“That Chick’s Too Young To Fry”, New Single by GRAMMY Nominee Catherine Russell, is out February 28, 2025 via Dot Time Records
Catherine Russell to release a single as tribute to legendary Chicago musicians Stuart J. Rosenberg, Don Stille, and Morris Jennings
The tune originated in an earlier era by Louis Jordan with ties to her father Luis Russell.
Twenty years ago, in January 2005, vocalist Catherine Russell traveled to Skokie, Illinois to record tracks which were released in April 2006 as her debut album, Cat. One track from those sessions, Catherine’s cover of a tune made famous by Louis Jordan, That Chick’s Too Young To Fry, hasn’t been heard or released, until now.
The track prominently features the instrumental prowess of several outstanding Chicago area musicians who we’ve recently lost. The track’s co-producer, Stuart J. Rosenberg, passed away at age 68 in May of 2024. Stuart’s hard swinging mandolin drives the tune with telepathic verve, alongside accordion great Don Stille, who passed away in early January 2025. The humor in the song’s lyrics is preceded by spirited playing and jam band like panache, perfectly complimenting Catherine’s signature ability to vocally sell the story.
The track is kicked off by iconic drummer Morris “Mo” Jennings, who joined the heavenly band on June 3, 2016 at age 77. In addition to being the first call drummer on Stuart Rosenberg’s projects, Jennings had a distinguished career as a house drummer at Chess Records, and as the go to drummer on recording sessions by soul, blues, jazz, and folk music greats, including Ramsey Lewis, Tyrone Davis, Curtis Mayfield, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon.
Although Catherine wasn’t aware when she picked the tune, her father Luis Russell had a deep connection with Louis Jordan. Louis Jordan covered Luis’s composition “At The Swing Cats Ball” in Jordan’s very first recording session as Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five on March 29, 1939. Years later in November 1946, Louis Jordan scored a hit with his recording of That Chick’s Too Young To Fry, which peaked at #3 on Billboard’s Race Record chart. The following week, Luis Russell supplanted Louis Jordan in the #3 spot with his hit recording of The Very Thought of You. When Luis hit #3 on the chart, Louis Jordan occupied 3 of the other top 4 positions. The number one song, Choo Choo Ch’Boogie, was initially released as the B side to Chick’s.
Catherine Russell celebrates Black History and Women’s History year round. The release date for “That Chick’s Too Young To Fry”, February 28, 2025, is on the cusp of Black History month and Women’s History month.
That Chick’s Too Young To Fry – Catherine Russell
Production Credits:
Produced by Stuart J. Rosenberg and Paul Kahn
Recorded and Mixed at Long Dog Studios, Skokie, IL, Jan 2005
Engineered by Mike Konopka
Mixed by Mike Konopka and Stuart Rosenberg
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, New York, NY
Musician Credits:
Catherine Russell – vocals
Stuart Rosenberg – mandolin
Don Stille – accordion
Morris Jennings – drums
Frank Portolese – guitar
Jim Cox – bass
Songwriters: Tommy Edwards and Jimmy Hilliard
Originally recorded by: Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five
As with the previously released Catherine Russell “lost” tracks (I Want To Talk About You in 2023 and You Reap Just What You Sow in 2020), proceeds from the release of That Chick’s Too Young To Fry in 2025 will be donated to Jazz Foundation of America to help musicians in need.
from https://lydialiebman.com