Blues Is My Wailin' Wall

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Blues Is My Wailin' Wall
Blues Is My Wailin' Wall.jpg
Studio album by
Mighty Mo Rodgers
Released1999
Genre Blues
Label Blue Thumb
Producer Mighty Mo Rodgers
Mighty Mo Rodgers chronology
Blues Is My Wailin' Wall
(1999)		Red, White & Blues
(2002)

Blues Is My Wailin' Wall is the debut album by the American musician Mighty Mo Rodgers, released in 1999. [1] [2] Rodgers referred to his music as "nu bluez"; he was also working on a master's thesis titled "Blues as Metaphysical Music (Its Musicality and Ontological Underpinnings)". [3] [4] He initially released the album on his label, North Star Records, in December 1998. [5] Rodgers supported the album with a North American tour. [6] He was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Best New Artist Debut". [7]

Contents

Production

Rodgers funded the album, which he produced and recorded over 18 months. [5] [8] Rodgers was influenced by Ralph Ellison's Juneteenth , which argued that the blues were a part of the lives of all Black Americans. [9] He was also influenced by Jimmy Reed and Willie Dixon, whom he saw perform at his father's Indiana club. [10] "Tuskegee Blues" is about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. [5] "Took Away the Drum" made use of kalimbas. [11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Edmonton Journal Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [11]
The Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
The Press of Atlantic City Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]

Exclaim! wrote that the album "is no revivalist camp ... but a richly musical charge that recalls the work of the late Curtis Mayfield... Rodgers' deep, warm vocals embrace gospel and R&B, and his voice alternates between a powerful growl and a gentle caress across arrangements designed around solid hooks that first seduce the listener before driving home their message." [16] The Daily Herald noted that, "where most contemporary blues songs are riffs built around hogging guitar solos, Rodgers brings a literate, philosophical punch to the genre." [17] The Edmonton Journal said that "slices of soul, dips into R&B, some rootsy roadhouse arrangements and a voice that has lived every lyric, amounts to an impressive 11 songs." [13] The Press of Atlantic City determined that "the album is uneven in spots, but Rodgers makes a valiant effort to do something different." [15]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Blues Is My Wailin' Wall" 
2."Took Away the Drum" 
3."Heaven's Got the Blues" 
4."No Regrets" 
5."Tuskegee Blues" 
6."No Dough" 
7."The Kennedy Song" 
8."(Bring Back) Sweet Soul Music" 
9."Willie B. and Me" 
10."Gone Fishin'" 
11."Shame!" 

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References

  1. ↑ "Mighty Mo Rodgers Biography by Al Campbell". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. ↑ Helms, Colin (Nov 29, 1999). "Roots 'n' Blues". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 60, no. 645. pp. 20, 21.
  3. ↑ Kassulke, Natasha (20 Jan 2000). "Spotlight: Mighty Mo Rodgers". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 18.
  4. ↑ "Mighty Mo Rodgers Blues Is My Wailin' Wall". The Hamilton Spectator. 29 Feb 2000. p. E8.
  5. 1 2 3 Morris, Chris (Mar 13, 1999). "MO Rodgers: Shaking up the blues". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 11. pp. WB8, WB34.
  6. ↑ Knopper, Steve (14 Jan 2000). "Blues-y Performance". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 3.
  7. ↑ Kabuubi, Maxine (4 Aug 2000). "Blues: Harvesting a heritage: Mighty Mo Rodgers Jazz Cafe, London". The Guardian. p. 1.16.
  8. ↑ Kinsman, Michael (23 Sep 1999). "Class Will Now Begin". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 13.
  9. ↑ "Mighty Mo Rodgers Releases 'Nu Bluez' on Blue Thumb". Los Angeles Sentinel. 14 Oct 1999. p. B5.
  10. ↑ Locey, Bill (11 Aug 2000). "Out & About". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
  11. 1 2 The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. 2006. p. 556.
  12. ↑ "Blues Is My Wailin' Wall Mighty Mo Rodgers". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  13. 1 2 North, Peter (31 Jan 2000). "Mighty Mo Rodgers Blues Is My Wailin' Wall". Edmonton Journal. p. B8.
  14. ↑ DeLuca, Dan (Feb 20, 2000). "Mighty Mo Rodgers Blues Is My Wailin' Wall". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I14.
  15. 1 2 Fine, Eric (Nov 19, 1999). "Short Takes". At the Shore. The Press of Atlantic City. p. 19.
  16. ↑ Thom, Eric (Feb 29, 2000). "Mighty Mo Rodgers Blues Is My Wailin' Wall". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  17. ↑ Guarino, Mark (14 Jan 2000). "'Mighty' Mo: He's true blues". Time Out!. Daily Herald. p. 4.
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