VOA标准英语2013--Don't Count Out Wanda Jackson

 

Don't Count Out Wanda Jackson

Jackson celebrated² her 75th birthday in a style befitting a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: by releasing the brand new album.

“Unfinished Business” is her 31st CD. It kicks off with the scorching³ “Tore Down,” originally recorded by Texas Bluesman Freddie King. Knowing that her age is a major topic of discussion, Jackson says this album tells the world that “I’m not through yet, so don’t count me out.” And you’d be silly to do so.

At an age when most performers are slowing down, Jackson has spent the past two years: recording⁴ an album with Jack¹ White; as the opening act on Adele’s 2011 summer tour; performing at Bonnaroo and other rock festivals; and then recording “Unfinished Business” with Justin Townes Earle producing. Jackson sings one of Earle’s songs on her new disc: “What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome.” It’s a track you might recognize from Justin’s 2008 disc “The Good Life.”

The junior Earle isn’t the only one of that musical family to have a cut on Jackson’s new CD - she also chose to sing one of Steve Earle’s originals. “The Graveyard⁵ Shift” dates back to “The Mountain,” Steve’s 1999 bluegrass recording with The Del McCoury band.

Jackson says she’s committed to keeping up her touring schedule. Unlike some artists who tour seasonally⁶, she works 12 months a year, every year. And she’s not just touring in the United States - Jackson is currently in the middle of a three-week tour around Europe and has a steady stream of dates in the U.S. through the rest of this year.

But that’s not all - Jackson will soon be the subject of a feature film based on a career that started when she was a teenaged country star. At least that’s the plan, according to news reports she has already met with a producer and screenwriter interested in her life story. It won’t be the first time Jackson’s career has played out in film. A 2008 documentary called “The Sweet Lady With The Nasty Voice” already chronicled her true life and times.

If you’d like to find out more about this singer, her incredible life and where she’s headed next, just head over to WandaJackson.com. Don’t forget to check out all the brand new and vintage video clips while you’re there!

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 scorching   

adj. 灼热的

参考例句：

• a scorching, pitiless sun 灼热的骄阳
• a scorching critique of the government's economic policy 对政府经济政策的严厉批评

4 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

5 graveyard   

n.坟场

参考例句：

• All the town was drifting toward the graveyard.全镇的人都象流水似地向那坟场涌过去。
• Living next to a graveyard would give me the creeps.居住在墓地旁边会使我毛骨悚然。

6 seasonally   

参考例句：

• The price of vegetables fluctuates seasonally. 蔬菜的价格随季节变动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They moved seasonally among various vegetation types to feed on plants that were flourishing. 它们还随着季节的变化而在各种类型植物之间迁移，以便吃那些茂盛的植物。 来自辞典例句