a duet on the track, with Ike Stubblefield providing classic organ backing. The Meters and Blind Boys of Alabama assist throughout, but the spotlight is on Foster's impeccable interpretative abilities. She tackles a diverse list of tunes. Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain," Los Lobos' "This Time," The Black Keys' "Everlasting Light," and John Martyn's "Don't Want To Know" are among many turned into Foster songs. Johnny Cash's trademark "Ring of Fire" is slowed to a crawl until it's virtually unrecognizable, while The Band's "It Makes No Difference" is transformed into a spiritual. Fans of genuine soul performances should thrill to these honest and impassioned recordings that recall a classic era.
- 2002
- 2022
- Janiva Magness
- Shemekia Copeland
- Keb' Mo'
- Eric Bibb
- Carolyn Wonderland
- Marcia Ball