Angela Strehli is for Grownups

I don’t understand the Jewel phenomenon. Why did the record industry push her instead of Angela Strehli, for example? Strehli’s a blonde, too. Moreover, unlike Jewel, Strehli has straight teeth, a strong voice and clever songs.

Maybe major record companies have never pushed Strehli, and other talented folks like her, because she sings the blues. I doubt it, though. I’ll bet the recording industry’s marketing whizzes could find a way to sell a “blues” album by Jewel or Celine Dion just as they found a way to turn Kenny G into a best-selling “jazz” artist. Nope. I think record company executives are afraid of strong women. Strehli sings what she wants and she sings it her way.

I liked her last two albums, “Deja Blue” and “Blue Highway.” I’m in love with Strehli’s first two albums, ”Soul Shake” and ”Blonde and Blue.”

Strehli sings with the power of Janis Joplin and the sweetness of Bettye Swann. The combination is disconcerting sometimes. Take her version of “I Wouldn’t Treat a Dog,” the first track from “Soul Shake.” She sings the song with the same soft sadness that you’ll find on Bobby “Blue” Bland’s classic version. But though Strehli never screams, there’s an unmistakable hint of menace in her voice. In other words, I’ll bet she’s not a woman you want to piss off.

“Blonde and Blue” starts with “Two Bit Texas Town,” a roadhouse blues tune that allows Strehli to give a nod to Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and her other blues heroes. It’s fiery. “Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um (Curious Mind),” a duet with soul great Don Covay, is flat-out sexy.

So buy Jewel’s new album if you like cute blonde women with thin voices and bad teeth. Look for Angela Strehli’s albums when you’re ready for some grown-up emotions.