Product reviewsOde to Billie Joe/Touch 'Em with Love * by Bobbie Gentry (CD, Oct-2008, Raven)

Delta Queen Music Magic

This is essential music for anyone interested in the evoultion of modern country music. Bobbie Gentry burst on to the scene in 1967 with the biggest debut of a female artist ever. Ode to Billie Joe dethroned the Beatles on the singles and album chart. Bobbie's debut received a record ten grammy nominations, winning four. The album is a stunning narrative of her native Mississippi roots. She wrote nine of the ten tracks. Deeply personal, exotic,and reflective: a woman with a powerful authentic voice. 'Touch Em With Love' would sell one tenth as much as her massive debut(150,000 copies). Still,it shows an artist evolving musically. The range is breathtaking. Country, pop, r&b, she could do it all and do it superbly well. Touch Em With Love did give Bobbie her biggest international hit single. Her cover of the Bacharach- David' I'll Never Fall In Love Again' topped the U.K and Aussie charts and charted throughout the world. Raven Records has done a top notch job bringing a new audience to these classic recordings.Read full review...