Red Mud (album)

Last updated
Red Mud
Red Mud (album).jpg
Studio album by
Chris Thomas King
Released1998
Genre Blues
Length53:54
Label Black Top
Producer
  • Hammond Scott
  • Chris Thomas King
Chris Thomas King chronology
Chris Thomas King
(1997)		Red Mud
(1998)		Me, My Guitar and the Blues
(2000)

Red Mud is an album by the American musician Chris Thomas King, released in 1998. [1] [2] King supported the album with a North American tour. [3] Red Mud was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year". [4] King promoted the album on NPR, where he was heard by the casting director of O Brother, Where Art Thou? [5]

Contents

Production

King decided to make an acoustic blues album after his former label, Scotti Bros., was sold. [6] His father, Tabby Thomas, sang on the cover of his song "Hoodoo Party" and duetted with King on "Bus Station Blues". [7] [8] "Rambling on My Mind" and "Come On in My Kitchen" are versions of the Robert Johnson songs. [9] "Death Letter Blues" was written by Son House. [10] King played a dobro or resonator guitar on many of the tracks and used sampled strings on a few. [11] [12] "Wanna Die with a Smile on My Face" is a rerecording of an earlier King song. [13] The title track is about a man contemplating marriage to a twice-married woman. [14] King employed hip hop vocalizing on "Alive". [15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Age Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
The Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Tampa Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that "fans of traditional blues should appreciate King's talents in interpreting the music, and his innovative efforts to stretch its limits." [9] The Age praised the "compelling, resonant vocals and intricate guitar work." [16] The Record said that "King tackles straight-ahead acoustic blues with power and vision." [18] The Washington Post opined that "his latest style has seemed more a coat he's just trying on than a jacket he's lived in long enough to wear comfortably." [13] The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that "King brings a quiet authority to this style of music." [17]

Track listing

Red Mud track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Red Mud"4:09
2."If It Ain't One Thang, It's Two"3:58
3."Soon This Morning Blues"3:48
4."Come On in My Kitchen"4:23
5."I'm on Fire"3:30
6."Sinking Feeling"3:01
7."Alive"3:42
8."Dark Cloud"3:18
9."Hoodoo Party"3:42
10."Rambling on My Mind"3:04
11."Wanna Die with a Smile on My Face"2:52
12."Death Letter Blues"5:26
13."Bus Station Blues"4:04
14."Raining Angels"4:57
Total length:53:54

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. L. Burnside</span> American blues musician (1926–2005)

R. L. Burnside was an American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He played music for much of his life but received little recognition before the early 1990s. In the latter half of that decade, Burnside recorded and toured with Jon Spencer, garnering crossover appeal and introducing his music to a new fan base in the punk and garage rock scenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Thomas King</span> Musical artist

Chris Thomas King is an American blues musician and actor based in New Orleans, Louisiana.

<i>Bunny Gets Paid</i> 1995 studio album by Red Red Meat

Bunny Gets Paid is the third studio album by Red Red Meat, released in 1995 by Sub Pop. The band supported the album by touring with the Grifters.

<i>Holy Smokes</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Suzzy Roche

Holy Smokes is the debut solo album by the American musician Suzzy Roche, released in 1997. It was the first solo album by a member of the Roches. Roche supported the album by embarking on a tour, playing solo with just a guitar.

<i>There Is Always One More Time</i> 1991 studio album by B.B. King

There Is Always One More Time is an album by the American musician B.B. King, released in 1991. It is dedicated to Doc Pomus, who cowrote the title song. The first single was "Back in L.A."

<i>White African</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Otis Taylor

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.

<i>Fish Aint Bitin</i> 1997 studio album by Corey Harris

Fish Ain't Bitin' is the second album by the American musician Corey Harris, released in 1997 through Alligator Records. Harris supported the album with a North American tour that included shows opening for B.B. King. Fish Ain't Bitin' won a W. C. Handy Award for the best acoustic blues album of 1997.

<i>Back to the Country</i> (Johnny Shines album) 1991 studio album by Johnny Shines

Back to the Country is an album by the American musician Johnny Shines, released in 1991. He was accompanied by the harmonica player Snooky Pryor. It was Shines's final studio album. Back to the Country won a W. C. Handy Award for country blues album of the year.

<i>Harlem Blues</i> (Satan and Adam album) 1991 studio album by Satan and Adam

Harlem Blues is the debut album by the American musical duo Satan and Adam, released in 1991. The liner notes penned by Adam relay the history of the pair. The duo supported the album with a European tour. Harlem Blues was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Traditional Blues Album of the Year".

<i>Thats When I Know</i> 1994 studio album by Eddie C. Campbell

That's When I Know is an album by the American musician Eddie C. Campbell, released in 1994. It marked Campbell's return to the United States after spending more than a decade in Europe. Campbell supported the album with a North American tour. The title track was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award.

<i>Lovers Plea</i> 1998 studio album by W. C. Clark

Lover's Plea is an album by the American musician W. C. Clark, released in 1998. It was his third album for Black Top Records. Clark supported the album with a North American tour. The album was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Soul Blues Album" of the year.

<i>Give in Kind</i> 2002 studio album by Guy Davis

Give in Kind is an album by the American musician Guy Davis, released in 2002. It was his fifth album for Red House Records. Davis supported it with a North American tour. The album was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best "Acoustic Blues Album".

<i>West Coast House Party</i> 2000 studio album by Kid Ramos

West Coast House Party is an album by the American musician Kid Ramos, released in 2000. It was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best contemporary blues album. Ramos's third solo album, West Coast House Party was released through Evidence Music. Ramos supported it with a North American tour.

<i>Homemade</i> (Cephas & Wiggins album) 1999 studio album by Cephas & Wiggins

Homemade is an album by the American musical duo Cephas & Wiggins, released in 1999. It was their second album for Alligator Records. The duo supported the album with a North American tour. Homemade was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best "Traditional Blues Album".

<i>Payin for My Sins</i> 1999 studio album by Grady Champion

Payin' for My Sins is an album by the American musician Grady Champion, released in 1999. It was his first album for Shanachie Records. Champion supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Where Blue Begins</i> 1998 studio album by Deborah Coleman

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".

<i>Flyin High</i> (Johnny Copeland album) 1992 studio album by Johnny Copeland

Flyin' High is an album by the American musician Johnny Copeland, released in 1992. Copeland supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Wicked</i> (Shemekia Copeland album) 2000 studio album by Shemekia Copeland

Wicked is the second album by the American musician Shemekia Copeland, released in 2000. It peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's Blues Albums chart. Wicked was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Contemporary Blues Album". It won a W. C. Handy Award for "Blues Album of the Year". Copeland supported the album by touring with B. B. King.

<i>Kant Sheck Dees Bluze</i> 1992 studio album by Jimmy Dawkins

Kant Sheck Dees Bluze is an album by the American musician Jimmy Dawkins, released in 1992. It was his first studio album for an American record label in a decade. He supported it with a North American tour.

<i>Wake Up and Live!</i> 1996 studio album by Floyd Dixon

Wake Up and Live! is an album by the American musician Floyd Dixon, released in 1996. He was backed by the Full House band. Dixon supported the album with a North American tour. In recognition of Wake Up and Live!, Living Blues bestowed on Dixon its "Most Outstanding Blues Musician (Keyboards)" award. The album also won the W. C. Handy Award for "Comeback Blues Album".

References

  1. ↑ Graff, Gary (September 20, 1998). "Robert Johnson: The Music and the Myth". Arts & Entertainment. The Plain Dealer . p. 11.
  2. ↑ Hadley, Frank-John (March 1999). "New blues invasion". DownBeat . Vol. 66, no. 3. pp. 22–25.
  3. ↑ Houlihan-Skilton, Mary (October 30, 1998). "Club Hopping". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times . p. 4.
  4. ↑ Ellis, Bill (January 23, 1999). "B. B. King at Top of Handy Nominations". The Commercial Appeal . p. F1.
  5. ↑ King, Chris Thomas (2021). The Blues: The Authentic Narrative of My Music and Culture. Chicago Review Press.
  6. ↑ Spera, Keith (September 25, 1998). "Chris Thomas King Getting Back to Blues Basics". The Times-Picayune . p. L8.
  7. ↑ Wirt, John (September 18, 1998). "King's blues blockbuster rooted in tradition of old masters". Fun. The Advocate . Baton Rouge. p. 9.
  8. ↑ Steinberg, David (May 26, 2000). "Bluesman strums to help out dad". Albuquerque Journal . p. F11.
  9. 1 2 3 White, Jim (October 4, 1998). "Recordings". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. G2.
  10. 1 2 Atkins, Ace (January 22, 1999). "Chris Thomas King, Red Mud". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune . p. 17.
  11. ↑ Reindl, James (Oct 8, 1998). "New on CD". Weekend. The Burlington Free Press . AP. p. 27.
  12. ↑ Hall, Jeff (September 19, 1998). "Another round of blues". Courier-Post . p. 4E.
  13. 1 2 Himes, Geoffrey (February 12, 1999). "Chris Thomas King 'Red Mud'". The Washington Post . p. N18.
  14. ↑ Palmer, Don (Oct 1999). "Blues: Existential Blues". Jazziz. Vol. 16, no. 10. p. 38.
  15. ↑ Paton, Richard (October 23, 1998). "Reviews". Marquee. Sun Herald . Toledo Blade. p. 20.
  16. 1 2 Schwartz, Larry (December 13, 1998). "Chris Thomas King Red Mud". Applause. The Age . p. 8.
  17. 1 2 Cristiano, Nick (January 3, 1999). "Blues". The Philadelphia Inquirer . p. F10.
  18. ↑ Jones, Ryan (February 12, 1999). "Chris Thomas King couldn't be a purist if he wanted to". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record . p. 28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.