After spending decades writing all her own material, Singer Songwriter Melissa Etheridge headed to Memphis to delve into her musical roots on her 14th album. Recorded with a group of legendary local musicians, Memphis Rock and Soul is a collection of Stax covers that includes both Otis Redding hits and underrated gems by veteran songwriter William Bell. “When I heard ‘Any Other Way,’ I went, ‘Oh, my God, every Bruce Springsteen song can thank William Bell,'” says Etheridge, who tends to perform the 60’s Southern R&B tracks in slowed-down, rock-leaning arrangements. One of the more inspired performances is the reworking of the Staples Singers’ “Respect Yourself,” which uses the song’s original backing track and includes new lyrics written with singer-songwriter Priscilla Renea that update the civil-rights anthem for “a more modern ear.” “Memphis is this bridge between rock and roll, r&b, gospel and country music,” says Etheridge. “It all comes from the same wellspring.”
The Fat Angel Sings 