This is a radical revamp of Margaret Lewis’ Lonesome Bluebird album, which was released some 25 years ago. Mainly comprised of material from the Ram Records’ vault, it also includes some enjoyable twists including demos and Louisiana Hayride material. Shreveport’s poet-laureate of country soul, Lewis’ classic title track “Reconsider Me” is again the centerpiece and title track here. The template for Johnny Adams’ biggest hit, leave it said—and not the first time—her rendering of “Reconsider Me” can reduce a listener to a puddle of tears.

A song also associated to the Tan Canary is Lewis’ Nashville demo of “I Want To Walk Through This Life With You,” which Adams recorded and which became yet another country soul hit. Lewis’ demo of the song will also give you trembles upon first hearing. Of the 13 tracks just now seeing the light of day, one can’t help but wonder how this material got left on the shelf for so long. “It’s All Right (You Can Go)” and “Yea Yea Baby” easily stand up to anything from Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, or I dare say, Irma Thomas’ repertoire. Obviously best known as a song writer, this ArkLaTex woman could also sing with a lot of passion and soul. Check covers of Domino’s “You Said You Love Me” and Jimmy Reed’s “Can’t Stand To See You Go.”

Another leftover, her swamp pop rendering of Rocket Morgan’s “Bow Wow Puppy Love”—recorded at Cosimo’s with Johnny Winter on guitar—is really a hoot and holler. Lewis’ own records pretty much cover every style of popular Louisiana music circa 1960. Certainly this is a well-deserved and entertaining tribute to Lewis, who passed last year. A superb 22-page booklet prepared by author John Broven is incomparable—check out these Polaroids of Maggie on stage rockin’ awhile! Easily the reissue of 2020 so far. Just don’t buy one copy of this CD, get two. Give one to someone equally hip and in the know as you (if you can find one).