Cadillac Blues is an album by the American musician Johnnie Bassett, released in 1998.[1][2] He is credited with his band, the Blues Insurgents.[3] Bassett supported the album with a North American tour.[4] Cadillac Blues was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best traditional blues album.[5]
| Cadillac Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1998 | |||
| Studio | Royal | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | Cannonball | |||
| Producer | Ron Levy | |||
| Johnnie Bassett chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editRecorded in Memphis, the album was produced primarily by Ron Levy, with assistance on some tracks by Willie Mitchell.[6][7] It was inspired by Bassett's time as a Cadillac salesman.[8] Most of the songs were written by Bassett and organist Chris Codish.[9]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
The Record wrote that "Bassett wields a superb electric hollow body with that uptown urban style."[11] The Chicago Reader noted that Bassett's "concise hollow-body sound is traditional, but he's no throwback—he's actually a hallowed veteran of the Motor City's 50s blues explosion."[12] JazzTimes deemed the album a "sophisticated, urbane version of the blues."[6] The Associated Press praised the "groove-laden jams."[13]
The Detroit Free Press called the Blues Insurgents "one of the most facile, versatile and outright musical blues bands in the United States."[14] Billboard concluded that "Bassett's lovely style is something any aspiring guitarist would want to emulate."[15] The Star Tribune said that Cadillac Blues "offers oodles of tasty uptown T-Bone Walker-influenced guitar and vocals."[16]
AllMusic wrote that "Bassett, musically, is a direct descendant of B.B. King circa 1965, with his pure, clean tone and long, flowing guitar lines uncluttered by electronic devices."[10]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'm Gonna Do, What I'm Gonna Do" | |
| 2. | "Cadillac Blues" | |
| 3. | "Broke in Pieces" | |
| 4. | "I Can't Get It Together" | |
| 5. | "That's Fair Play" | |
| 6. | "Get Over Here Baby" | |
| 7. | "Raise the Roof, Raise the Rent" | |
| 8. | "Walk On Baby" | |
| 9. | "Memories of Your Perfume" | |
| 10. | "Cadillac Baby" | |
| 11. | "Dog House Is My Home" | |
| 12. | "Dresser Drawers" |
References
edit- ^ Gilbert, Melanie (22 Jan 1998). "Other People's Plans: Bluesy Bassett sets a weekend full of music". The Detroit News. p. F3.
- ^ "Johnnie Bassett & The Blues Insurgents Biography by AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Fulmer, Douglas (27 Mar 1998). "Johnnie Bassett and the Blues Insurgents". Friday. The Plain Dealer. p. 11.
- ^ Krewen, Nick (27 Mar 1998). "Organ gives deeper sound to Johnnie Bassett's blues". The Record. Kitchener. p. A17.
- ^ Ellis, Bill (23 Jan 1999). "The complete nominees". The Commercial Appeal. p. F1.
- ^ a b Milkowski, Bill (May 1998). "Bluetones". JazzTimes. pp. 99–100.
- ^ McArdle, Terence (10 Aug 2012). "Singer, guitarist favored jump-blues style". The Washington Post. p. B6.
- ^ "Bassett a Cadillac musician". Ottawa Citizen. 26 Mar 1998. p. F3.
- ^ "Bassett, other blues acts, find home at Dark Horse". Battle Creek Enquirer. 4 Jun 1998. p. 5.
- ^ a b "Cadillac Blues Review by Sigmund Finman". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "Johnnie Bassett: Cadillac Blues". The Record. 19 Mar 1998. p. D7.
- ^ Dahl, Bill (May 28, 1998). "Chicago Blues festival 1998". Arts & Culture. Chicago Reader.
- ^ Reindl, James (22 Jan 1998). "Thumbs-up to 'Cadillac Blues'". The Jackson Sun. AP. p. 7.
- ^ Lawson, Terry (15 Feb 1998). "Johnnie Bassett and the Blues Insurgents". Detroit Free Press. p. 6H.
- ^ Morris, Chris (Jan 31, 1998). "Flag Waving". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 5. p. 73.
- ^ Surowicz, Tom (16 Sep 1998). "Bassett and blues". Star Tribune. p. E1.