Joan Osborne is at the top of my list of living female (or not) singers. Watch her YouTube live-in-the-studio (radio station) rendering of Slim Harpo’s "Shake Your Hips". Smokin’ hot! So is the band accompanying her, really good. And her performance of "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" in the Standing In The Shadows Of Motown film is absolutely devastating. After the song ends, the band bows to her!
I’ve seen her live twice at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon (a cool converted old deco-style movie theater with great acoustics), accompanied by her regular guitarist and pianist. With all the fake singers around, it’s a pleasure to hear the real deal.
Her album of Dylan songs didn’t work for me: she seems to have a more natural affinity for Soul-type material. But then again, she does a great job on the Country material on her Pretty Little Stranger album. Her new album seems like a must-have.
