Ledbetter Heights
Kenny Wayne Shepherd · 1995
60 min · 12 tracks · blues
A fiery blend of blues and rock, driven by passionate guitar riffs and soulful vocals that echo the genre's roots.
Top tracks — play these first
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Born With a Broken Heart — This opening track highlights Shepherd’s impressive guitar work and sets the tone for the album with its emotive storytelling and powerful vocal delivery.
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Deja Voodoo — With its catchy hook and vibrant rhythm, this track showcases Shepherd’s ability to blend classic blues elements with a contemporary rock flair.
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Everybody Gets the Blues — This song features heartfelt lyrics and a moving melody, perfectly encapsulating the emotional core of the album while demonstrating Shepherd’s vocal prowess.
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Shame, Shame, Shame — A standout cover that preserves the spirit of the original while allowing Shepherd to infuse it with his unique style, making it a memorable highlight.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong guitar work and solid songwriting but lacks some cohesion in its pacing.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks feature a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the sixth track introduces a slower, more reflective pace.
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response vocals, emphasizing the interaction between the lead singer and backing harmonies.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing with peaks
- soulful vocals for emotional depth
- dynamic journey through storytelling
- live performance energy capture
- reflective moments with grit
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer short, standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1995, Ledbetter Heights was Kenny Wayne Shepherd's debut album, establishing him as a prominent figure in the modern blues scene. At just 18 years old, he showcased his exceptional guitar skills and songwriting ability, positioning himself alongside established artists while attracting significant attention from both critics and audiences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Joe Bonamassa· Gary Clark Jr.· Susan Tedeschi
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Born With a Broken Heart 5:56
- 2 Deja Voodoo 6:08
- 3 Aberdeen 4:15
- 4 Shame, Shame, Shame 6:06
- 5 One Foot on the Path 3:49
- 6 Everybody Gets the Blues 5:57
- 7 While We Cry (live) 6:18
- 8 I'm Leaving You (Commit a Crime) 4:15
- 9 (Let Me Up) I've Had Enough 2:44
- 10 Riverside 3:45
- 11 What's Goin' Down? 5:30
- 12 Ledbetter Heights 6:10
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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