Wicked (Shemekia Copeland album)

Copeland spent three weeks recording Wicked.[7] Nine of the songs were cowritten by John Hahn, who also coproduced the album with Bruce Iglauer and Jimmy Vivino.[8][9] She duetted with Ruth Brown on "If He Moves His Lips".[10] "Beat Up Guitar" is a tribute to Copeland's father, Johnny Copeland.[11] "It's My Own Tears" was written by Johnny.[1] The Uptown Horns contributed to "Up on 1-2-5".[9] Sugar Blue played a harmonica solo on "It's 2 A.M.".[12]

The Globe and Mail wrote that Copeland "has the kind of burly blues voice that used to make the juke joints shake when Bessie Smith was still singing about a pig's foot and a bottle of beer."[19] The Austin Chronicle concluded: "Her band is solid, the production smart, the song selection suitably diverse, but the story here is Copeland's undeniable presence, reflecting a confidence that belies her young age."[20] Robert Christgau praised "Steamy Windows" and "If He Moves His Lips".[14]

The Chicago Tribune noted that "the conventional band, and blues-cliche songwriters such as John Hahn, can't find the right connection."[21] The Gazette called Copeland "an extremely powerful singer... She can shake the rafters."[15] The Los Angeles Times opined that "Wicked is the kind of standard-issue showcase that labels such as Alligator have been churning out for decades, but that's not necessarily a bad thing."[16]

AllMusic wrote that "Copeland continues to prove herself as one of the strongest young talents in the blues."[13]