I'm in the Wrong Business!

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I'm in the Wrong Business!
I'm in the Wrong Business!.jpg
Studio album by
A.C. Reed
Released1987
Genre Chicago blues
Label Alligator [1]
A.C. Reed chronology
Take These Blues and Shove 'Em
(1982)		I'm in the Wrong Business!
(1987)		I Want You to Love Me
(1995)

I'm in the Wrong Business! is an album by the American musician A.C. Reed, released in 1987. [2] [3] Backed by the Spark Plugs, Reed promoted the album with a North American tour. [4] It sold around 50,000 copies in its first two years of release. [5]

Contents

Production

The album was recorded in four studios across the United States. [6] Reed wrote all of the album's songs; his saxophone style was influenced by J. T. Brown. [7] [8] Bonnie Raitt, Maurice John Vaughn, and Stevie Ray Vaughan played on I'm in the Wrong Business! [9] [10] Junior Markham played harmonica on "This Little Voice". [11] The title track is a complaint about the music business; Reed made it a point to use humor in his songs. [12] [13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [14]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Robert Christgau B+ [16]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]

Robert Christgau wrote that, "title boast to the contrary, Reed has a commercial knack—he knows how to distinguish himself from competing bluesmen, more gifted ones included." [16] The Boston Globe deemed the album a "red-hot session" by the "definitive Chicago blues sax player." [19] USA Today stated that "Steve Diztell's careening guitar break on the irresistibly funky 'Don't Drive Drunk' is impressive." [20]

The Washington Post noted that, "rhythmically, the album generally has the languid, loping feel of a Jimmy Reed tune." [12] The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that Reed "makes his own blues sound both accessible to the marketplace and gratifyingly raunchy." [18] The Herald American wrote: "By not taking the blues too seriously, Reed has produced one of the genre's most contemporary works." [21]

AllMusic called the album "solid, soulful blues, often with humorous, self-deprecating lyrics." [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by A.C. Reed.

No.TitleLength
1."I'm in the Wrong Business" 
2."I Can't Go On This Way" 
3."Fast Food Annie" 
4."This Little Voice" 
5."My Buddy Buddy Friends" 
6."She's Fine" 
7."These Blues Is Killing Me" 
8."Miami Strut" 
9."The Things I Want You to Do" 
10."Don't Drive Drunk" 

References

  1. ↑ Komara, Edward M. (September 3, 2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues: K-Z, index. Taylor & Francis US.
  2. ↑ Hadley, Frank-John (September 3, 1993). The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD. Grove Press.
  3. ↑ "Obituary: AC Reed". The Guardian. April 12, 2004.
  4. ↑ Provencher, Norman (October 3, 1987). "Saxophonist pounds home the blues". Ottawa Citizen. p. C11.
  5. ↑ MacInnis, Craig (April 21, 1989). "Bluesman dislikes Canadian customs". Toronto Star. p. D16.
  6. ↑ Miller, Mark (March 24, 1988). "I'm in the Wrong Business A. C. Reed". The Globe and Mail. p. C4.
  7. ↑ Racine, Marty (January 10, 1988). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
  8. ↑ Hoekstra, Dave (February 5, 1988). "Saxophonist A. C. Reed finds right key for blues". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 7.
  9. ↑ Van Matre, Lynn (August 28, 1987). "The Concert Line". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 5.
  10. 1 2 MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 306.
  11. ↑ Hall, Ken (January 31, 1988). "A.C. Reed gives the blues his best". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
  12. 1 2 Joyce, Mike (December 16, 1987). "Alligator's Cutting Edge". The Washington Post. p. D7.
  13. 1 2 The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books Ltd. 2006. p. 541.
  14. 1 2 "A.C. Reed I'm in the Wrong Business". AllMusic .
  15. ↑ Popson, Tom (December 18, 1987). "Also available from Alligator...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. L.
  16. 1 2 "A.C. Reed". Robert Christgau.
  17. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 820.
  18. 1 2 Tucker, Ken (January 17, 1988). "A.C. Reed I'm in the Wrong Business!". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F8.
  19. ↑ Morse, Steve (December 6, 1987). "Blues". The Boston Globe. p. A29.
  20. ↑ Peterson, Joe (December 18, 1987). "'I'm in the Wrong Business' A.C. Reed". USA Today.
  21. ↑ Bourke, Brian G. (December 20, 1987). "I'm in the Wrong Business, A.C. Reed". Stars. Herald American. p. 5.
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