Let Me Play with Your Poodle (CD - 1997)

Personnel includes: Marcia Ball (vocals, piano, Wurlitzer piano); Doyle Bramhall (vocals); Steve Williams (guitar, acoustic, electric & slide guitars, background vocals); Derek O'Brien (electric guitar, background vocals); Clarence Hollimon (electric guitar); Paul Klemperer (saxophone, tenor saxophone) Mark Kazanoff (saxophone, tenor & baritone saxophones); Red Rails (saxophone); Les Izmore (baritone saxophone); Gary Slechta (trumpet); Randy Zimmerman (trombone); Riley Osbourn (Hammond B-3 organ); Don Bennett (bass, background vocals); David Carroll (bass); Rodney Craig (drums); Fran Christina (drums, background vocals); B.E. "Frosty" Smith (tambourine, shaker/congas, percussion).

Producers: Mark Kazanoff, Derek O'Brien, Marcia Ball.

This album of snaky swamp rock is one of Ball's best recordings. Great choice of songs (she wrote 5 of the 13) that let her show all her talents, both vocally and instrumentally. Slow-tempo songs display the force of her voice, as in "I Still Love You," and another of the many gems, "For the Love of a Man." Meanwhile, the playfulness of the title cut and "The Right Tool for the Job" allow her to have fun and let the band air it out. Then there is the perfect song to end the disc and an absolute tour de force, Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927."

Ball has again assembled another top-notch cast of characters who more than hold up their end of the bargain. A few of the many who shine are George Rains on drums, Mark Kazanoff, who does double duty as a co-producer and excels on various saxes, and Derek O'Brien, who also co-produced and shares much of the guitar work with Steve Williams. If you don't know Marcia Ball, this is a fantastic introduction, and if you liked her past work this is a gem you won't want to miss. ~ Bob Gottlieb minimize