Melissa Etheridge – Melissa Etheridge (1988)

This was another love affair resulting from a random CD single purchase, having never heard, or heard of, the woman in question.  But, as sometimes, not that often, it was love at first hearing.  What a voice, and what a collection of songs.  She was 27 when she made this, her first album, and had built up an arsenal of great songs already.  Her voice is a bit raspy, reminiscent of Rod Stewart = and the songs are defiant and sometimes angry – but all are brilliant.  This is the sort of album that you just want to put on replay again and again.  I later learned that she was a militant feminist, which maybe explains some of the anger and emotion – no bad thing sometimes.  Best songs on this debut are opener ‘Similar Features’, ‘Chrome Plated Heart’ and ‘The Late September Dogs’.  As a devotee of girl singer songwriters this was a great discovery – definitely worth a listen…