Bar Room Preacher
| Bar Room Preacher | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Recorded | November 1983 | |||
| Genre | Blues, Chicago blues | |||
| Label | Alligator | |||
| Producer | Disques Black and Blue | |||
| Jimmy Johnson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bar Room Preacher is an album by the American musician Jimmy Johnson, released in 1985.[1][2] It was first released in France under the title Heap See.[3] Johnson supported the album with a North American tour.[4]
Production
Recorded in Paris, the album was produced by Disques Black and Blue.[5][6] Johnson wrote three of its songs.[7] "Chicken Heads" is a cover of the Mighty Joe Young song.[8] "Cold, Cold Feeling" is a version of the T-Bone Walker song.[9] "You Don't Know What Love Is" was written by Fenton Robinson.[10]
Critical reception
The Chicago Tribune called the album "good, ol' fashioned, head hangin' Chicago blues".[16] The Whig-Standard said that "Johnson's voice, his chief strength, has the timbre of a young B.B. King's, although it's more expressive; it's at its best on such slow numbers ... Johnson captures painful sentiments without wimping out".[17] The Los Angeles Times praised his "stinging guitar and distinctive, high-pitched vocals".[18]
The Winnipeg Sun called the album "a mix of classic gutbucket blues and multi-influenced originals".[19] The Houston Post appreciated that Johnson was one of the few blues musicians who excelled at both singing and playing guitar, with one skill not outshining the other.[8] The Reno Gazette-Journal stated that Johnson "has a clean, warm tone and he swings and soars across the bar lines like a jazz horn player".[20]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Don't Know What Love Is" | |
| 2. | "Little by Little" | |
| 3. | "When My First Wife Quit Me" | |
| 4. | "Chicken Heads" | |
| 5. | "I Have the Same Old Blues" | |
| 6. | "Cold, Cold Feeling" | |
| 7. | "Happy Home" | |
| 8. | "Heap See" | |
| 9. | "Missing Link" |
References
- ^ Santelli, Robert (2001). The Big Book of Blues: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Penguin Books. p. 246.
- ^ Shadwick, Keith (2001). The Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues. Chartwell Books. p. 506.
- ^ Wynn, Ron (December 5, 1985). "Masters Face the Future". The Telegram. Bridgeport. p. P8.
- ^ Johnson, Jacqueline (August 29, 1986). "Buffalo joins Johnson blues tonight". Billings Gazette. p. 10D.
- ^ Trussell, Robert C. (December 20, 1985). "Turntable". The Kansas City Star. p. 10C.
- ^ a b MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 193.
- ^ a b Racine, Marty (January 19, 1986). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 12.
- ^ a b Claypool, Bob (December 22, 1985). "Blues". The Houston Post. p. 10F.
- ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 318.
- ^ Lawson, Stan (March 20, 1986). "A Preacher with soul". The West Sonoma County Paper. p. 11.
- ^ All Music Guide to the Blues (3rd ed.). Backbeat Books. 2003. p. 286.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. IV. MUZE. p. 2847.
- ^ Wolgamott, L. Kent (January 21, 1986). "Records". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 5.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. 1999. p. 370.
- ^ Roberts, Jim (March 5, 1986). "Test Pressings". Valley Advocate. p. 30.
- ^ Brogan, Daniel (January 17, 1986). "Jimmy Johnson, Bar Room Preacher". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 78.
- ^ Burliuk, Greg (March 8, 1986). "Bar Room Preacher Jimmy Johnson". Magazine. The Whig-Standard. p. 1.
- ^ Snowden, Don (September 19, 1986). "Johnson at Peace with His Music". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
- ^ Potter, Mitch (December 13, 1985). "He's Made the Blues His Life". Winnipeg Sun. p. F6.
- ^ Nixon, Bruce (December 29, 1985). "On the record". Reno Gazette-Journal. p. 10E.