“I’VE always followed my soul,” says Jackie DeShannon. “I grew up singing all kinds of music from many genres, and a lot of people didn’t understand that. It’s not a great way to plan a career, for sure!” The first artist to record classics “Needles & Pins” and “What The World Needs Now Is Love”; the composer of standards such as “When You Walk In The Room”, “Put A Little Love In Your Heart” and “Bette Davis Eyes”; Beatles support act, Van Morrison collaborator, early adopter of Dylan,
“Get him over here now!”: with Jimmy Page, London, 1964
Ry Cooder and Jimmy Page - DeShannon is indeed a tough artist to categorise. The one-time Kentucky farm girl has been recording since the late ’50s, her music ranging from Memphis soul to folk-pop, gospel to FM rock. Now 79, last year she released her first new material for 20 years, a lilting sea song called “For Isla”.