was something for teenagers to claim as
theirs. It was a way for young people to set
themselves apart from their families, assert
their independence, and defi ne themselves
as a demographic. Those post-war years
were a great time of change in the US and
it was the fi rst time that teens became a
distinct consumer group. They didn’t want
to listen to their parents’ music anymore.
Rock’n’roll fi t the bill, and the fact that a lot
of adults hated it only fuelled its popularity.Ironically a major hit in Japan, but did
Wanda ever encounter any controversy
over Fujiyama Mama?WANDA’S NEXT ACE
ALBUM ON THE WAY
(AS AND WHEN)Interestingly, Wanda’s hotly-anticipated upcoming album comes as a result of the singer
feeling not completely satisfi ed with her last album in 2012, the Justin Townes Earle-
produced Unfi nished Business – “which then created unfi nished business!” she later said. As
initially reported on broadwayworld.com in July 2018, with Joan Jett producing, Wanda went
to Nashville to record some tracks, written by herself as well as by hit Nashville songwriter/
singer Elle King and Angaleena Presley of The Pistol Annies. Back again in the mix is
four-time Grammy award winner Vance Powell, of the Wanda/Jack White 2011 tour de force
No.17 Top Rock Album/No.58 Billboard scorer, The Party Ain’t Over. (Aged 73 when released,
she broke Mae West’s 1966 record for being the oldest female vocalist to make the chart).
That will be hard to top, however Wanda’s enthused over her as-yet-unnamed off ering,
which she describes as heartfelt and based on her life experience. “I’m really looking
forward to sharing what Joan and I have been working on... Plus, we have a lot in common,
just being girl rockers... I might have gotten things started, but she took it from there.” All
things being well, it’s slated for completion later this year.ONE OF
A KIND
WANDA
DID YOU KNOW?According to Wanda back in the day, “The
musicians would come up with arrangements on
the fl y, everything was done quickly. We didn’t
put as much weight on recording then. A record
was just something to help you get more live
gigs. We never imagined that anyone would still
be listening to records in a year, much less 50
years down the road!’
She recorded (though disliked) a novelty
calypso song, Don’a Wan’a, suggested by her
producer Ken Nelson.
She was the fi rst woman to host her own
syndicated TV show in the 60s.
Wanda cites ‘female Elvis’ Janis Martin as
another rockabilly girl pioneer. Like Wanda,
Janis appeared on Rosie Flores’ ’95 album
Rockabilly Filly, and was also rediscovered on
the revival circuit. However, the two never met.
She has many famous fans: from Linda Gail
Lewis to Chrissy Hynde, Cyndi Lauper, Adele and
Joan Jett to Lemmy from Motörhead, Bob Dylan,
and Bruce Springsteen. Horror writer Stephen
King wrote her 2011 album notes, while Elvis
Costello best sums up Wanda’s enduring appeal:
“She was standing up on stage with a guitar in
her hands and making a sound that was as wild
and raw as any rocker, man or woman, while
other gals were still asking, ‘How much is that
doggy in the window?’”
As she “hadn’t had a string of hits”, Wanda
was surprised to fi nd herself fi nally inducted
into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. She is also a
recipient of the Americana Music Association’s
Lifetime Achievement Award.If she did, I’m not aware of it. It seems crazy
in 2019 to imagine there was a time that
the song wouldn’t cause a total fi restorm
of controversy, and it’s even wilder that it
became a huge hit in Japan. Of course the
song was originally recorded by Annisteen
Allen, and was not original to Wanda, but
her version is the best known.Why do you think it took so long – until
2009 – for Wanda to be included into
the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? In
retrospect it seems that her contribution
was not taken seriously enough by what
Elvis Costello referred to as a boys’ club?
Elvis might be right about that, but it’s hard
to say. Institutions such as the Rock Hall or
the Country Music Hall Of Fame always get
criticised for who’s in and who’s out, but the
people who vote on these things can only
induct so many in any given year. Maybe
Wanda would have gotten her due without
Costello’s intervention, but I’m sure glad he
spoke up.
In commercial terms Wanda was far more
successful in the country fi eld. It’s amazing
she’s not in the Country Music Hall Of Fame
yet. But in terms of infl uence, she absolutely
deserves to be in the Rock Hall and I’m just
glad she’s there now. As Jack White has said,
she’s infl uential to every modern female
singer, whether they know about her or not!With her recent collaborations with such
names as Rosie Flores, Jack White and
Joan Jett, what do you think it is about
Wanda that makes her so relevant?
I think Wanda is relevant because she’s a
true entertainer. She’s always known how
to get on stage and captivate an audience
while letting her warmth and sincerity shine
through. People relate to her, and that’s the
kind of thing that transcends generations.What was most surprising to discover
about Wanda’s life/career when you
came to write the book? And what do you
believe to be her greatest achievements?
I’m fascinated by Wanda’s thoughts on
feminism. She dislikes that word immensely.
At the same time, she was never going to let
men defi ne her or tell her how to direct her
career. I think one of her most signifi cant
contributions that I never really thought
about until we worked on the book together
was the way she introduced glamour to
country music. Before her you had Kitty
Wells and people wearing gingham dresses.
Wanda brought in a new fl ashy fashion and
introduced that sexy rock and roll attitude
into country music.Can you sum up Wanda in fi ve words?
Genuine; warm; groundbreaking; feisty; and
kind.“WANDA’S ALWAYS KNOWN HOW TO CAPTIVATE
AN AUDIENCE WHILE LETTING HER WARMTH AND
SINCERITY SHINE THROUGH”Wanda Jackson