Christine’s piano playing in Chicken Shack

[aleuzzi]

Today, I was listening to “It’s Okay With Me Baby” (always loved this tune) and let compilation album continue right into “When My Left Eye Jumps.” I hardly ever listen to the Stan Webb tracks so I was floored by Christine’s piano playing on the song. If you can put up with Stan’s singing, I urge to listen to it. Her attack is so confident and forceful, as if she’d been playing blues her entire life. And given the lack of overdubbing, the piano is foregrounded in the mix, so you can really hear her digging in.

With FM, Christine’s playing became more foundational. As part of the musical bedrock that inevitably featured whichever guitarist was in the lineup, this change helped give the band its signature sound. But I do wish she’d allowed herself an occasional opportunity to break out like she did on the first two Chicken Shack records.