Mirriam Johnson (born May 25, 1943), known professionally as Jessi Colter, is an American country music artist who is best known for her collaborations with her husband, country singer and songwriter Waylon Jennings, and for her 1975 country-pop crossover hit “I’m Not Lisa“.
Colter was one of the few female artists to emerge from the mid-1970s “outlaw country” movement. After meeting Jennings, Colter pursued a career in country music, releasing her first studio LP in 1970, A Country Star Is Born. Five years later, Colter signed with Capitol Records and released her first solo single, “I’m Not Lisa”, which topped the country charts and reached the top five on the pop charts. In 1976 she was featured on the collaboration LP Wanted: The Outlaws, which became an RIAA-certified Platinum album.
Discography: 11 studio albums from 1970 – 2017; 3 collaboration albums from 1976 – 1978, and 2 compilation albums (1995 and 2003.)
One thing to share: Jessi put out an album of songs based on Psalms (a book of The Bible.) Stephen Thomas Erlewine’s review says:
The plainspoken title The Psalms may suggest a straightforward gospel album, but this 2017 album is anything but straightforward. Jessi Colter recorded The Psalms with Lenny Kaye, the guitarist best known for his collaboration with Patti Smith. The pair became acquainted when Kaye was assisting Colter’s late husband Waylon Jennings in writing his autobiography and, during this time, the writer discovered that the singer would often sit at her piano and improvise melodies to passages from the Book of Psalms. Convinced this was a great idea for an album, Kaye held two sessions in 2007 and 2008 — not long after Colter released the Don Was-produced Out of the Ashes — and then he spent the next several years augmenting the spare sketches with tastefully chosen musicians. The result is striking, unlike anything Jessi Colter has ever released: it’s hushed and haunting, an elegiac testimonial to the power of enduring faith.
Sources:
allmusic review of The Psalms
wikipedia
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Interesting story Ms. Jadeli.
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Thank you, GiN.
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WOW, I haven’t heard her name for quite some time–but I remember her lovely voice. I’ll have a listen to her Psalms, as that’s right up my alley. Thanks for these great female music shares!!
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Zelda, I did Women Music March last year also, after I had done a year of coloring a picture and including a musical artist just prior to it and realized I’d woefully neglected female musical artists.
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Nice!
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But you ARE Lisa! 🙂
While that tune sounds vaguely familiar, the name Jessi Colter does not. Of course, the caveat here is I’ve dismissed country music for the longest time as “hillbilly music.” My stance has only started to change within the past five years or so.
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LOL I took a lot of heat for this song when it was on the radio.
Tsk tsk tsk, Christian. I’m glad you are finally opening your ears to country music. It’s got DEEP roots.
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That’s a wonderful recording. Thanks for bringing to my attention. (K)
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You’re very welcome, K.
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Dang it…I missed this one. I love Jessi and always have… the first time I saw her…I was a kid watching Dukes of Hazzard lol. Great voice and writer. This clip here is inventive.
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Cool you remember her from way back. I only know that song and she was married to Waylon. Agreed on the clip.
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Yes and it’s nice to see the world has discovered all of those older country music stars…the ones we took for granted here.
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Thanks for reminding me of JC. I have a few albums with her and Waylon. I will dive into that new album. Sounds very interesting.
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You’re welcome. Glad you’re enjoying my Women Music March, CB.
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Last day of March. I have so many women artists I dig and you hit on quite a few.
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Last day of March. I have so many women artists I dig and you hit on quite a few.
Someone I dig and you might also, Neko Case.
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CB I think I’ve heard her on pandora radio. Real mellow iirc. I will add her to cover in 2022.
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My friend J who comments on some of my stuff just did a really good take on one of her albums.
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A link to it would be helpful. Pretty please?
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I thought I was being a little lazy
https://towaxecstatic.wordpress.com/2021/03/26/youll-never-pass-beyond-the-gate-if-you-dont-hear-my-warning-neko-case-fox-confessor-brings-the-flood-2006/
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Thanks, CB, um yes 😉 I just read J’s review and listened and yes, she has a lovely voice. Just went to the library website and borrowed it. It needs a closer listen.
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Very cool. She has some great help on the record and if you give her time she might really grow on you.
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