Liz Mandeville

The Stars Motel

Blue Kitty Records

Liz Mandeville moved to Chicago in 1979. Four years after first hearing Luther Allison and Koko Taylor she began to front her own band. The winner of many songwriter awards Mandeville recorded her first four albums for Earwig Records. In 2012 she released “Clarksdale” on her own Blue Kitty Record label. In 2014 she followed up with ‘Heart O Chicago”. This is Mandeville’s seventh recording overall.

This album is three years in the making. It began when Tulsa, Ok. guitarist Scott Ellison, also a former Earwig labelmate, called looking for a place to stay for the weekend. Mandeville agreed that he could stay in her studio but stated that the price would be that they would have to write and record three songs. They got it done. “Too Hot For Love” opens the album and it’s a great song. I’ve always loved Mandeville’s voice. Besides Ellison on guitar the song features Joan Gand on the B-3; Matt Kohl on bass and Robbie Armstrong on drums. “What Could Have Been” and “What Do Blues Men Like?” were also waxed.

Mandeville goes on to say that “the following year Italian guitarist Dario Lombardo came to play The Chicago Blues Fest”. He also stayed in Mandeville’s studio and they co-wrote and recorded three songs. “Blues is My Boss” features both Lombardo and Mandeville trading guitar leads. The band is rounded out by Matt Cartwright, bass; Andy Sutton, drums; and Gand again on the B-3. “Bad Blues Habit” led to “Reefer and a Glass of Wine”. Doug Deming plays lead on the latter.

Later that year Florida’s Rachelle Coba called. She was nominated for a Blues Blast Award and was hoping she could stay at Mandeville’s studio. Her cost was that they also had to write and record three songs. Coba sings the background vocal on “Everybody Knew But Me” with it’s second line beat. Mandeville’s sexy vocal intonation gets me every time. “Try Me” and “River of Blood” were also recorded.

Mandeville only needed several more songs to complete this new album now named “The Stars Motel”. She asked guitarist Minoru Maruyama who played on “Heart O Chicago” and they wrote and recorded the final two songs; “One Dance” and “Truth”.

It’s no surprise to me that this is a delicious recording. Mandeville sounds like a terrific host. I understand however she is no longer giving out her phone number. But you can still hear her. This is highly recommended.

Richard Ludmerer