Back in the 1980s, Candye Kane was a stripper and magazine model with a few X-rated videos to her credit. With a background like that, it may be easy to suppose she would be a novelty act with little to offer musically. However, this newly released 1997 concert shows Kane to be a bold blues singer with ability and style. Her bold and shameless sense of pansexual fun combined with a disarmingly direct and honest charm makes her the modern Mae West of the jump blues.

This swinging concert with the Swingin' Armadillos includes a cover of "These Boots are Made for Walkin'," as well as such fun and overt tunes as "Great Big Woman" and Kane's own "All You Can Eat...."

Blues, rock and swing have always mixed well with sex, and it is her brassy, fun blend of those -- as well as real singing ability -- that has kept her post-porn career as a musician alive since her debut in 1993 and on to last year's all-star live recording Whole Lotta Love (Ruf Records). This concert was part of a banner year for Candye Kane and the Swingin' Armadillos.

- Rambles
written by Tom Schulte
published 24 July 2004