This record! Joanne Vent was a white girl with a powerhouse voice who could sing the blues and R&B without resorting to Joplinesque histrionics. Featuring epic versions of "This Is a Man's World," "Stormy Monday," and others. Shares a bit of vocal affinity with Dusty Springfield (though Vent has the bigger voice), which is maybe why this record from 1969, Vent's only release as a leader, didn't do anything sales wise, which is a shame.The Black and White of It Is Blues must have come out about the same time as Dusty in Memphis. The band and arrangements are solid on this record, but how great it would have been to hear Vent backed by the Memphis or Muscle Shoals house bands? My haphazard googling has revealed that besides this one as a leader Vent makes appearances as a backing vocalist on records as varied as Jerry Jeff Walker's "Viva Terlingua" and Lou Reed's "Coney Island Baby." She's also credited on some recent Loudon Wainwright releases. Wonderful record.#vinyl #joannevent #theblackandwhiteofitisblues #johnmessercollection #vinyljunkie
