Daunielle

Although this is Daunielle (say “Dawn-yell”) Hill’s debut CD, the Memphis-based soul/blues vocalist is no stranger to the studio—having sung backup on CDs by Solomon Burke, Huey Lewis and others—or the stage (for the last four years she’s toured with Huey Lewis & the News). Blessed with a powerful voice, and backed up by the Rays (her label’s house band), Daunielle wastes no time getting down to business on the first track: “Runaway Train,” a medium-tempo original that, over a smooth horn riff, details the problems she has with her man whose bad habits cause her to liken him to a “runaway train that’s gonna jump the rails.” Then, as if to prove her independence, she gives a heartfelt rendition of the Etta James hit “Damn Your Eyes” (“I’ll be all right alone … no more being a fool for you … I believe all your lies, the look in your eyes … damn your eyes.”). She shows her resiliency with a pumping version of the Jackie Wilson classic “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher” that’s appropriately up-tempo and made even cheerier by the horn section’s riffing. Daunielle rounds out her repertoire of love songs with “Goodbye Kiss,” a lament about the abrupt end of a young love affair. One eagerly anticipates her next CD.