Put Sunshine in It

Last updated
Put Sunshine in It
Studio album by
Arthur Blythe
Released1985
Genre Jazz, pop jazz
Label Columbia
Producer Todd Cochran, Bruce Purse
Arthur Blythe chronology
Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk
(1983)		Put Sunshine in It
(1985)		 Da-Da
(1986)

Put Sunshine in It is an album by the American saxophonist Arthur Blythe, released in 1985. [1] [2] The album was regarded as an attempt, at the behest of Blythe's label, Columbia Records, to woo a crossover fusion audience, although Blythe claimed that he was interested in trying a different style of music. [3] [4] Blythe supported the album with live dates, backed by his longtime band. [5]

Contents

Production

The album was produced by Todd Cochran, who also played keyboards, and Bruce Purse, who composed many of the songs. [6] [7] Blythe was also backed by Alphonso Johnson on bass, Michael O'Neill on guitar, and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler on drums. [6] [8] Blythe used drum machines and synthesizers on some of the tracks, which incorporated elements of disco and funk. [4] [9] "Sentimental Walk" is an interpretation of the song from the film Diva . [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Oakland Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Omaha World-Herald Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Valley Advocate Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]

The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that the "estimable alto saxophonist's desperate attempt to woo the Grover Washington Jr. crowd is a dismal failure even on its own lenient terms". [13] The Omaha World-Herald concluded that "Blythe's slightly off-center sound and fiery, upper-register cries remain, but are somewhat diminished and diluted by elemental funk and ballads." [6] The Globe and Mail said that "Blythe waves lightly at the six nondescript tunes, and his Tweety-Bird tone and high-flying ideas—thin though they are compared to previous efforts—are just enough to carry the music." [15]

The Washington Post called Put Sunshine in It Blythe's worst album, stating that he "gets lost amid bland tunes and fuzak backing". [5] The Buffalo News opined, "So human and urgent is his sound and so tactile his sculpting of melody, that it is profoundly musical, for all its obvious commerciality." [16] The Sun panned the "unimaginative tunes encased in synthetic syrup." [17]

AllMusic labeled the album a "dud" and noted that it was dominated by Cochran. [11]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Tumalumah" 
2."Put Sunshine in It" 
3."Uptown Strut" 
4."Silhouette" 
5."#5" 
6."Sentimental Walk (Theme from Diva)" 

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References

  1. ↑ Matthews, Carl (March 30, 1985). "Arthur Blythe". Dawn Magazine. Atlanta Voice. p. 13.
  2. ↑ Wyatt, Hugh (February 1, 1985). "Bebop tradition bops on". Friday. Daily News. New York. p. 18.
  3. ↑ Pick, Steve (April 29, 1988). "A Blythe-Spirited Return to the Basics". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. G4.
  4. 1 2 Gilbert, Andrew (July 29, 1999). "Long Time Coming: Arthur Blythe Returns to the Spotlight". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 9.
  5. 1 2 Himes, Geoffrey (February 3, 1985). "Arthur Blythe". Lifestyle. The Washington Post.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Will (February 17, 1985). "Alto Saxist Blythe Fairly Successful in Commercial Compromise". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 1.
  7. 1 2 Feather, Leonard (March 24, 1985). "Jazz Album Briefs". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 68.
  8. ↑ Karlovits, Bob (February 14, 1985). "Arthur Blythe's sax work puts 'Sunshine' a cut above most fusion". The Pittsburgh Press. p. B4.
  9. ↑ Adams, James (February 21, 1985). "Fail to thee Blythe spirit". Edmonton Journal. p. C3.
  10. ↑ "One glissando". News Pilot. San Pedro. March 29, 1985. p. E12.
  11. 1 2 "Put Sunshine in It Review by Scott Yanow". AllMusic. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  12. ↑ Kelp, Larry (February 17, 1985). "Records". Calendar. Oakland Tribune. p. 22.
  13. 1 2 Davis, Francis (February 8, 1985). "Albums". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E28.
  14. ↑ Roberts, Jim (March 13, 1985). "Test Pressings". Valley Advocate. Pioneer Valley. p. 34.
  15. ↑ Miller, Mark (February 21, 1985). "Jazz". The Globe and Mail. p. E5.
  16. ↑ Simon, Jeff (February 15, 1985). "Jazz". Gusto. The Buffalo News. p. 32.
  17. ↑ Rutter, Frank (March 2, 1985). "Jazz". The Sun. Vancouver. p. B4.
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