Dianne Davidson - Mountain Mama (Reissue) (1972/2014)

Some of this singer/songwriter's musical talents may have been inherited: her grandmother was an opera singer, and her mother claims Davidson came out of the womb singing. As a child, Davidson even toyed for a while with the piano and saxophone before settling on being a singer and developing her own personal vocal style. Davidson's recording career began at age 19 when she produced and recorded her own LP for Janus Records, following a period of belting out soul standards with an eight-piece band. Two more LPs for Janus followed before the label went out of business in 1974. More recently, Davidson has been recording for Oakland's Olivia Records. The robust, passionate voice featured on her own albums has also provided backup vocals for Linda Ronstadt and Tracy Nelson. Although Davidson handles the blues, R&B, and pop ballads with skill, her strongest songs are the rousing rockers that allow her to belt out the lyrics loud and clear.