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When you look through your music - do you come across artists that you think - nobody I know owns this one. But you want people to know about it. Take for example, Alana Davis. In 1997, she released her debut CD, Blame It On Me shortly after the first summer concerts of Lilith Fair (Davis performed on the Village Stage part of the tour). While not groundbreaking, the mix of folk and jazz pop with a dash of R&B was fresh and it’s why I want you to know about it in today’s feature on I Own That CD!
Davis is the daughter of jazz pianist Walter Davis Jr. who played with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker and growing up in the vibrant and artistic Greenwich Village, Davis embraced the bohemian lifestyle of the outsiders.
The debut showed great promise and maturity in her music and lyrics. Kicking off with a cover from one of her music heroes, Ani DiFranco, “32 Flavors”, sets the stage for what’s to come - A powerful voice layered over a smooth mix of music - a melodic sense and a willingness to indulge in fairly slick production for such a young artist.
The influences are widespread - from Joni Mitchell to Bill Withers and Joan Baez - and her musical lineage shines through as well with some beautiful guitar playing. Check out the tracks “Lullabye” and “Murder” both for her guitar work and her lyrical delivery.
There were so many great releases by female artists coming out at this time in the 1990s (Jewel, Paula Cole, etc.). Davis didn’t get as huge a push as many, but deserved it. Her debut was one of the best of her generation. And if you’d like to borrow the CD, you can have mine.
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