Music

The Party Ain’t Over, by Wanda Jackson

Wanda Jackson may be the queen of rockabilly, but Jack White is king of this collaboration. The roots-obsessed producer takes charge, offering a high-octane reimagination of various '50s styles. But where White's work on Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose (2004) came off as reverent and almost subtle, here 73-year-old Jackson's presence seems like an afterthought.

Still, it's a lot of fun. White relishes setting up old-fashioned grooves and then assaulting them with blaring horns and guitars. The material covers rock and country oldies as well as newer songs by Bob Dylan and Amy Winehouse.

Winehouse is an odd choice; she's hard to out-retro. But overall White puts together a fine set and ensemble, including the audacious and effective choice of Jackson on vocals. Calling it a Jackson record, however, is a stretch.

Steve Thorngate

The Century managing editor is also a church musician and songwriter.

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