Joanne Shaw Taylor Releases New Single “Wishing Well” Following Acclaimed Album “Heavy Soul”

Following the critically acclaimed release of her latest studio album Heavy Soul, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Album chart under Slash’s latest release, celebrated blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Joanne Shaw Taylor has delighted fans with a special new single, “Wishing Well,” a powerful cover of Free’s hit song, available now on all major streaming platforms.

Written by the Free band members about their close friend Bevan T. Woodhouse, “Wishing Well” quickly climbed the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 7 on January 13, 1973. Featured on the band’s sixth and final studio album, Heartbreaker, it was Free’s final hit single before the group disbanded, with Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke going on to form Bad Company.

“I’ve been a massive Free fan since I was a teenager,” Joanne shares. “It’s a very hard band to cover because it doesn’t really need covering; it was already perfect in the first place. I was a little bit nervous about it because I put Free on a pedestal. But I enjoyed it. I look forward to the challenge of recreating it similar to the original and paying homage to that, but also doing it in my own sort of style.”

The release of “Wishing Well” follows Joanne’s latest album, Heavy Soul, which has been hailed as a landmark in her career, showcasing her evolution from blues roots to incorporating her soulful pop music influence. Critics have praised Heavy Soul for its raw talent and authenticity, solidifying Joanne Shaw Taylor’s place as a dynamic force in the music world.

With a career enriched by acclaim from legends like Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox, Taylor’s Heavy Soul offers a fusion of contemporary soul-pop and traditional blues. The album’s latest single, “Drowning In A Sea Of Love,” is a soulful rendition inspired by Eva Cassidy’s version of soul icon Joe Simon’s 1971 R&B hit. Introduced to Taylor by producer Kevin Shirley, it perfectly captures the album’s theme of exploring emotional depths through a blend of blues and soul music.

Heavy Soul is a landmark in Taylor’s career, showcasing her evolution from blues roots to incorporating soulful pop music nuances. The album continues to showcase Taylor’s expressive vocals and guitar prowess with tracks like “Devil In Me” and “A Good Goodbye,” the title track “Heavy Soul,” and includes a soul-stirring version of Joan Armatrading’s “All The Way From America.”

Critics have lauded Taylor for her raw talent and authenticity on Heavy Soul. Glide Magazine described it as her “most complete ‘triple threat’ effort yet,” elevating her status from a guitar slinger to a singer-songwriter. Blues Matters praised the album as “an unforgettable sonic experience, solidifying Joanne’s place as a dynamic force in the music world.” Rock and Blues Muse hailed the album by stating, “With the exciting Heavy Soul, Joanne Shaw Taylor returns to the passionate sound that brought her fame.” Maximum Volume Music praises Joanne, “A rich creative vein that has produced some of her finest work has yielded another high point, 9/10.”

After a successful U.S. Spring tour, Joanne Shaw Taylor is set to embark on “The Heavy Soul” U.S. Tour this fall, promising an electrifying experience with songs from Heavy Soul and fan favourites. For tickets, visit joanneshawtaylor.com/tour/.