| Dark Night | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1998 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | HighTone | |||
| James Armstrong chronology | ||||
| ||||
Dark Night is an album by the American musician James Armstrong, released in 1998. [1] [2] Armstrong supported the album with a North American tour. [3]
Armstrong recorded the album after recuperating from a home invasion and serious stabbing, which is referenced in the title track. [4] [5] Armstrong lost feeling in his fingers and had to relearn how to play guitar; he also learned slide guitar during his recovery. [6] [7] "Lil' James" is about Armstrong's son, who was also injured in the attack. [8] Michael Ross played lead guitar on the majority of the tracks; Joe Louis Walker and Doug MacLeod played lead guitar on a few tracks. [9] [10] "Bank of Love" is about falling in love with a bank teller. [11]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [12] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [13] |
Jazziz wrote that Armstrong's "vocals and songs are vulnerable, brooding, and brimming with resignation... His hoarse, laconic delivery and falsetto on 'Too Many Misses' and 'Dark Night' are soul-piercing." [14] The Toronto Star called the album "a dozen soulful tunes with a light, appealing but emotionally edgy voice a la Otis Redding." [15] The Calgary Herald said that Armstrong's "blues riffs are clean and bold and his singing reveals his deep blues roots." [16]
The Record concluded: "Serviceable on his debut, Armstrong's vocals take on a new soulful fiber on Dark Night." [17] The Ottawa Citizen deemed Dark Night "a mixture of anger and depression leavened with the ray of hope that marks all of the best blues music." [18] The Daily Advertiser labeled it "a smooth, understated exercise in tasteful West Coast blues." [19] The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that Armstrong "wins you over with the undeniable honesty of his performances." [13]
AllMusic wrote that Michael Ross's "silky leads blend with Armstrong's still very potent singing voice quite sympathetically." [9]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dark Night" | |
| 2. | "Too Many Misses for Me" | |
| 3. | "Slender Man Blues" | |
| 4. | "Trouble on the Home Front" | |
| 5. | "Lil' James" | |
| 6. | "Can't Get Off Your Love (Heaven Help Me)" | |
| 7. | "Bank of Love" | |
| 8. | "What I Would Do (For Your Love)" | |
| 9. | "Witchin' Moon" | |
| 10. | "Here for the Music" | |
| 11. | "Standing in Your Way" | |
| 12. | "Just in Case" |
Never Been Rocked Enough is a studio album by the American musician Delbert McClinton. It was released in 1992 by Curb Records. The first single was "Every Time I Roll the Dice". McClinton supported the album with a North American tour.
James Armstrong is an American soul blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He released three albums on HighTone Records and is signed with Catfood Records. His songs have been used in the soundtracks of three films; Speechless, Hear No Evil, and The Florentine.
Root Hog or Die is an album by the American musicians Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, released in 1989. It was the duo's final studio album. Nixon originally wanted to call it Bush Idiot Slime; he took "root hog or die" from Davy Crockett's autobiography. The duo supported the album with a North American tour. Root Hog or Die sold more than 50,000 copies in its first six months of release.
Songs from Venice Beach is a compilation album by the American musician Ted Hawkins, released in 1995. It was the first collection of Hawkins's songs to be released after his death.
Blue Night is an album by the American musician singer Percy Sledge, released in 1994. Sledge considered it his first album since the early 1970s.
Pleasure Club is an album by the American musician James Hall, released in 1996. Starting over in the 2000s, Hall named his band for the album.
Sunday Morning Music is the debut album by the American singer Thornetta Davis, released in 1996. Davis was the first Black artist signed to Sub Pop, a label initially known for its grunge releases.
With These Hands is the third album by the American roots rock musician Alejandro Escovedo, released in 1996. It was his only solo album for Rykodisc.
Human Soul is an album by the English musician Graham Parker.
Texas Sugar/Strat Magik is an album by the American musician Chris Duarte, credited to the Chris Duarte Group. It was released in 1994. Duarte promoted the album by playing shows with the Radiators, Bad Company, and Neil Zaza, among others; the Chris Duarte Group also toured Australia, Europe, and Japan.
The Message is an album by the Guinean-born Canadian musician Alpha Yaya Diallo. It was independently released in Canada in 1998, with an international release in 1999. The Message won a Juno Award for "Best Global Album". Diallo supported the album with a Canadian tour.
White African is an album by the American musician Otis Taylor, released in 2001. The album won Taylor a W. C. Handy Award for best new blues artist.
Butt Naked Free is an album by the American musician Guy Davis, released in 2000. The album title was inspired by a dance performed by Davis's son during the recording sessions, although it was ultimately selected by Red House Records. Davis supported the album with North American and United Kingdom tours. Butt Naked Free was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best "Acoustic Blues Album". The album was a success on public and college radio stations.
Lost in the Blues is an album by the American musician Otis Rush, released in 1991. A version of the album titled Troubles, Troubles was released in Europe by Sonet Records.
The Gift is the second album by the American musician Joe Louis Walker, released in 1988. Walker was backed by the Boss Talkers. He supported the album with a North American tour.
Respect the Dead is an album by the American musician Otis Taylor, released in 2002. Taylor supported the album with North American tour. Respect the Dead was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best contemporary blues album.
Blues Blues Blues is an album credited to the Jimmy Rogers All-Stars. It was released in January 1999, just over a year after Jimmy Rogers's death. The album peaked at No. 1 on the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart. Mick Jagger, one of the album's many featured musicians, considered Rogers to be the originator of electric blues.
Where Blue Begins is an album by the American musician Deborah Coleman, released in 1998. Coleman supported the album with a North American tour, backed by her band, the Thrillseekers. Coleman was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best "Blues Instrumentalist, Guitar".
Ramblin' Mind is an album by the American musician Big Bill Morganfield, released in 2001. Morganfield supported the album with a North American tour.
Red Mud is an album by the American musician Chris Thomas King, released in 1998. King supported the album with a North American tour. Red Mud was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year". King promoted the album on NPR, where he was heard by the casting director of O Brother, Where Art Thou?