Soldier for the Blues
| Soldier for the Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1997 | |||
| Studio | Royal | |||
| Genre | Blues, blues rock, soul | |||
| Label | Bullseye Blues | |||
| Producer | Willie Mitchell | |||
| Little Jimmy King chronology | ||||
| ||||
Soldier for the Blues is an album by the American musician Little Jimmy King, released in 1997.[1][2] He was backed by his band, the King James Version Band.[3] The album is dedicated to B. B. King.[4] King supported it with a North American tour.[5]
Production
Recorded at Royal Recording, in Memphis, the album was produced by Willie Mitchell, who also found six of the songs.[6][7] King played his Gibson Flying V lefthanded, with the strings upside down, and in standard tuning.[8] Leroy Hodges played bass on the album.[9]
Critical reception
The Toronto Star said that "King rips off rugged songs in rock-blues territory with a pleasing light voice and—above all—an outstanding searing guitar sound".[3] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette praised the "funky instrumental approach [and] smoky vocals".[15] Guitar Player noted that King's "snarling, nasal-toned leads and squealing overbends cut through his band's rolling, mid-tempo grooves with fierce conviction".[8]
The Commercial Appeal called "We'll Be Together Again" "a bona fide classic".[11] The Tampa Tribune deemed the album "an impressive collection of soul and electric blues".[17] Knight Ridder lamented King's lack of "natural funk".[18] Robert Christgau likened the best songs to the work of Robert Cray.[10]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Living in the Danger Zone" | |
| 2. | "Drawers" | |
| 3. | "I'm Doing Fine" | |
| 4. | "Life Is Hard" | |
| 5. | "I Don't Need Nobody That Don't Need Me" | |
| 6. | "We'll Be Together Again" | |
| 7. | "Soldier for the Blues" | |
| 8. | "You Ain't Bullet Proof" | |
| 9. | "It Takes a Whole Lot of Money" | |
| 10. | "Don't Wanna Go Home" | |
| 11. | "It Ain't the Same No Mo" | |
| 12. | "I Got Sick One Day" |
References
- ^ Shadwick, Keith (2002). The Encyclopedia of Jazz and Blues. Silverdale Books. p. 524.
- ^ Robinson, Bruce (July 30, 1997). "Many shades of blues at fair festival". Sonoma West Times & News. p. B4.
- ^ a b Chapman, Geoff (August 30, 1997). "Jimmy King Soldier for the Blues". Toronto Star. p. H10.
- ^ Andrews, Marke (August 2, 1997). "Even when the sun shines, musicians are still playin' the blues". The Vancouver Sun. p. D7.
- ^ Kendrick-Holmes, Dimon (August 21, 1998). "Best Bets". Go!. The Leaf-Chronicle. p. 10.
- ^ Ellis, Bill (March 9, 2002). "Live at Monterey Jimmy King". The Commercial Appeal. p. E4.
- ^ a b All Music Guide to the Blues (3rd ed.). Backbeat Books. 2003. p. 317.
- ^ a b Isola, Gregory (December 1997). "Jimmy King: Blues for Albert". Guitar Player. Vol. 31, no. 12. p. 28.
- ^ Reilly, Terry (September 12, 1997). "Album Reviews". The Age. p. EG8.
- ^ a b "Jimmy King". Robert Christgau. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ a b Ellis, Bill (June 21, 1997). "Recordings". The Commercial Appeal. p. C2.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. IV. MUZE. p. 3016.
- ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide (2nd ed.). Visible Ink Press. 2002. p. 215.
- ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 366.
- ^ a b White, Jim (August 31, 1997). "A Batch of Blues". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. F5.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. 1999. p. 402.
- ^ Dunn, Michael (August 9, 1997). "Blues albums heat up summer". Baylife. The Tampa Tribune. p. 5.
- ^ Knopper, Steve (October 8, 1997). "Blues releases are mixed bag". The Sun News. Knight Ridder. p. 8C.