Just Won't Burn is the second studio album by American blues artist Susan Tedeschi, recorded in 1997. The album had national success upon release in 1998. An expanded 25th Anniversary edition of the album was released in 2023.
Contents
Reception
The album earned Tedeschi a nomination for "Best New Artist" at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Billboard's Chris Morris called the album "a striking showcase for her gravel-voiced shouting and fiery axework," and noted that she is being "pegged... as a rising successor to Bonnie Raitt."
Jana Pendragon of AllMusic stated that Tedeschi "slings, aims, and hits her target," and commented: "What a talent! Singer, songwriter, player, performer, and more, the lady from Boston can do it all... A brave heart with spunk and plenty of soul."
The authors of The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings wrote that, in relation to her previous release, Just Won't Burn features songwriting that is "both more stylish... and... markedly more personal."
Writing for JazzTimes, Bill Milkowski remarked: "She sings and plays with a lot of heart and also demonstrates a talent for songwriting on this strong debut. Yeah, she's real."
Ed Kopp of All About Jazz described the album as "a perfect vehicle for Tedeschi's powerful singing," which, he noted, is "emotionally charged and very engaging."
The Music Box's John Metzger called the album "a truly amazing effort that is full of promise for the future, even as it looks to the past," and wrote: "Tedeschi is the real deal, and... the comparisons to Joplin and Raitt truly are warranted. She approaches songs with the same level of passion, hiding her pain beneath the strength of her voice."
Track listing
"Rock Me Right" (Tom Hambridge) – 4:27
"You Need to Be With Me" (Tedeschi) – 3:04
"Little by Little" (Junior Wells) – 3:49
"It Hurt So Bad" (Tom Hambridge) – 4:50
"Found Someone New" (Tedeschi) – 2:20
"Looking for Answers" (Tedeschi) – 5:13
"Can't Leave You Alone" (Adrienne Hayes) – 3:02
"Just Won't Burn" (Tedeschi) – 4:46
"Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" (Herb Lance, Charlie Singleton, John Wallace) – 4:43
"Angel from Montgomery" (John Prine) – 5:23
"Friar's Point" (Tom Hambridge, Tedeschi) – 4:21
Personnel
Susan Tedeschi - electric, acoustic and slide guitar, piano, vocals
Sean Costello - lead guitar
Adrienne Hayes - electric guitar, rhythm guitar
Tom West - piano, Hammond organ
Ian Kennedy - fiddle
Annie Raines - harmonica
Norm DeMoura, Jim Lamond - bass
Mike Levesque - drums
Tom Hambridge - percussion, drums, tambourine, timbales, background vocals
Tino Barker - baritone saxophone
Gordon Beadle - tenor saxophone
Bird Taylor - background vocals
Buck Taylor - background vocals
Production
Producers: Susan Tedeschi, Tom Hambridge
Executive producer: Richard Rosenblatt
Associate producers: Susan Tedeschi, Ducky Carlisle
Engineers: Brian Capouch, Sean Carberry, Ducky Carlisle, Chris Rival
Mixing: Brian Capouch, Sean Carberry, Ducky Carlisle
Mastering: Dr. Toby Mountain
Assistant: Ducky Carlisle
Art direction: Diane Menyuk
Photography: Ron Pownall
Liner notes: Bob Vorel
Charts
Album - Billboard (United States)
Singles - Billboard (United States)