MEmphis Rock and Soul is the 14th studio album by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Stax Records on October 7, 2016. A collection of soulcovers, the album received a positive critical reception.
Recording and release
Etheridge wanted to record an album of songs in Memphis and from the Stax Records catalog that inspired her as a child growing up in Kansas, specifically in historic Memphis studios with recordings that included her own sound while being faithful to the original versions.[1] Etheridge additionally recruited some of the original artists who recorded the initial songs and even used Al Green's microphone to record her vocals.[2] The album was preceded by a music video for her cover of Sam and Dave's "Hold On, I’m Coming".[2]
The spelling of the title with "MEmphis" represents Etheridge's initials.[1]
Reception
Editors at AllMusic Guide rated this album three out of five stars, with reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine characterizing the covers as "faithful and loving to the original versions, preserving the arrangements but sometimes allowing the band to vamp a bit", noting that "her affection for both the songs and sound of Southern soul in the '60s is evident".[3] Lee Zimmerman of Glide scored this album a nine out of 10, writing "there’s no pomp or pretension needed; Etheridge revels in her own edge and authority, thereby making these songs an ideal match for a style that’s always been borne by a certain soulful edge to begin with".[4] Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter rated MEmphis Rock and Soul four out of five stars and also noted the natural fit between this genre and Etheridge's style, noting that the music "leaves you with an appreciation that Etheridge loves and cares about the music and is determined to do it justice".[5]PopMatters' Colin McGuire gave the album a five out of 10, calling out several tracks as weaker than the originals and assessing that her vocals don't "match the amount or the type that it takes to successfully embody these songs" leaving the album "a soul record that lacks soul".[6]
Lester Snell – horn arrangement on "I've Been Loving You Too Long (to Stop Now)", string arrangement on "I've Been Loving You Too Long (to Stop Now)" and "I Forgot to Be Your Lover"
