Soul Sensation!

Soul Sensation!
Studio album by
Released1992
GenreBlues
LabelBlack Top
ProducerHammond Scott
Carol Fran and Clarence Hollimon chronology
Soul Sensation!
(1992)
See There!
(1994)

Soul Sensation! is the debut album by the American musical duo Carol Fran and Clarence Hollimon, released in 1992.[1][2] Their friend Grady Gaines helped them sign a contract with Black Top Records.[3] The duo supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Production

The album was produced by Hammond Scott.[5] George Porter Jr. played bass on the majority of the tracks.[6] "I'll Make Your Life Sunshine" and "Mother's Love" were written by Earl King.[7][8] "I Had a Talk with My Man" is a cover of the Mitty Collier song.[9] Hollimon sings on "Box with the Hole in the Middle"; his "Gristle" is an instrumental.[8][9] "This Little Light" and "Bring It On Home to Me / Old Folks Jam" are duets with James "Thunderbird" Davis, the last recordings the musician made before his 1992 death.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All Music Guide to Soul[9]
Chicago Tribune[8]
DownBeat[11]
The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD[12]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide[13]
The Press of Atlantic City[14]

The Chicago Tribune said that the duo "strut their stuff on this rollicking collection that encompasses sizzling blues and classy lounge fare."[8] The Press of Atlantic City stated that "this is three o'clock in the morning stuff".[14] The Asbury Park Press opined that the album "explores blues, jazz, R&B and zydeco without finding a home in any of them."[15] The Boston Globe praised "Hollimon's fine guitar work and Fran's powerhouse singing."[16] The Staten Island Advance called Soul Sensation! "one of the most entertaining and satisfying blues releases of the year."[17]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Golden Girl" 
2."Push – Pull" 
3."I'll Make Your Life Sunshine" 
4."Blues for Carol" 
5."Box with the Hole in the Middle" 
6."My Happiness" 
7."I Needs to Be Be'd With" 
8."Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere" 
9."Forgive Me, but My Heart Is Broken" 
10."Bring It On Home to Me / Old Folks Jam" 
11."I Had a Talk with My Man" 
12."Gristle" 
13."Mother's Love" 
14."Tin-Tin-dé-O" 
15."This Little Light" 

References

  1. ^ Spera, Keith (July 26, 2013). "Hot Picks". The Times-Picayune. p. A13.
  2. ^ Komara, Edward, ed. (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Vol. 1. Routledge. p. 450.
  3. ^ Young, Ron (April 25, 1992). "Blues bash a family affair". San Antonio Light. p. F7.
  4. ^ Morrison, Jim (February 19, 1993). "R&B – The Way It Uses to Be". Preview. The Virginian-Pilot. p. 5.
  5. ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 8. February 22, 1992. p. 54.
  6. ^ Point, Michael (February 6, 1992). "A blues deluge comes to town". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 13.
  7. ^ Hoekstra, Dave (June 5, 1992). "Vic's Blues-A-Rama marathon will have New Orleans accent". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 7.
  8. ^ a b c d Dahl, Bill (June 11, 1992). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  9. ^ a b c All Music Guide to Soul. Backbeat Books. 2003. p. 255.
  10. ^ Perry, Claudia (February 12, 1992). "Blues veterans become partners in life, on record". The Houston Post. p. D2.
  11. ^ Ouellette, Dan (June 1992). "Record & CD Reviews". DownBeat. Vol. 59, no. 6. p. 48.
  12. ^ The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD. Grove Press. 1993. p. 74.
  13. ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 130.
  14. ^ a b Allen, Greg (February 21, 1992). "Sonic Tonic". The Press of Atlantic City. p. SN5.
  15. ^ Santelli, Robert (February 23, 1992). "New Recordings". Asbury Park Press. p. E11.
  16. ^ Wald, Elijah (May 28, 1992). "Recordings". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 11.
  17. ^ Wolfe, Penny (May 31, 1992). "The turntable". Staten Island Advance. p. E2.