Better known as Bruce's better half (that's Springsteen, of course) and a longtime member of his band, Patti Scialfa has carved out a nice little career for herself as a solo artist.
On Sept. 4, Columbia Records will release Scialfa's latest,
Play It As It Lays, her third solo aboum since 1993's Rumble Doll. Breaking out of the Boss' long shadow, Scialfa immerses herself in sepia-toned Americana on this effort, blending roots rock, folk, country, girl-group harmonies and pop in a sound that's tougher than anything Bonnie Raitt has released in recent years.
Links for "Looking For Elvis" and "Town Called Heartbreak" were sent to media types today, and from the sound of both tracks, it seems like Scialfa's songwriting has never been sharper. "Town Called Heartbreak" is a smoldering, bluesy number that's schooled in the art of seduction, while "Looking For Elvis" is a dust bowl of rich, traditional country-folk lament riding the rails of dobro guitar and swooping harmonica. Had Woody Guthrie lived to see the new millennium, he might have sounded a lot like this.
Produced by Steve Jordan, who served as musical director for the PBS series "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues" and has produced albums by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, John Mayer and Keith Richards, the album sees Scialfa playing acoustic guitar, banjo and wurlitzer organ. And if you're looking for Bruce, he's there in the background, playing Hammond B3 organ, acoustic guitars, electric guitar and harmonica. Nils Lofgren is there too, providing backup on guitars, pedal steel guitar and dobro.
To learn more about the release, visit
www.pattiscialfa.net. To purchase the record, go to
http://www.sonymusicstore.com/store/order/shoppingCart.do?event=link.add&catalog_sku=118946 <http://www.sonymusicstore.com/store/order/shoppingCart.do?event=link.add&catalog_sku=118946>