Home Cookin'

by Dan Forte After releasing her own cassette (the partially live Burlesque Swing -- the best introduction to Candye's unique talents), this stew may be a case of too many cooks. And despite a star-studded cast -- including two Paladins and one member of Los Lobos (who are also listed among the six producers -- not counting Kane), R&B guitar great Roy Gaines, Blaster Dave Alvin, Fab T-Bird Kim Wilson -- the result is neither fish nor fowl. The hardcore blues numbers -- "Big Mama Candye's Blues" and "Don't Blame It on Me" (a duet with Wilson) -- are fairly standard fare, and her ribald side is virtually absent, but the conjunto "She Wore a Red Carnation" and country two-step "Dance Hall Girls" show Candye's singing and songwriting to their best advantage. (Her Antone's follow-up, 1995's Knockout, is far from a "blues album" -- with country and rock material penned by Dylan, Jack Tempchin, Rickie Lee Jones, Van Dyke Parks, and Lowell George -- but features better vocal performances by Candye and production by Val Garay.)