Jackie Neal

Jacqueline "Jazzy Jackie" Neal was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July7, 1967 in a very musical family. You could call the Neal family the "Jackson family" of Louisiana. Daughter of Shirley Brooks Neal and bluesman Raful Neal, this talented singer attended Capitol High School in Baton Rogue,LA where she was the head of her majorette squad. She is sister to blues guitarist Kenny Neal and most of her immediate family are working musicians! In 1995, Jackie made her debut with her first album,"The Blues Won't Let You Go". She scored several regional hits with her next two records in the "Southern Soul" realm and her star was on the rise when she was fatally shot by a scorned ex-boyfriend in March of 2005.

Album Discography

"The Blues Won't Let You Go" (Cititrax 1995)

*** Before she ventured more into Southern Soul pastures Jackie's first record was an aggressive blues outing in the style of one Koko Taylor. Neal comes from championship pedigree and many of her family members are on board to assist. You got Kenny Neal on guitar & harmonica, Raful Neal on harmonica, Noel Neal & Darnell Neal on bass. Neal shouts and swaggers through grinders like "Drop The Curtain On You", "I'm Tired" & "From Now On" but it's on the torchy blues numbers "That's What I Get For Thinking I'm Over You" & the title cut where Neal really shows off her gutsy pipes. The brooding "Sometimes I Wish I Were Dead" (unfortunate song title) is another impressive performance. A rock solid blues record that deserves a re-release. Grab it if you can find it.

"Lookin' For A Sweet Thang" (Backstreet 2000)

*** Is this the same gal that belted the blues on "The Blues Won't Let You Go"? Yes it is but she's hip to what's going down on Southern radio and recorded a tasty Southern Soul record bookmarked by bouncy toe-tappers like the regional hit "Your Doctor Feelgood", "Keep It Up Woman" and cheeky "Nooky Thing". She's got skills on the slow tip too as evidenced on the delicious title cut, "Shattered By A Whisper", "Right Thang, Wrong Man" and "Man". Excellent production and songs courtesy of Leni Holmes. The only drawback being there's only 7 songs (plus a "Feelgood" remix) but priced as a full CD. I still highly recommend it if you can get a fair price. This CD is the essence of Southern Soul today. Good time was had by all.

"Money Can't Buy Me Love" (Backstreet 2002)

** 1/2 Slick, sugary sequencing, celebratory melodies and creamy vocals by a Southern Soul diva. How can you lose? It's not a loss but this time the songs just aren't up to par from Leni Holmes. The production is clean but unimaginative on simplistic dancers like "Twurk It" and "Gotta Get Me Me". It's Jackie's soulful voice that carries the team here. She tells you "Jackie ain't nobody's fool" on "In Love With Yo' Stuff". Turning the tables on men only out for a good thang she sings "If you think I'm in love baby/I'm just in love with yo' stuff!". She pulls no punches on "Go Away" while dismissing her man. "I'm gonna let you off the hook/Before I turn you out/Don't wanna see you cry like a little girl, a grown man". The best track is the head-bobber "Juke Joint". One more thing. Jackie was a lovely gal but the album cover is plain odd.

"Down In Da Club" (Jazzy 2005)

*** Sadly this is the final record from Ms. Neal prior to her tragic murder. Well, at least she went out partying it up with this upbeat Southern Soul set boasting a celebratory vibe and plenty of Jackie's confident singing- full of sass and swagger. It's a family affair on the first hit "The Way We Roll" with Jackie reminiscing about her childhood and the benefits of her loving (and talented) family. "When I was a little girl at the age of five my daddy took me to school...I had my brothers and sisters with me 'cuz that's the way my mama wanted it to be...That's the way we roll". The catthy title cut is another contender for radio, featuring those sweet synth horns and rolling basslines. Jackie brings a 'lil funk on the dancer "Freak Party" in full headbobbin' put your cup up in the air glory. Don't stop dancing yet as the wild "Zydeco Dance" will have you wiggling. But she can also slow roll it on "Work It In The Middle". This would be my choice for the next single! Love that effect on her vocals. I should mention there's a couple thought provoking moments on this record. On "He Don't Love Me" she delivers the chilling lyrics "He don't love me but he can't stand to see me with another man". It's hard not to think of the disturbing circumstances of her death at the hands of a jealous ex on this one. On "2X Loser" she proves she's not about trifling with no lying man- in fact she tells him "you ain't much of a man". Perhaps the same man? (By the way Jackie's nephew Tyree Neal wrote all the tracks). Both are strong songs and this disc feels like a good time rather a bittersweet lament overall. We'll miss you Jackie.