Sue Foley — “One Guitar Woman” — Stony Plain Records

Sue Foley’s latest, “One Guitar Woman,” is a magical expression of traditional songwriting, compelling guitar work and vocal prowess by — one guitar woman.

Foley has shifted from her usual potent electric blues work to just a single acoustic nylon-strung guitar for this ambitious project, allowing her to transform it into a platform for these vital songs honoring women folk and blues artists.

The album’s twelve cuts (eleven thoughtful covers and one original) range from the pure folk of Elizabeth Cotton’s “Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie” through the sensual blues of Memphis Minnie’s “In My Girlish Days” to the authentic rendering of the classic Spanish instrumental, “La Malaguena.”

Foley’s finger-picking guitar technique sparkles throughout, and her vocals provide the perfect complement to the variety of musical styles. She’s accomplished the difficult task of remaining faithful to the originals while seasoning them with her own voice.

“Girlish Days” and “Nothing in Rambling” are Foley’s two stellar tributes to the incomparable Memphis Minnie, born Lizzie Douglas. Minnie’s husband, Ernest Lawler, adapted the traditional “Days” for her and Foley’s grit evokes the spirit of that classic version. “Rambling” is another classic Minnie blues, faithfully executed.

Foley honors Maybelle Carter, the most influential female country music artist of the 20th century, with two songs — Carter’s “Lonesome Homesick Blues” and Foley’s own “Maybelle’s Guitar” — the latter written about Carter, whose unique guitar playing was called the “Carter scratch” and turned that rhythm instrument into a lead guitar.

Foley displays the virtuosity and elegance of her guitar work on “Romance In A Minor,” an instrumental classical composition by Niccolo Paganini originally written for the violin, but later adapted for the guitar. It’s a delicately beautiful, lyrical interpretation.

Equally faithful to their classic sources are Foley’s renditions of “My Journey to the Sky,” “Freight Train,” “Last Kind Words Blues,” “Mal Hombre” and “Motherless Child Blues,” songs that round out this

“One Guitar Woman” is an excellent album that puts Sue Foley’s wide-ranging talent and skills on full display, with a smart collection of musical styles. Of her inspiration here, Foley says:

“From the time I decided to be a professional guitar player, I’ve always looked for female role models. These are the women who were expressing themselves through the instrument as far back as the 1920’s, at the inception of radio and recorded music. They are the trailblazers and visionaries whose footsteps I walk in.” 

With this fine album, Sue Foley shows that she is absolutely worthy of those footsteps.

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Here’s the video for “Nothing in Rambling”

Tracklist & credits:
1. Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie (4:15) (Elizabeth Cotten, Vestopol Music, BMI)
2: In My Girlish Days (3:55) (Ernest Lawler, Songs of Universal Inc, Wabash Music Company, BMI)
3: Lonesome Homesick Blues (3:53) (Maybelle Carter, APRS, BMI)
4: Mal Hombre (4:27) Lydia Mendoza / Sue Foley, San Antonio Music Publishers Inc, BMI, Mechanicsville Music, SOCAN, ASCAP)
5: Motherless Child Blues (4:33) (Elvie Thomas, Boathouse of Tunes, BMI)
6: Romance In A Minor (4:24) (Niccolo Paganini, Arranged by Sue Foley, Mechanicsville Music ASCAP SOCAN)
7: My Journey To the Sky (2:50) (Rosetta Tharpe, PW 3 ASCAP SONGS, ASCAP)
 8: Nothing In Rambling (3:05) (Minnie Lawlers, Memphis Minnie Music Company ASCAP)
9: Maybelle’s Guitar (3:05) (Written by Sue Foley, Mechanicsville Music, SOCAN, ASCAP, Wildwood Flower, AP Carter, APRS, BMI)
10: Freight Train (3:37) (Elizabeth Cotten, Figs D Music, BMI)
11: Last Kind Words Blues (4:04) (Geeshie Wiley, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED, PRS, BMG PLATINUM SONGS US, BMI)
12: La Malagueña (4:35) (Ernesto Lecuona, Arranged by Sue Foley, Mechanicsville Music SOCAN, ASCAP)