Vaneese Thomas — “Stories in Blue” — Overton Music
Vaneese Thomas is not only blessed with a deeply soulful singing style, she also has the unerring ability to turn her thoughts and feelings into emotional statements expressed in song – in this case, in her latest album, very appropriately titled “Stories In Blue.”
Thomas has created a musical odyssey on her tenth album that tracks the essence of her music. It’s also a tribute to her multi-talented approach: Thomas’s name is on every song, she co-produced the session, plays piano on the pensive “Wandering,” and, of course, graces us with her marvelous voice.
The seven-song set of original stories in blue is filled with powerful music and gorgeous vocals, all of which reflect a lyrical journey from the origins of the blues to the final bars of a joyful gospel song. The tracks also serve as a sampler of the multiple musical talents of Thomas – she’s very much at home working in styles from blues to R&B to jazz to gospel.
The opening track and first step in this journey asks the question: “Do Y’all (know where the blues comes from?)” It’s a funky history lesson on blues origins in the human spirit: “Do y’all know where the blues comes from do y’all / Well it comes from faces dark as night / Bodies worn from toil and strife.”
A pair of songs follows that illustrate traditional blues themes of lost love. “When You Were My Man” is a vocal treat, rhythmically at odds with its lonely message – “Every day I had peace of mind / But darkness did come, our love was undone.” That’s followed by the gorgeously sung ballad “Wandering,” an album centerpiece with its aching refrain: “Wandering on the street / Head in my hands / Shuffling my feet / What will I do without him / Ain’t nothing left for me.” A sensuous sax solo adds a melancholy refrain.
A rollicking stride piano with its foot-stomping tempo, Dixieland-flavored horns and Thomas scatting along, highlight the smartly sassy “1917.” The song was written by Vaneese as a joyous tribute to her multi-talented entertainer father, Rufus Thomas, the legendary patriarch of Memphis soul, who was born in 1917: “His colorful attire could take you higher / And leave you wanting more / His voice was a jewel and his blues gave you fuel / And shook you to the core.”
“The Last Thing on My Mind” is steady-rolling, hypnotic ode tuned to the troubles of a woman wronged on this journey: “But I found you done me wrong / To my surprise you up and gone / I had a love but now I moan / That was the last thing on my mind.” This blue story nears its end with the plaintive “Seven Miles From Home” – “Seven miles from home / No more to roam / Oh, my soul longs for home.”
The closer and blues stories’ end in spirit and fact is an uplifting a cappella gospel track, “End of the Road,” with only hand-claps for its rousing rhythms, and a solid chorus behind Thomas’s exuberant vocal statement: “I see the end of the road Lord, I’m on my way / On my way to Jordan’s shores maybe it’ll be today.”
Vaneese Thomas shines in her album debut on the brand-new, Memphis-based Overton label. This session is a tribute to her all-around skills as a marvelous story-telling songwriter and joyous, full-throated singer of those songs.
Thomas not only embraces her musical roots, she refreshes them with her passionate “Stories In Blue.”
Track list with comments from Vaneese Thomas:
01. Do Y’all-This song was written with my ancestors in mind. I was hearing and feeling the laments of enslaved Africans who gave the soul and sound to the Blues. Let’s not forget!
02. When You Were My Man-Al and I wrote this song about someone musing over their broken relationship. She’s thinking about the obvious differences in her life then and now. The man “didn’t play nice” and respect their relationship. Much too common!
03. Wandering-the lyrics to this song are reminiscent of the lyrics to “Have You Seen Her” by The Chi-Lites. This is a person feeling so low and feeling unrelenting pain. “Ain’t nothing left for me” could reflect any kind of loss.
04. 1917-This year in the history of the world was tumultuous. War World War 1 was raging, and jazz was being played in clubs and juke joints worldwide. Something else noteworthy happened that year; Rufus Thomas, Jr. was born in Cayce, MS to Rufus, Sr. and Rachel Thomas and was to become a symbol of that era and the future of Black music.
05. The Last Thing On My Mind-another sad story of love lost. This was a surprise to him/her so it’s even sadder. The lover says, “you broke my trust and shook my faith.” That’s some deep hurt!
06. 7 Miles From Home-this song was inspired by a poem written by my friend, Berneta Miles. Her parents’ home was 7 miles from downtown Humboldt, TN. So that phrase was something that her family quoted often. Also, you could say it’s about folks who’ve left home and later returned after times of uplift and defeat. The theme is being welcomed back where you came from.
07. End of the Road-This song wasn’t written with any particular idea of impending death but rather the joy of knowing I’ll someday be relieved of all the stress and pain of life here on Earth.
Blues Roadhouse 