1		Rollin' & Tumblin' 	2:59
2		Talk To Me Baby 	3:26
3		Trouble 	5:17
4		Wang Dang Doodle 	3:24
5		Big Leg Woman 	5:10
6		Baby What You Want Me To Do 	4:29
7		What I Say 	4:37
8		Shake Your Money Maker	2:50
9		Shake Your Hips	3:50

Kathi McDonald has been part of some of Rock & Roll's most important recordings. From her role as an Ikette with Ike and Tina Turner's Las Vegas shows to Leon Russell's recordings with the Shelter People and the Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street. Kathi is also known for singing with Big Brother And The Holding Company after Janis Joplin's death. On this recording, Kathi is singing the blues backed by some of Chicago's contemporary blues players.

Rich Kirch, former Chicago native and part of the Chicago Blues scene from the mid 70's, was a guitarist with The Jimmy Dawkins Blues Band, The Jimmy Rogers Blues Band, and others. In 1988 Rich moved to the San Francisco Bay area to play in John Lee Hooker's Coast To Coast Blues Band for 13 years till John's death in 2001. On this recording, Rich and Kathi once again have teamed up to play the Real Blues! ---Editorial Reviews, amazon.com

For whatever reasons, Kathi McDonald never became as well-known as Janis Joplin & Etta James, but if singing the blues is your concern, her name belongs right there with them. Perhaps not up there with her peak "Insane Asylum", but still soulful performances from a woman who knew how to let go and give her all. ---Vine Voice, amazon.com

Kathi McDonald's voice is so riveting, people take notice even when she isn't the main attraction. In fact, the strength of her voice is what landed the vocalist her first big professional gig when she was attending a concert and joined in as part of the audience. McDonald's powerful voice drew Ike Turner's notice in a club called the Winterland, and he invited the aspiring singer to his and Tina Turner's next rehearsal. McDonald had snagged a spot in the Ikettes, the Turners' backing group, without even trying. It was a heady and magical beginning for someone who never had any formal lessons. Born in Washington state in 1948, McDonald performed professionally for the first time around Seattle when she was 12 years old. At the age of 19 she set off for San Francisco and its burgeoning musical climate, where she met the Turners and, through her association with them, took the first step on a career path that would span more than three decades. Not long after the evening at Winterland, her talent caught the attention of Big Brother & the Holding Company's Sam Andrew. McDonald threw her lot in with the band in 1969, leading to appearances on the albums Can't Go Home Again, How Hard It Is, and Be a Brother. She went on to sing with Mad Dogs & Englishmen for Joe Cocker, and later sang with Leon Russell's Shelter People. Her session work included recordings for such artists as the Rolling Stones, Nils Lofgren, Rita Coolidge, Delaney & Bonnie, and Dave Mason. Her work for other musical artists totals up to appearances on almost 150 albums, more than six dozen of which achieved gold status. In addition, McDonald also launched a solo career in 1974 with the release of the album Insane Asylum. The recording was arranged by Pete Sears, whose formal band associations include Hot Tuna and Jefferson Starship. Insane Asylum featured performances by Tower of Power, the Pointer Sisters, Aynsley Dunbar, John Cippolina, Neil Schon, and Ronnie Montrose. Sales were disappointing, however, and the singer did not release another solo effort for 20 years, when Save Your Breath appeared. Above and Beyond followed in 1999, featuring contributions from Lee Oskar on harmonica and Brian Auger on keyboards. McDonald devoted more than two decades to recording and performing in collaboration with Long John Baldry, and the duo scored with their version of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" when it was released in Canada. In later years, she also contributed to the Seattle Women in Rhythm and Blues project. She reunited with Big Brother & the Holding Company in California for a concert on New Years Eve, 1997. She was inducted into the Washington Blues Society's Hall of Fame two years later. McDonald, who resides in the Pacific Northwest, is furthering her education in pursuit of a Master Chef's degree. ---Linda Seida, allmusic.com

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto solidfiles global-files

back

1. Above and Beyond 
2. Don't Give up on Me        play
3. Georgia Sunday Morning 
4. A Soulful Prayer 
5. Girl You Don't Move Me 
6. I Put a Spell on You 
7. Stray Cat 
8. Dallas                     play
9. Two Drifters 
10. Chicken Today Feathers Tomorrow 
11. Ain't It Wonderful 
12. Season of the Witch [Live]

Kathi McDonald (vocals); 
Rich Dangel (guitar); 
Lee Oskar (harmonica); 
Brian Auger (keyboards); 
Bunny Brunel (bass); 
Ralph Penland (drums). 

Have you ever heard a voice that came from your own inner soul? A voice that sang through your dreams in the dark hours of the night, that you never thought could possibly be captured on record? That's how I felt when I first heard Kathi McDonald, especially the title track "Above and Beyond." It's the voice I've always wanted to be able to sing with, and she knows everything I feel. This cd has not been out of my player since I bought it. I'm addicted to it. Some of the most beautiful tracks are "Above and Beyond", "A Soulful Prayer", "Two Drifters", "Ain't It Wonderful", and "Girl You Don't Move Me." I cannot recommend this album highly enough - no one has moved me like this since I first heard Janis and Aretha. I cannot compare their styles or music to Kathi's, I can only compare the raw emotion. Slow, sultry, sexy, soulful, spiritual...this is an absolutely amazing woman. She has several other recordings that are sadly out of print (most notably "Insane Asylum", with a cover of "To Love Somebody" that absolutely blows Janis' cover out of the water) but it is well worth your while to try to track them down. Get copies for all your friends and make Kathi McDonald the household name that she deserves to be!!

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto solidfiles global-files

back

01 - Bogart To Bowie
02 - To Love Somebody
03 - (Love Is Like A) Heatwave    play
04 - Threw My Love Away
05 - Freak Lover
06 - Down To The Wire
07 - Heartbreak Hotel             play
08 - If You Need Me
09 - Something Else
10 - All I Want To Be
11 - Insane Asylum

Kathi McDonald - vocals 
John Cipollina - guitar 
Papa John Creach - violin 
Greg Douglas - guitar 
Aynsley Dunbar - drums 
Bobbye Hall - percussion
Stuart Houston - horn
Nils Lofgren - guitar 
Jim McPherson - bass 
Ronnie Montrose - guitar
Gary Philippet - guitar
The Pointer Sisters - vocals
Neal Schon - guitar 
Pete Sears - bass, guitar, keyboards
Sylvester"Sly Stone" Stewart - vocals
Tower of Power - horns 
Mark Unobski - guitar

Kathi McDonald is a veteran performer, has sung on over 70 gold LPs. Born in Anacortes, Washington, and raised in nearby Mount Vernon, McDonald left her Catholic school girl persona behind and headed to the Bay Aria in the late '60's to jump start her singing career.Her soulful, passionate vocals combined with her legendary phrasing, impeccable timing and intonation are some of the reasons her vocals are an integral part of so many big hits.

Kathi MacDonald' s first solo album, "Insane Asylum," was recorded with Sly Stone,Neil Schon, John Cippolina, Ronnie Montrose, Aynsley Dunbar, Pete Sears, The Pointer Sisters and the Tower of Power horn section and is now a treasured collectors item. Kathi spent over three years as an Ikette touring with Ike and Tina Turner. She has 21 years of touring and recording with Long John Baldry.

download (mp3 @192 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto solidfiles global-files

back