Hip Shakin' Mama & The Leg Men
"Reclaim Your Land"
Hip Shakin' Music
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © November 2011

"Reclaim Your Land" is the debut disc from a Canadian blues band called Hip Shakin' Mama & The Leg Men, and it consists of eleven original songs that will surely get your hips shakin'. Hip Shakin' Mama is actually singer/songwriter Shelley-Lynne Hardinge on the vocals, and the Leg Men are: Gerry Perkin on guitar; Mama's husband Richie Hardinge, along with Adrian Kuryliw on bass; Rob Lamonica on keyboards and Hammond organ; Phil Nevile on keyboards; Dave Oakey on harmonica; and Doug Sullivan on drums.

Sounding nothing like it, and a lot more progressive than it as well, this song is a dedication to her greatest influence - Willie Dixon, and it's a response to her favorite song of his - "Little Red Rooster". Quite frankly, I don't want any part of this dish. Being sick and tired of this rooster's cheating, she's gonna do what she's gotta do - boil it, grill it, sauté it, bake it, roast it, poach it and more - to turn him into "Rooster Stew". Yikes! Well written and powerfully sung lyrics, excellent piano, guitar and harp leads from Phil, Gerry and Dave, and aggressive rhythm from Richie and Doug make this smoker a winner.

Cha-Cha? Rumba? Samba? Tango? Mambo? You'll want to do one of those sensuous dances once you feel the heat of the Latin beat on "She Doesn't Want You". The tandem Hammond and piano playing between Rob and Phil is astonishing, the guitar leads are fiery and the percussion Doug's got going on with the drum kit is impressive. And without being able to see it, I can just tell that as she's belting this one out, Shelley's got those hips of hers shaking in a bodacious manner. Great stuff!

When the Hip Shakin' Mama says "Show Me No Mercy" you better believe she means it. At least that's the impression I'm getting out of her cocky and commanding demands. The good part about it is it's her sexual appetite she's referring to. This one - possibly the disc's best - is highlighted by Mama's dominant vocals, Rob beating on the piano keys, and the hard diving rhythm from Richie and Doug. Worthy of several replays.

Hmmmmm, "Wanker Blues", do I dare go there? Why not? Shelley did! OK, if you know the meaning of terms like choke your chicken, midget mangling, five knuckle shuffle, pistol workin', donkey spankin' - just some of the terms she uses - then you've got the gist of what this one's all about. With no pun intended, this track is highlighted by Rob beating the hell out of his organ.

I don't think a man could ever experience a more undignified insult than having a woman tell him she's a "Bigger Man" than he will ever be. That's one hell of a blow. This track features the disc's most serious blues. Having said that, you'll hear Gerry at disc's best as he lays down lots of scorching guitar riffs. This may be the only track on which there isn't much hip shakin', but you can bet that Shelley's got this fools knees knockin'. Another of many excellent tracks.

Other songs on "Reclaim Your Land" include:"Devious", "Reclaim Your Land", "My Claws", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Funkalicious Sugar Blue" and "Don't Put Me Down Too Long".

To learn more about Hip Shakin' Mama and the Leg Men shake your hips over to www.hipshakinmusic.com. While there, do yourself a favor and pick up the disc, then do me a favor and tell Shelley the Blewzzman sent ya.