“Mama Soul” will be released by the Dallas-based CSP Records.
Janet Ryan
Janet Ryan will celebrate the release of a new 13-song CD with a performance at Theodores’ in Springfield on Thursday.
Ryan’s “Mama Soul” will be released by the Dallas-based CSP Records. The label contacted her last summer about a recording opportunity.
“They had seen me sing in the Roger Salloom documentary singing my song ‘Tired of Talking’ and said I was the singer they were looking for to replace the male vocals on some tracks they owned,” said Ryan. “They asked me to travel to Texas to record some songs.”
Ryan ended up rewriting five of the songs and recorded an album’s worth of tracks in two days.
“They liked what they heard enough to decide to release an album,” said Ryan.
The album is a marriage of some of Ryan’s original songs and some songs from a Texas-based band called Crosscut.
“It’s basically blues based, there are a few cuts that are tinged with R&B and Gospel,” said Ryan. “The title of the CD ‘Mama Soul,’ is from a nickname I got from my songwriting friend Seth Glier.”
Along with her originals, the CD offers a unique take on the Sippie Wallace blues chestnut, "Women Be Wise." The majority of the disc was recorded at Audio Dallas Recording Studio in Garland, Texas, and produced by Jimmy Rogers and Paul Osborn. Two tracks were recorded locally and produced by Ryan.
The recording features Ryan’s longtime backing band Straight Up, which has been augmented with some horns and will be distributed by Malaco Records which will make it available in box stores and on iTunes.
Ryan is looking forward to the Theodores’ release party.
“The record label is flying up on Wednesday to be at the party,” she said. “We love Theodores’ and they have always treated us well so we wanted to bring everyone there.”
For more information on the CD and to follow Ryan, visit janetryan.com
Send music news and notes to Donnie Moorhouse via email at livewiredm@gmail.com