Picking up where Big Maybelle left off, Candye Kane makes clear on her latest release that she's the undisputed queen of the Blues shouters - she rocks, she rolls, she moans and strolls. She grabs hold of a song and just doesn't let it go.Don't let the unnecessarily campy album cover fool you. Kane is no novelty act. Yes, she was a stripper many years ago, but she's released a handful of terrific albums over the past decade that established her as a singer who's in a league of her own.

Not only is she an original tunesmith, but Kane is also a soulful interpreter who knows how to use humor and innuendo to make somebody else's song hers and hers alone. Just listen to her belt out Carole King's "Wrap Around Joy," which Candye transforms into a sly pleasure, or the sensuousness she pours into Etta James' "Something's Got a Hold On Me." Then Kane does a good job convincing us that she really is "Going Back Where I Belong," which was originally done by Sugar Pie D Santo. And she pops as a steamy torch singer on "When the Hangover Strikes," an overlooked gem first recorded by Squeeze.

Kane tackles Jump Blues superbly on the effervescent "Fit, Fat and Fine," which comes off as something of an anthem, given her full figure. And she has loads and loads of fun singing a duet with Charlie Musselwhite on the utterly hilarious Big Bill Broonzy number, "What's That I Smell?" ("And, brother, if you don't know that smell, you've had way too much to drink"). As for sheer Rock 'n' Roll romping, Kane actually does a great job of remaking "Whole Lotta Love," which was one of Led Zeppelin's signature songs. It's her unique female perspective, you see, that refreshes this tired, old classic.

And as she notes on one of her own numbers, she's cheated "27 Times" on her fella. Well, fine, if that's what it takes to gain the gusto and glee to make such a wonderful outing. Candye has certainly earned her stripes.

Bottom line - if you're having a party, this is the album to play.