Wynonna

It isn’t often that an artist gets to reinvent herself – it’s an especially rare feat in country music. Wynonna Judd ranks among the lucky few, as evidenced by her soulful and self-assured 1992 solo debut album. Wynonna moves the singer away from the acoustic-based sound of her recordings with mother Naomi towards a more assertive R&B-based approach. The sweat-raising groove of “No One Else on Earth,” the simmering soul of “What it Takes,” and the horn-powered blues-rock of “Little Bit of Love (Goes a Long, Long Way)” are a bold departure from the soft-pedaled sass of the Judds’ hits. Wynonna’s ability with a torch song truly catches fire on “My Strongest Weakness.” She displays her abilities with a richly detailed lyric on “She Is His Only Need” and especially “All That Love From Here” (a beautiful tune celebrating the bonds between daughter and mother). “Live With Jesus” highlights her faith with a dose of Memphis-style grit. Throughout the album, producer Tony Brown’s expert hand is in evidence.