Gina Sicilia

Tug of War

Blue Elan Records

Gina Sicilia is from the greater Philadelphia area. She released her first studio album “Allow Me To Confess” in 2006 one year before graduating from Temple University with a degree in Journalism. Sicilia had been writing songs since the age of twelve so she had ample material for that first album and eight of the eleven tracks were originals. The album was produced by Dave Gross and also featured selected covers from Big Maybelle, Etta James and Little Esther Phillips. Sicilia had “star potential” and the album resulted in her being nominated for a 2008 Blues Music Award in the category of “Best New Artist Debut”.

That same year Sicilia followed up with “Hey Sugar”. Her band included producer guitarist Gross, harpist extraordinaire Dennis Gruenling and the Blues Music Award winning pianist David Maxwell. Sicilia’s 2011 album “Can’t Control Myself” also produced by Gross was her most complete recording as a vocalist and songwriter.

For her 2013 album “It Wasn’t Real” Sicilia found herself a new producer, the Grammy winning Glenn Barratt. Around this time Sicilia also found herself relocating to Nashville. In 2014 she released a five song EP “The Alabama Sessions” and in 2016 another EP “Sunset Avenue” on her new label Blue Elan Records.

“Tug of War” is Sicilia’s seventh studio recording this time co-produced by Barratt and the Grammy nominated Dave Darling who also produces her label mate Janiva Magness. Admittedly Sicilia has been “through a lot in the past three years”. This new album is sort of a comeback as it’s her first full length recording on her new label. Sicilia sticks to her original formula of combining eight originals with three selected covers.

Opening with “I Don’t Want to Be In Love” Sicilia sings from her heart on what might be the best song she has ever written. Darling is credited as co-writer on this first track. My other favorites include “Never Gonna End” featuring some great piano from Walter Runge and outstanding acoustic guitar from Ron Jennings. Jennings is also featured on “I Cried”, “Damaging Me” and “Abandoned”.  Sicilia likes to modulate her vocals in order to highlight her emotion and it works surprisingly well especially on the latter.

The three covers include “He Called Me Baby” recorded by Patsy Cline in 1964; “Tell Him” written by Bert Berns a.k.a. Bert Russell and produced by Leiber and Stoller was a hit for the Exciters in 1962; and “All My Loving” recorded by The Beatles in 1963.

I have enjoyed watching Sicilia blossom as an artist. Her work ethic has made this album a success.

Richard Ludmerer

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