Today, April 19, blues guitarist and vocalist Sue Foley unveiled her new music video for the cover tune “Nothing In Rambling.” This selection, plucked from Memphis Minnie personal repertoire, is one of the 12 heartfelt picks that form the backbone of Foley’s profound musical tribute project, One Guitar Woman, which was released in its entirety last month.
The official music video for “Nothing In Rambling,” exclusively shared via Relix, captures a sense of sonic organicness in its simplified formatting. It harnesses Foley’s vocals to the fervent strum of her acoustic guitar. The stripped-down arrangement highlights the artist’s knack for the blues and ability to tap into the soulful feel of female musicians who assisted in defying the music industry’s century-old patriarchal lean.
“Memphis Minnie is one of the most influential figures in blues history, yet she remains a mysterious figure,” Foley told Relix. “‘Nothing in Rambling’ was chosen for its personal lyrical content amidst myths surrounding her life. A lone female in a male-dominated blues scene, Minnie played a pivotal role in the transition from country to electric blues. Minnie’s influence extended beyond her musical prowess; she was known for her rough demeanor in bars and on the streets, even engaging in guitar cutting contests, which she won on many occasions.”
Staying true to the album’s One Guitar Woman title, Foley performs all the LP tracks on a single acoustic guitar: A nylon-string Flamenco guitar she bought from a master luthier on a 2022 visit to Paracho, Mexico. This unique approach, using a single instrument for all tracks, not only showcases Foley’s mastery but also breathes new life into the songs, emphasizing empowerment and distinction.
“There’s something that transformed in me when I started to research these female pioneers of guitar. Knowing that they had persevered through decades of challenges and trials so that my trials were lessened has taught me humility, and having a clear understanding of their accomplishments makes me want to reach higher in my own career. They forged the path for all female guitarists, leaving us not just the trail but a map of directions and the wisdom to navigate it.”
Watch Foley’s official music video for “Nothing In Rambling” below. Scroll down to view the complete tracking list for One Guitar Woman.
Sue Foley One Guitar Woman Song List / Credits
1: Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie (4:15)
(Elizabeth Cotten, Vestopol Music, BMI)
2: In My Girlish Days (3:55)
(Ernest Lawler, Songs of Universal Inc, Wabash Music Company, BMI)
3: Lonesome Homesick Blues (3:53)
(Maybelle Carter, APRS, BMI)
4: Mal Hombre (4:27)
Lydia Mendoza / Sue Foley, San Antonio Music Publishers Inc, BMI, Mechanicsville Music, SOCAN, ASCAP)
5: Motherless Child Blues (4:33)
(Elvie Thomas, Boathouse of Tunes, BMI)
6: Romance In A Minor (4:24)
(Niccolo Paganini, Arranged by Sue Foley, Mechanicsville Music ASCAP SOCAN)
7: My Journey To the Sky (2:50)
(Rosetta Tharpe, PW 3 ASCAP SONGS, ASCAP)
8: Nothing In Rambling (3:05)
(Minnie Lawlers, Memphis Minnie Music Company ASCAP)
9: Maybelle’s Guitar (3:05)
(Written by Sue Foley, Mechanicsville Music, SOCAN, ASCAP, Wildwood Flower, AP Carter, APRS, BMI)
10: Freight Train (3:37)
(Elizabeth Cotten, Figs D Music, BMI)
11: Last Kind Words Blues (4:04)
(Geeshie Wiley, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED, PRS, BMG PLATINUM SONGS US, BMI)
12: La Malagueña (4:35)
(Ernesto Lecuona, Arranged by Sue Foley, Mechanicsville Music SOCAN, ASCAP)