Wikipedia

Flyin' High (Johnny Copeland album)

Flyin' High is an album by the American musician Johnny Copeland, released in 1992.[1][2] Copeland supported the album with a North American tour.[3]

Flyin' High
Studio album by
Johnny Copeland
Released1992
Recorded1991
LabelGitanes
Verve
ProducerJohnny Copeland, John Hahn
Johnny Copeland chronology
When the Rain Starts Fallin'
(1990) 		Flyin' High
(1992) 		Catch Up with the Blues
(1994)

Production

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Produced by Copeland and John Hahn, the album was recorded in Brussels, Belgium, and New York City.[4][5] Copeland used a Gibson guitar instead of his usual Peavey.[6] He duetted with Dr. John on the cover of Hank Williams's "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)"; Dr. John played piano on "Circumstances".[7] Buckwheat Zydeco played accordion on "Love Song".[8] Hank Crawford, David "Fathead" Newman, and the Uptown Horns contributed to the album; Copeland became fond of using horns on blues songs after picking up Albert Collins's band, in 1953.[9][10] Joe Hughes, Copeland's early mentor, also played guitar on Flyin' High.[11] "Thigpen (Cornball)" is an instrumental song.[12]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [13]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide     [14]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues     [15]

The Washington Post wrote that the album "boasts strong original songs, smart horn charts, guest stars who came to work rather than schmooze and performances that look forward rather than backward."[8] The Sun-Sentinel deemed the album "sweet and sassy, low and laid back."[16] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that the songs "showcase Copeland's impressive command of the nuances of working-class misery, pride and romance."[17] The Herald-Sun opined that the album "partakes too fully of the slicker and more superficial rhythm and blues influences that have adulterated the blues in recent years."[18] The Chicago Tribune included Flyin' High on its list of the 14 best blues albums of 1993.[19]

AllMusic wrote that "Copeland was at his best on tunes where the emphasis was on style rather than lyric meaning and elaboration."[13]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Flyin' High (Yesterday)" 
2."Hooked, Hog-tied & Collared" 
3."Greater Man" 
4."Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" 
5."San Antone" 
6."Thigpen (Cornball)" 
7."Promised Myself" 
8."Love Song" 
9."Circumstances" 
10."Around the World" 

References

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  1. ^ "Johnny Copeland Biography by Richard Skelly". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  2. ^ Gregory, Hugh (2003). Roadhouse Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Texas R&B. Backbeat. p. 30.
  3. ^ Ashby, Georgia (July 25, 1993). "New hot spot for live jazz, blues and rock". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. MD13.
  4. ^ Chamberlain, Adrian (27 Apr 2013). "'Being a brat' launched blues queen's career". Times Colonist. p. C1.
  5. ^ Dahl, Bill (23 Apr 1993). "'Texas Twister' Copeland still plays up a storm". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.
  6. ^ Gettelman, Perry (Oct 23, 1992). "Texas blues color Copeland's collaborations". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 6.
  7. ^ Tomlinson, Tommy (18 Aug 1993). "John Copeland's Brand of Blues as Big as Texas". The Salt Lake Tribune. Knight Ridder. p. P3.
  8. ^ a b Himes, Geoffrey (2 July 1993). "Copeland: He's back, and even bluesier". The Washington Post. p. WW12.
  9. ^ Washburn, Jim (23 Sep 1993). "Copeland Feeds on the Energy". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 5.
  10. ^ Rodriguez, Kenn (Aug 12, 1993). "Tracks". Albuquerque Journal. p. E10.
  11. ^ Harris, Paul A. (19 Nov 1993). "On the Borderline: Copeland Slides Between Blues, Jazz". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 8F.
  12. ^ Catalano, Jim (July 8, 1993). "Acoustic blues and mountain wave at area clubs". Arts & Leisure. The Ithaca Journal. p. 4.
  13. ^ a b "Flyin' High Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  14. ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 92.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (2013). The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues. Virgin.
  16. ^ Schulman, Sandra (30 Jan 1994). "Blues with a Texas Touch". Sun-Sentinel. p. 3G.
  17. ^ Norman, Tony (7 Jan 1995). "Clyde in Stride". Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 17.
  18. ^ Smith, R.C. (Sep 24, 1993). "Record Reviews". Preview. The Herald-Sun. p. 10.
  19. ^ Dahl, Bill (24 Dec 1993). "Don't Get Bent Out of Shape, Just Revisit the Best in Blues". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
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