MARIA MCKEE
''YOU GOTTA SIN TO GET SAVED''
1993
41:01
1 /I'm Gonna Soothe You
Bruce Brody / Marvin Etzioni / Maria McKee/3:36
2 /My Lonely Sad Eyes
Van Morrison/2:41
3 /My Girlhood Among the Outlaws
Maria McKee/3:44
4 /Only Once
Maria McKee/4:03
5 /I Forgive You
Sam Brown / Maria McKee/5:06
6 /I Can't Make It Alone
Gerry Goffin / Carole King/3:38
7 /Precious Time
Gary Louris / Mark Olson/3:35
8 /The Way Young Lovers Do
Van Morrison/3:29
9 /Why Wasn't I More Grateful (When Life Was Sweet)
Bruce Brody / Marvin Etzioni / Maria McKee/5:05
10 /You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
Bruce Brody / Marvin Etzioni / Maria McKee/5:49
Mark Olson/Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals, Harmonica, Handclaps
Marvin Etzioni/Bass, Mandolin, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Don Heffington/Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Gary Louris/Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Bruce Brody/Organ Hammond, Piano, Electric Piano Wurlitzer, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Benmont Tench/Piano, Organ Hammond And Vox Organs, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Maria McKee/Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano
REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
A few years after an underappreciated solo album, former Lone Justice leader Maria McKee returns with You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, her best album yet. With Black Crowes and Jayhawks producer George Drakoulias at the helm, You Gotta Sin to Get Saved evokes the country-rock vibe of the early '70s (much like the aforementioned groups) without sounding like a studied replica. McKee sings a dynamic mix of originals and covers with genuine conviction, making You Gotta Sin to Get Saved an album that demands repeated plays.
BIOGRAPHY
by Steve Huey
After making her name as the gritty, soulful lead singer of roots rockers Lone Justice, Maria McKee embarked on an often-rewarding solo career. A native of Los Angeles, McKee was born in 1964; her half-brother was Bryan MacLean, the guitarist and sometime singer of the groundbreaking psychedelic band Love. After studying musical theater as a teenager, McKee started performing on the L.A. club scene in a duo with MacLean and also teamed up with local blues singer Top Jimmy (who inspired the Van Halen song of the same name). A roots-music scene sprang up in L.A. during the early '80s, and McKee -- a country music fan -- met like-minded guitarist Ryan Hedgecock; the two co-founded Lone Justice in 1982, and with McKee often composing material, the group became a local favorite. They signed with Geffen on the recommendation of Linda Ronstadt, but in spite of highly positive media attention, their two albums -- 1985's Lone Justice and 1986's Shelter -- failed to sell well, hampered by slick production and a sense of not-quite-fulfilled potential. McKee went solo after the latter record and released her self-titled debut in 1989, with Mitchell Froom producing.
McKee scored a critical breakthrough with her second album, 1993's You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, which was helmed by Black Crowes/Jayhawks producer George Drakoulias. Its rootsy, countrified rock and McKee's ever more powerful vocals led many reviewers to call it her most fully realized work to date. She went on to contribute the song "If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)" to the hit soundtrack of Pulp Fiction, and in 1996 she released a third solo album, the much artier Life Is Sweet, on which she played all the guitar parts. McKee subsequently took a hiatus from recording, during which time she extricated herself from her deal with Geffen in search of greater creative control. She finally returned in 2003 with another ambitious record, High Dive. In 2004, McKee issued Live in Hamburg, her first released concert outing. It was followed by Peddlin' Dreams in 2005 and Live Acoustic Tour 2006. Late December appeared in 2007 from Cooking Vinyl Records.
''YOU GOTTA SIN TO GET SAVED''
1993
41:01
1 /I'm Gonna Soothe You
Bruce Brody / Marvin Etzioni / Maria McKee/3:36
2 /My Lonely Sad Eyes
Van Morrison/2:41
3 /My Girlhood Among the Outlaws
Maria McKee/3:44
4 /Only Once
Maria McKee/4:03
5 /I Forgive You
Sam Brown / Maria McKee/5:06
6 /I Can't Make It Alone
Gerry Goffin / Carole King/3:38
7 /Precious Time
Gary Louris / Mark Olson/3:35
8 /The Way Young Lovers Do
Van Morrison/3:29
9 /Why Wasn't I More Grateful (When Life Was Sweet)
Bruce Brody / Marvin Etzioni / Maria McKee/5:05
10 /You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
Bruce Brody / Marvin Etzioni / Maria McKee/5:49
Mark Olson/Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals, Harmonica, Handclaps
Marvin Etzioni/Bass, Mandolin, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Don Heffington/Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Gary Louris/Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Bruce Brody/Organ Hammond, Piano, Electric Piano Wurlitzer, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Benmont Tench/Piano, Organ Hammond And Vox Organs, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Maria McKee/Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano
REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
A few years after an underappreciated solo album, former Lone Justice leader Maria McKee returns with You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, her best album yet. With Black Crowes and Jayhawks producer George Drakoulias at the helm, You Gotta Sin to Get Saved evokes the country-rock vibe of the early '70s (much like the aforementioned groups) without sounding like a studied replica. McKee sings a dynamic mix of originals and covers with genuine conviction, making You Gotta Sin to Get Saved an album that demands repeated plays.
BIOGRAPHY
by Steve Huey
After making her name as the gritty, soulful lead singer of roots rockers Lone Justice, Maria McKee embarked on an often-rewarding solo career. A native of Los Angeles, McKee was born in 1964; her half-brother was Bryan MacLean, the guitarist and sometime singer of the groundbreaking psychedelic band Love. After studying musical theater as a teenager, McKee started performing on the L.A. club scene in a duo with MacLean and also teamed up with local blues singer Top Jimmy (who inspired the Van Halen song of the same name). A roots-music scene sprang up in L.A. during the early '80s, and McKee -- a country music fan -- met like-minded guitarist Ryan Hedgecock; the two co-founded Lone Justice in 1982, and with McKee often composing material, the group became a local favorite. They signed with Geffen on the recommendation of Linda Ronstadt, but in spite of highly positive media attention, their two albums -- 1985's Lone Justice and 1986's Shelter -- failed to sell well, hampered by slick production and a sense of not-quite-fulfilled potential. McKee went solo after the latter record and released her self-titled debut in 1989, with Mitchell Froom producing.
McKee scored a critical breakthrough with her second album, 1993's You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, which was helmed by Black Crowes/Jayhawks producer George Drakoulias. Its rootsy, countrified rock and McKee's ever more powerful vocals led many reviewers to call it her most fully realized work to date. She went on to contribute the song "If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)" to the hit soundtrack of Pulp Fiction, and in 1996 she released a third solo album, the much artier Life Is Sweet, on which she played all the guitar parts. McKee subsequently took a hiatus from recording, during which time she extricated herself from her deal with Geffen in search of greater creative control. She finally returned in 2003 with another ambitious record, High Dive. In 2004, McKee issued Live in Hamburg, her first released concert outing. It was followed by Peddlin' Dreams in 2005 and Live Acoustic Tour 2006. Late December appeared in 2007 from Cooking Vinyl Records.