Description
When Wanda Jackson announced she was retiring after releasing her 32nd studio album, rock ‘n’ roll was saying goodbye to a true pioneer and original. Then, it’s fitting that her swansong, Encore, is produced by another rock innovator, Joan Jett (along with longtime Jett collaborator Kenny Laguna). It’s a lean, tight album (it clocks in at less than 25 minutes) and a fabulous capper to a groundbreaking career.
Encore comes after a career resurgence that started with 2011’s The Party Ain’t Over (produced by Jack White) and 2012’s Unfinished Business (helmed by Justin Townes Earle). Finding a late-career renaissance similar to Loretta Lynn, Nancy Sinatra, or Marianne Faithfull, Jackson, Queen of Rockabilly, proved that she was still capable of putting out explosive performances despite her advanced age. For Encore, she finds kindred kinship with Jett and Laguna , who make sure to keep the spotlight firmly on Jackson’s voice.
The album is a mix of originals and covers, with contributions by Jett. By not treating Jackson like a Legend (capital L), Jett and Laguna were able to capture Jackson as a vital and dynamic artist, who despite the announcement of retiring, sounds like she could go on forever.
