Joan Osborne’s major-label debut album Relish was an instant favorite of mine when it was released in 1995, and the album has an amazing array of moods.  Despite curve balls like “Let’s Just Get Naked” that celebrate a playful sexuality, most songs have a spiritual bent, from the haunting, infectious “St. Teresa”, to a fairly obscure Bob Dylan song, “Man in the Long Black Coat”.  

The album name Relish sums up Joan Osborne’s views on life in general; here is Roch Parisien’s take on the album as a whole (via Allmusic):  “Grounded in blues, soul and gospel, the Kentucky native wields her gritty voice with personality and forceful presence, kind of Melissa Etheridge meets Sophie B. Hawkins with a splash of Jann Arden.  Osborne’s passion for life oozes from the grooves.  There’s an uplifting fervor to her material and delivery, as if every second, every note was being individually savored.” 

(November 2014)