Confessin' the Blues is an album by the American musician Esther Phillips.[2][3] It was released in 1975, with an Atlantic Jazzlore reissue in 1987.[4][5]
| Confessin' the Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1975 | |||
| Recorded | 1966, 1970 | |||
| Label | Atlantic[1] | |||
| Producer | Nesuhi Ertegun, King Curtis | |||
| Esther Phillips chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album peaked at No. 170 on the Billboard 200.[6]
Production
editThe album was produced by Nesuhi Ertegun and King Curtis.[7] It is made up of two recording sessions. The first side contains big band numbers conducted by Onzy Matthews.[5] The second side was recorded with a quartet of jazz musicians at the Pied Piper Club, in Los Angeles.[6] The songs on the first side were recorded in 1966; the songs on side two in 1970.[8] Donald Bailey played drums on some of the tracks.[9]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[11] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide |  [7] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [12] |
Robert Christgau opined that "consistent material (lots of twelve-bar) and the complete absence of violins make these sessions ... preferable to the run of her Kudu albums."[11]
The Washington Informer called the first side "Phillips at her best, with the kind intelligently conceived support that her major talent deserved."[5] The Ottawa Citizen wrote that "there's some gutsy, wailing playing here and great arrangements by Onzy Matthews."[8] The Omaha World-Herald determined that "the whining sound of her voice could become somewhat irritating, but she had a way with soulful songs."[13]
AllMusic called the closing medley "the highlight of the set, showing Phillips in a bluesy setting."[10] The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that the performances are "amusing, bittersweet and heart-rending."[12] The Houston Chronicle listed the album as one of the 75 essential Texas blues albums.[14]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'm Gettin' 'Long Alright" | |
| 2. | "I Wonder" | |
| 3. | "Confessin' the Blues" | |
| 4. | "Romance in the Dark" | |
| 5. | "C.C. Rider" | |
| 6. | "Cherry Red" | |
| 7. | "In the Evenin'" | |
| 8. | "I Love Paris" | |
| 9. | "It Could Happen to You" | |
| 10. | "Bye Bye Blackbird" | |
| 11. | "Blow Top Blues / Jelly Jelly Blues / Long John Blues" |
References
edit- ^ Freedberg, Mike (31 May 1979). "Soul Dog". Bay State Banner. No. 34. p. 15.
- ^ Feather, Leonard (1 Feb 1987). "Jazz Album Briefs". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 58.
- ^ Santosuosso, Ernie (6 Dec 1987). "Jazz Selection Has Never Been Better". The Boston Globe. p. A28.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 519.
- ^ a b c Brower, W.A. (Dec 23, 1987). "Atlantic Jazzlore". The Washington Informer. Vol. 24, no. 10. p. 26.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7th ed.). Record Research Inc. p. 608.
- ^ a b MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 453.
- ^ a b Moody, Lois (3 June 1988). "Esther Phillips Confessin' the Blues". Ottawa Citizen. p. B6.
- ^ Swan, Rachel (November 11, 2009). "An Old Blueprint Made New". Music. East Bay Express.
- ^ a b "Esther Phillips Confessin' the Blues". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Esther Phillips". Robert Christgau.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 543–544.
- ^ Smith, Will (January 24, 1988). "Premier Jazz Label From '50s, '60s Reissues 7 LPs on Atlantic Jazzlore". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. SD.
- ^ Dansby, Andrew (September 30, 2007). "Sounds of Texas". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 12.