RORY BLOCK - "Ain’t Nobody Worried" : a blues woman covers hits from the past

Ain’t Nobody Worried, Rory Block’s heartfelt tribute to some of the finest women in music, is inspired by the home concerts she performed during the pandemic. While performing two broadcasts a week, Block eventually exhausted her repertoire of blues and folk tunes. She decided to turn toward the music of the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s.
When Block entered the studio with producer Rob Davis, she sought to recapture the joy she and her audience felt as they celebrated great songs from decades past. Several soul and R&B covers show just how much passion and energy Block bought to these sessions. On the Staple Singers’ I’ll Take You There, well-placed slide licks and finely strummed 16th notes power the arrangement.

Block’s effusive, flowing vocals are sure to get listeners’ feet tapping. In the liner notes, Block refers to Gladys Knight and the Pips’ Midnight Train to Georgia as “one of the most soulful songs of all time.” The beloved soul classic works surprisingly well with an acoustic arrangement. As she sings the familiar lyrics, Block’s vocal range is stunning. She goes from sultry purrs to piercing high notes in a heartbeat.

A stripped-down arrangement and relaxed tempo offer a distinctive take on Tracy Chapman’s hit Fast Car. Block’s mournful slide guitar licks are a perfect companion to the tune’s aching lyrics. 

It’s no surprise that Bonnie Raitt’s Love Has No Pride appears on an album that celebrates great women of song. Block’s love and admiration for Raitt are obvious as she pours her heart into the vocals. Block’s beautiful vibrato and expert sense of dynamics bring Raitt’s lyrics to life. 

Lovin’ Whiskey is the only one of Block’s own songs on this collection. Block outdoes herself as she performs the song that put her on the map. Soul-baring vocals and sublime guitar work make this track one of the album’s high points.
Warm and intimate, Ain’t Nobody Worried makes listeners feel as if they are sitting around a campfire with Block and her guitar. It’s a pleasure to hear Block pay tribute to the women who have inspired her and countless other musicians.