T-Bird Rhythm

T-Bird Rhythm
Studio album by the Fabulous Thunderbirds
Released	January 11, 1982 (1982-01-11)
Studio	Third Coast Sound, Austin, Texas
Genre	Blues rock, Texas blues
Length	35:27
Label	Chrysalis (Original) [1] Benchmark (Reissue)
Producer	Nick Lowe
The Fabulous Thunderbirds chronology
Butt Rockin' (1981) T-Bird Rhythm (1982) Tuff Enuff (1986)

T-Bird Rhythm is the fourth studio album by Texas-based blues rock band the Fabulous Thunderbirds, released in 1982. ^{[2] [3]} The recording contains a mixture of covers and originals. Chrysalis dropped the band following the release of the album. ^[4]

Production

The album was produced by Nick Lowe. ^[5] A video was produced for "How Do You Spell Love?" ^[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
The Austin Chronicle	[8]
Robert Christgau	B+ [9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[1]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[11]

Robert Christgau wrote that "both sides open with fetchingly offhand ravers, Kim Wilson works his shoo-fly drawl for gumbo lilt, and the mysterious J. Miller contributes the irresistible 'You're Humbuggin' Me', which had me tearing through my Jimmy Reed records in a fruitless search for the original." ^[9] The Globe and Mail wrote: "Jimmy Vaughan's [sic] guitar can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, but the real genius of this band is vocalist and harmonica player Kim Wilson." ^[12] The New York Times called T-Bird Rhythm "a rocking album that generates excitement without sounding like the work of fanatic blues revivalists," writing: "[It] should win this soulful and accomplished band some pop air play and long-overdue recognition. And it's a welcome change for Nick Lowe, whose productions had recently begun sounding a bit like a formula and washed out." ^[13]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Kim Wilson; except where indicated

1. "Can't Tear It Up Enuff"
2. "How Do You Spell Love?" (Bobby Patterson, Jerry Strickland, Marshall Boxley)
3. "You're Humbuggin' Me" (J.D. Miller, Rocket Morgan)
4. "My Babe'" (Ron Holden)
5. "Neighbor Tend to Your Business" (Huey P Meaux)
6. "Monkey" (Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King)
7. "Diddy Wah Diddy" (Willie Dixon, Ellas McDaniel)
8. "Lover's Crime"
9. "Poor Boy"
10. "Tell Me" (J.D. Miller)
11. "Gotta Have Some/Just Got Some" (Willie Dixon, William Robert Emerson, Don Talty)

Personnel

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

• Kim Wilson - vocals, harmonica
• Jimmie Vaughan - guitar
• Keith Ferguson - bass
• Fran Christina - drums, backing vocals

Technical

• Colin Fairley - engineer
• Larry Williams - photography

References

1. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 356.
2. "The Fabulous Thunderbirds | Biography & History". AllMusic.
3. Powell, Austin; Freeman, Doug; Johnston, Daniel (February 1, 2011). The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology. University of Texas Press. ISBN   9780292722705 – via Google Books.
4. "T-BIRDS ARE 'TUFF ENUFF' FOR A POP HIT". Los Angeles Times. May 25, 1986.
5. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 403.
6. Denberg, Jody (October 1985). "Dancing in the Streets". Texas Monthly. 13 (10): 202.
7. "T-Bird Rhythm - The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved January 21, 2018.
8. "The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds". www.austinchronicle.com.
9. "Robert Christgau: CG: The Fabulous Thunderbirds". www.robertchristgau.com.
10. Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings . Penguin. p. 190. ISBN   978-0-140-51384-4.
11. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 236.
12. Lacey, Liam (November 20, 1982). "INSIDE THE SLEEVE POP T-Bird Rhythm The Fabulous Thunderbirds". The Globe and Mail: F6.
13. Palmer, Robert (December 1, 1982). "THE POP LIFE". The New York Times: C28.