Blues and the Soulful Truth

Last updated
Blues and the Soulful Truth
Blues and the Soulful Truth.jpg
Studio album by
Released1973
RecordedNovember 13, 1972
StudioRCA Studio A, New York City
Genre Jazz
Length39:08
Label Flying Dutchman
FD/FDS 10155
Producer Bob Thiele
Leon Thomas chronology
Gold Sunrise on Magic Mountain
(1971)
Blues and the Soulful Truth
(1973)
Full Circle
(1973)

Blues and the Soulful Truth is an album by American jazz vocalist and percussionist Leon Thomas recorded in 1972 and released by the Flying Dutchman label. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]

AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek stated: "Blues and the Soulful Truth is among the artist's most enduring performances, either as a leader or sideman ... In sum, Blues and the Soulful Truth (Which does echo Oliver Nelson's Blues and the Abstract Truth in vision as well as title), is a tour through the depth and dimension of Thomas' mind-blowing abilities as a singer in a wide range of African American musical traditions, proving at the time, and now again, that he was far more than a free jazz singer. ... This album is a singular achievement, even among the fine recordings in Thomas' own catalogue, and should be considered first by those curious enough to look into his work -- you won't be disappointed no matter what you find, but this one will take you places you never anticipated going". [4]

Track listing

All compositions by Leon Thomas except where noted

  1. "Let's Go Down to Lucy" (Alfred Ellis, Leon Thomas) – 4:27
  2. "L-O-V-E" – 2:54
  3. "Gypsy Queen" (Gábor Szabó, George David Weiss) – 10:19
  4. "Love Each Other" – 3:16
  5. "Shape Your Mind to Die" (Neal Creque, Leon Thomas) – 5:22
  6. "Boom-Boom-Boom" (John Lee Hooker) – 4:52
  7. "China Doll" (Alfred Ellis, Jesse Kilpatrick, Leon Thomas) – 5:07
  8. "C.C. Rider" (Traditional) – 6:23

Personnel

Related Research Articles

Amos Leon Thomas Jr., known professionally as Leon Thomas, was an American jazz and blues vocalist, born in East St. Louis, Illinois, and known for his bellowing glottal-stop style of free jazz singing in the late 1960s and 1970s.

<i>Kwanza</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Archie Shepp

Kwanza is an album by Archie Shepp released on Impulse! in 1974. The album contains tracks recorded from September 1968 to August 1969 by Shepp with four different ensembles.

<i>The Return of the 5000 Lb. Man</i> 1976 studio album by Rahsaan Roland Kirk

The Return of the 5000 Lb. Man is an album by the jazz multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

Earl Neal Creque was an American organist and jazz composer, born in the Virgin Islands; he was based in the Cleveland area, was a professor at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and played frequently around northern Ohio up until his death.

<i>Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata</i> 1974 studio album by Gato Barbieri

Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata is an album by Argentinian saxophonist and composer Gato Barbieri released on the Impulse! label.

<i>Shaft</i> (Bernard Purdie album) 1973 studio album by Bernard Purdie

Shaft is an album led by jazz drummer Bernard Purdie which was recorded for the Prestige label in 1971.

<i>Soul Fountain</i> 1970 studio album by Clifford Jordan

Soul Fountain is an album featuring jazz saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1966 and but not released on the Atlantic Records subsidiary Vortex label until 1970.

<i>The Worm</i> (Jimmy McGriff album) 1968 studio album by Jimmy McGriff Organ and Blues Band

The Worm is an album by American jazz organist Jimmy McGriff featuring performances recorded in 1968 and originally released on the Solid State label.

<i>Help Me Make It Through the Night</i> (Hank Crawford album) 1972 studio album by Hank Crawford

Help Me Make It Through the Night is the twelfth album led by saxophonist Hank Crawford and his first released on the Kudu label in 1972.

<i>Swiss Suite</i> 1972 live album by Oliver Nelson

Swiss Suite is a live album by American jazz composer/arranger Oliver Nelson featuring performances by a big band with soloists Gato Barbieri and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. The album was recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1971 for the Flying Dutchman label.

<i>Skull Session</i> 1975 studio album by Oliver Nelson

Skull Session is an album by American jazz composer/arranger Oliver Nelson featuring performances recorded in 1975 for the Flying Dutchman label.

<i>3 Shades of Blue</i> 1970 studio album by Johnny Hodges with Leon Thomas and Oliver Nelson

3 Shades of Blue is the final album recorded as leader by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges featuring performances recorded in 1970 with vocalist Leon Thomas and composer/arranger Oliver Nelson and first released on the Flying Dutchman label. The album was rereleased in 1989 under Nelson's leadership as Black, Brown and Beautiful with additional tracks.

<i>You Cant Make Love Alone</i> 1971 live album by Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

You Can't Make Love Alone is a live album by the American saxophonist/vocalist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1971 and originally released by Mega Records on their Flying Dutchman Series.

<i>Spirits Known and Unknown</i> 1970 studio album by Leon Thomas

Spirits Known and Unknown, subtitled New Vocal Frontiers, is the debut album by American jazz vocalist and percussionist Leon Thomas recorded in 1969 and released by the Flying Dutchman label.

<i>The Leon Thomas Album</i> 1970 studio album by Leon Thomas

The Leon Thomas Album is the second album by American jazz vocalist and percussionist Leon Thomas recorded in 1970 and released by the Flying Dutchman label.

<i>Gold Sunrise on Magic Mountain</i> 1971 live album by Leon Thomas

Gold Sunrise on Magic Mountain is a live album by American jazz vocalist and percussionist Leon Thomas recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1971 and released by Mega Records on their Flying Dutchman Series.

<i>Full Circle</i> (Leon Thomas album) 1973 studio album by Leon Thomas

Full Circle is an album by American jazz vocalist and percussionist Leon Thomas recorded in 1973 and released by the Flying Dutchman label.

<i>Expansions</i> (Lonnie Liston Smith album) 1975 studio album by Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes

Expansions is an album by keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith, featuring performances recorded in 1974 and released by the Flying Dutchman label the following year.

<i>Visions of a New World</i> 1975 studio album by Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes

Visions of a New World is an album by keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith, featuring performances recorded in 1975 and released by the Flying Dutchman label.

<i>Reflections of a Golden Dream</i> 1976 studio album by Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes

Reflections of a Golden Dream is an album by keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith, featuring performances recorded in 1976 and released by the Flying Dutchman label the following year.

References