Wanda Jackson to Give her “Encore” in New Album
Country, rockabilly, and rock & roll legend Wanda Jackson officially retired from performing in March of 2019, choosing to finally rest on her laurels after amassing a career and legacy that saw her inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with the Gospel and Rockabilly Halls of Fame. But we can’t be surprised that the woman who once dumped Elvis has remained a little restless, and started writing music again.
Now at 83-years-old, Wanda’s ready to turn in her Encore, to be released via Big Machine Records/Blackheart Records on August 20th. Keeping with the tradition of working with interesting producers that saw her collaborate with Jack White, and then Justin Townes Earle on her last two records, this time Wanda worked with fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Joan Jett and Kenny Laguna.
“Real, authentic rock and roll is something you have to have inside. It can’t be taught, it can’t be faked. Wanda Jackson has it. Joan Jett has it. Encore has it. It is rare,” says Kenny Laguna.
And that’s not all. Joan Jett also appears on the album, as does Elle King, Angaleena Presley, and Candi Carpenter. Co-writers that Wanda collaborated with on the album include Angaleena Presley, Lori McKenna, Will Hoge, Chris Casello, and more.
“Right around the time I retired from performing and what I thought was the end of my career, I found myself back to writing songs with some of the great writers in Nashville,” says Wanda. “The songs you hear are truly my life story. This is the first time I have ever inserted so much of my personal life into my music. You’ll get a picture of my early life and have a peak into the closeness that my late husband Wendell and I had in our life together. I’m happy to share this with all of you. Your constant love and support has seen me through the ups and downs of my 64-year career.”
The first song released form the album is a country heartbreaker in “It Keeps Right On A Hurtin’,” which draws from the pain of losing her husband and right-hand man Wendell Goodman. Wanda was married to Wendell for 56 years years. He passed away in 2017.
Encore is now available for pre-order.
TRACK LIST:
1. Big Baby – (Christopher Casello, Robin Lynn Grant)
2. Two Shots feat. Elle King and Joan Jett – (David Ryan Harris, Tanner Elle Schneider)
3. You Drive Me Wild – (Joan Jett)
4. Good Girl Down feat. Angaleena Presley and Candi Carpenter – (Wanda Jackson, Vanessa Olivarez, Angaleena Presley)
5. It Keeps Right On A Hurtin’ – (Johnny Tillotson)
6. We Gotta Stop – (Wanda Jackson, Will Hoge, Vanessa Olivarez)
7. Treat Me Like A Lady feat. Joan Jett – (Wanda Jackson, Sonia Leigh, Vanessa Olivarez, Jordan Breanne Simpson)
8. That What Love Is feat. Joan Jett – (Wanda Jackson, Luke Laird, Lori McKenna, Jordan Breanne Simpson)
June 29, 2021 @ 11:29 am
I remember when that was a big hit for Rex Tillerson before he was Secretary of State.
Wait, that was Johnny Tillotson. Never mind.
June 29, 2021 @ 2:00 pm
Jacksonville-native and former disc jockey Johnny Tillotson. Of course, not too many people around Jacksonville remember him much anymore. We also claim Pat Boone, Rita Coolidge, and Billy Daniels. Everyone forgets about them because of them Skynyrd, Allman, .38 Special, and Molly Hatchet guys.
June 29, 2021 @ 11:41 am
I love her music so much. I am glad she is releasing this album. i have always been a fan and cannot wait to hear more of her music.
June 29, 2021 @ 4:42 pm
I thought she was done after she retired, so this is great news. Eight tracks is a little brief, but hey, it’s new music.
June 29, 2021 @ 5:02 pm
Was fortunate enough to be able to see her live before she retired. She had to sit down and rest at one point, so I can see why she called it a day, but it was still a great performance by a living legend. I’ll definitely give this encore a spin.
June 30, 2021 @ 5:42 am
We were at the Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton, OK a few weeks ago, waiting for an Oak Ridge Boys concert to start, when in walked Wanda, under her own power while using a walker, and sat down a couple rows in front of us about halfway back from the stage amidst us common folks.
Seeing her looking so good, with her trademark coal black hair and sequined black top, was pure joy. She was smiling back as people waved at her, it was almost better than seeing the Oak Ridge Boys. They acknowledged her presence right after their first number. I will treasure that experience forever, she is a great Oklahoman and we are SO proud of her.
June 30, 2021 @ 7:15 am
Trigger you should do a vintage album review on Tom Perry’s “Wildflowers.” Enjoyed your review on “Sticky Fingers.” Mostly a country guy myself but I like some of the older rock, and “Wildflowers” seems right in your wheelhouse.
June 30, 2021 @ 8:04 am
I would love to do a vintage review on “Wildfowers” and all kinds of albums, but my priority remains independent albums that otherwise will receive little or no press, so it just doesn’t leave a lot of time. I do hope to do more in the future though.
June 30, 2021 @ 9:29 am
A big part of Wandas career and catalog that gets missed is her Country contributions.. Check out her mid 60s Capitol albums like Cream of the Crop, Blues in My Heart, Sings Country Music. The same musicians who played on Hags records and some of Bucks records, played with Wanda in the studio, as far as i can tell.
I am amazed at how ” Bakersfield” many of those songs sound, with shredding Telecasters and pedal steel. She does great versions of Swingin Doors and There Stands The Glass. And this was before Dolly had left Porter Wagner to go solo. As usual, Wanda was ahead of her time. In fact , although shes known more these days for a couple rockabilly records, the dominant part of her career was country and later gospel. Dont get me wrong, im a huge rockabilly fan, but i think her Country output deserves a lot more attention.
June 30, 2021 @ 1:15 pm
It does, and she probably deserves to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, though I guess that’s not likely to happen.
June 30, 2021 @ 6:22 pm
Yeah she should be in the HOF, Wilson but…you know how it goes. So many famous ones still not there. And at the rate of exactly 2 a year, well I’m not holding my breath.
But the irony not lost on me, is that her Rock N Roll output was quite brief, and yet the RNR Hall of Fame willingly put her in. Rightfully so, mind you, there were precious few women rockers at the time. ( And she was alive and able to enjoy the occasion) What a gal, what a sassy character, what a singer, and not a bad role model either!