Shelley King – Madam Mystic
Lemonade Records
12 Tracks – 44 minutes
Shelly King was born in Arkansas and moved around in Little Rock and some over in Oklahoma, later moving to Amarillo, Texas and Houston. She received her first guitar at age 7 and started writing songs, although she admittedly says they were sappy love songs, at age 13. She sang gospel in church and also jazz, but when she heard down and dirty blues, she determined that was the music she loved and wanted to pursue. She began her professional music career during a stint at Sam Houston State University where she transitioned from community musical theater to performing solo gigs.
In the late 80’s, Shelly attended the South by Southwest music festival in Austin and fell in love with the music vibe of the city. In 1992, she made the move to Austin. On her first night there, she was invited to La Zona Rosa, a Mexican restaurant owned by Marcia Ball and her husband, Gordon Fowler. She ended up at a table with Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmour and Jimmy LaFave and Marcia was in the house and kept coming to the table to talk. With that inspiration, she began writing her own songs and in 1998 released her first album, Call of My Heart. The title song was then recorded by Toni Price, which won Best Song at the 2002 Austin Music Awards. This gained Shelly attention in the music community and led to her own AMA in 2005 for Best Roots Band. In 2008, Shelley became the first female artist to be named the official Texas State Musician.
Madam Mystic is her tenth album release on which she plays an acoustic guitar, sings lead vocals, and produced the album which is on her own label. On previous tours, she shared billing with New Orleans’ The Subdudes. John Magnie and Steve Amedee of that band formed a group with her. That connection continues on this album with John playing acoustic guitar, piano, organ, percussion and providing vocals; and Steve playing drums and percussion. Eric Thorin on electric and upright bass completes the core group. She also has been sharing billing with Carolyn Wonderland. I recently was on the Delbert McClinton Sunny Beaches Cruise, where both artists had their individuals shows, but both took the time to play several songs in each other’s shows and both had extremely well-received appearances. Carolyn plays electric guitar on six songs on this album with Will McFarlane playing guitar on the remaining six. With the addition of a few additional guests, Madam Mystic explores a vast diversity of songs for a captivating album.
Shelley opens the album with a love song, “Time Means Nothing” noting that “we have forever”. She follows with a soulful plea to “Help Me Please” “…won’t you set my soul at ease”. On “I Believe”, Shawn Camp guests on vocals, mandolin and baritone guitar as Shelley acknowledges “I’ve walked a crooked path, never believed I would find a home” but “believe I have been forgiven”.
Horns lead into the R&B, “You Got That Right”, as she says, “you make the chills go up and down my spine”. Carolyn joins on guitar with a guest shot from Cindy Cashdollar on dobro and steel. Carolyn continues on guitar and whistles on the title song with John’s funky piano and a little kazoo thrown in for an old- fashioned fun touch of a bouncy bar-styled music. Shelley then invokes “The Truth” “that opens up my heart to let you in”.
” That’s What I’m Gonna Do” is a slow pledge of love with Matt Skinner providing a calm duet with Shelley and taking a solo on both the vocals and acoustic guitar. “A Crash of Thunder” lets Carolyn rip on a rocking number as Shelley questions “Where are you now…you don’t live here anymore…you can save your alibis”. “Texas Eagle” is a biographical tale of Shelley’s move to Austin as she takes the train to go “where there’s soul”.
“It Was New Year’s Eve in 1993, you were making promises to me” as we were going to “Ring in the New”. “It Was New Years’ Eve 2003… we had promises to keep, stars were all aligned.” “New Years’ Eve 2013, we were living for each other just trying to make it last.” “New Years’ Eve 2023 counting down the final hours, all the promises we made, now it’s long walks, big talks.” The pieces deliver a sentimental story of life as we grow beside each other. “The Power” “is at your command” as she lays out all of the joys you can experience if you let them in. The album concludes with “Mississippi” a bouncy, country song with Carolyn again on guitar and providing a duet and backup vocals.
Shelley’s warm alto voice is constantly engaging and should be more out in the public attention. She travels nationally and internationally and is well-received wherever she plays. Give it a listen.
