Everything Michael wrote is true. Saw her so many times, once with Double Trouble, but also at The Friendly Club in Fort Worth (on Rosedale) with Roomful of Blues. Charley Wirz took me in his old Cadillac. At one point I thought she was the poster child for drug and alcohol abuse, but she pulled out of it. No denying the power in her voice, and I only wish things would have worked out with that first LP. BUDDY magazine had her on the cover for it. Talk about a close shot at fame. Just proves you can have all of the talent in the world but still need some luck.
BTW, that pic of her with Mike Buck and the Fort Worth Cats: That's Freddie Cisneros in the background with the guitar. Crap, I feel old.
Tossing my hat into the ring, I'm guilty. Been in love with her since the night I met her at the old Antones back when you could just walk in through the kitchen. Lou Ann scared me, always had the twinkle in her eye and if she was in the mood always flirt just a bit, she was what every girl in the room wanted to be,,, a full on Woman. But then she would take the stage and it went to a whole other level. In my dreams I was gonna marry her,,, or Angela. Last time I saw her live was at a private show for Traveller @ SXSW. She was what she has always been,, Purrfect An F'n Star
I've probably seen Lou Ann more than any other female artist over the years, starting with the Triple Threat Revue. When she had a backing band that could match the quality of her vocals, it was magic. The backing on some of her albums was kind of a disappointment though. In a live setting, she could be electric and would have the dancers rockin'!
Way back when, there was a 'guilty pleasure' movie that I'll always watch when it comes on - 'Streets of Fire'. It starred a young Diane Lane as a singer kidnapped/rescued etc. But at the closing 'concert' her character, Ellen Aim, comes out walking silhouetted until the lights go on and she (lip synching to Holly Sherwood) goes into 'Tonight is what it means to be young."
I always thought that Lou Ann Barton would have done an AMAZING job with that entrance and song.
Fantastic article! My knowledge and/or memory had some serious holes regarding this amazing woman. In fact, it took this article to make me currently aware how lucky I was one night at Rockefellers in Houston. The Girls -- I called them that because I always pushed for another album -- were there in support of Dreams Come True. All three ladies were HOT that night -- on par with, or even exceeding, their individual shows I had seen over the years since the early 70s. I knew LAB was a problem child, but she was in such sad shape that she had Marcia Ball and Angela Strehli crying! Thank you, Michael...
"The opposite of AA meetings were Lou Ann Barton shows." Classic Corky.
Great profile. I wish I could go back in time to see one of her shows. The writing here is superb, Michael.
Everything Michael wrote is true. Saw her so many times, once with Double Trouble, but also at The Friendly Club in Fort Worth (on Rosedale) with Roomful of Blues. Charley Wirz took me in his old Cadillac. At one point I thought she was the poster child for drug and alcohol abuse, but she pulled out of it. No denying the power in her voice, and I only wish things would have worked out with that first LP. BUDDY magazine had her on the cover for it. Talk about a close shot at fame. Just proves you can have all of the talent in the world but still need some luck.
BTW, that pic of her with Mike Buck and the Fort Worth Cats: That's Freddie Cisneros in the background with the guitar. Crap, I feel old.
Tossing my hat into the ring, I'm guilty. Been in love with her since the night I met her at the old Antones back when you could just walk in through the kitchen. Lou Ann scared me, always had the twinkle in her eye and if she was in the mood always flirt just a bit, she was what every girl in the room wanted to be,,, a full on Woman. But then she would take the stage and it went to a whole other level. In my dreams I was gonna marry her,,, or Angela. Last time I saw her live was at a private show for Traveller @ SXSW. She was what she has always been,, Purrfect An F'n Star
Thank you both Michael, Miss Lou Ann.
I've probably seen Lou Ann more than any other female artist over the years, starting with the Triple Threat Revue. When she had a backing band that could match the quality of her vocals, it was magic. The backing on some of her albums was kind of a disappointment though. In a live setting, she could be electric and would have the dancers rockin'!
Way back when, there was a 'guilty pleasure' movie that I'll always watch when it comes on - 'Streets of Fire'. It starred a young Diane Lane as a singer kidnapped/rescued etc. But at the closing 'concert' her character, Ellen Aim, comes out walking silhouetted until the lights go on and she (lip synching to Holly Sherwood) goes into 'Tonight is what it means to be young."
I always thought that Lou Ann Barton would have done an AMAZING job with that entrance and song.
Fantastic article! My knowledge and/or memory had some serious holes regarding this amazing woman. In fact, it took this article to make me currently aware how lucky I was one night at Rockefellers in Houston. The Girls -- I called them that because I always pushed for another album -- were there in support of Dreams Come True. All three ladies were HOT that night -- on par with, or even exceeding, their individual shows I had seen over the years since the early 70s. I knew LAB was a problem child, but she was in such sad shape that she had Marcia Ball and Angela Strehli crying! Thank you, Michael...