More Bad Habits is an album by the American musician Ronnie Dawson, released in 1999.[2][3] His first studio album in decades to be recorded in the United States, it was regarded as a comeback.[4][5] Dawson preferred to think of his music as rock and roll, claiming that "rockabilly" was a term used by non-musicians.[6][7]
| More Bad Habits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1999 | |||
| Recorded | October 1998 | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll, rockabilly, country rock | |||
| Label | Yep Roc[1] | |||
| Ronnie Dawson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editMore Bad Habits was Dawson's first album to be recorded in stereo.[8] Some of the lyrics to its songs were supplied by a fan, from topics suggested by Dawson; he decided to fill the album with humorous songs.[9][10] The cover photo was taken at the Sons of Hermann Hall, in Dallas.[11]
"The Frim Fram Sauce" is a cover of the song made popular by Nat King Cole.[12] The sound of "Chili Pepper Mama" was inspired by playing—and listening to—music at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.[13]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [14] |
| The San Diego Union-Tribune | [15] |
The Star Tribune wrote that Dawson's "happy fury comes through on new tracks like 'Mac Attack', 'Party Slab', 'Bobwire Betty', plus a swamp-rockin' rendition of ... 'The Frim Fram Sauce'."[16] Exclaim! called the album "pure Stratocaster-driven country rock."[17] NPR thought that it "showcases his talent as a composer and arranger ... and he plays a mean guitar."[18] The State deemed it "dangerous, bar-brawling music that spews fire and just won't quit."[19]
The Dallas Observer labeled "Party Slab" "nasty jungle rock, loads of chugga-chugga guitar drunk on Thunderbird and hoochie-coochie rhythms."[20] The San Diego Union-Tribune stated that "there's plenty of rockabilly silliness and retro-bopping to keep things hopping here."[15] The Fort Worth Star-Telegram opined that "Dawson sounds ageless and superbly confident," and described the album as "slap-back bass, that distinctive lived-in voice, tough guitar, and a passel of fun songs."[21]
AllMusic wrote that the songs "address rebel concerns in an age of political correctness, seeing life for what it is while defiantly refusing to equate getting older with getting old ... his material has never been better."[14]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Good at Being Bad" | |
| 2. | "Mac Attack" | |
| 3. | "Toe Up from the Flo Up" | |
| 4. | "Waxahachie Drag Race" | |
| 5. | "Bobwire Betty" | |
| 6. | "Chili Pepper Mama" | |
| 7. | "Bad Habit or Two" | |
| 8. | "Rockin' Country Cat" | |
| 9. | "Rockin' Calaveras" | |
| 10. | "Rippin' and a Roarin'" | |
| 11. | "Bayou Beauty" | |
| 12. | "The Frim Fram Sauce" | |
| 13. | "Party Slab" |
References
edit- ^ Kasten, Roy. "Dawson's Peek". Riverfront Times.
- ^ "Ronnie Dawson Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Light, Brian (Apr 3, 1999). "Global Rockabilly revival spreads back to U.S.". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 14. pp. 1, 89.
- ^ Koster, Rick (May 8, 2000). Texas Music. Macmillan.
- ^ "TCB". The Austin Chronicle.
- ^ Colurso, Mary (April 23, 1999). "Not-So-Subtle Ronnie Dawson Playing Zydeco". The Birmingham News. p. 18G.
- ^ Wolgamott, L Kent (20 Aug 1999). "It's only rock and roll, but we like it". Ground Zero. Lincoln Journal Star. p. 10.
- ^ Yonke, David (May 28, 1999). "Rockabilly Star Ronnie Dawson Plays at Promenade Park Tomorrow". Living. The Blade. p. 33.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (23 Apr 1999). "Rockabilly Forever". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.
- ^ Finn, Timothy (August 20, 1999). "Rockabilly forever? Ronnie Dawson keeps on playin'". Preview. The Kansas City Star. p. 33.
- ^ "New album comes straight from the heartburn". The Dallas Morning News. January 3, 1999. p. 7C.
- ^ Orazi, Deborah (30 Apr 1999). "Dawson still gets carried away after 40 years". Ticket. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 14.
- ^ Wirt, John (August 18, 2000). "Dawson running roads for last time". Fun. The Advocate. p. 8.
- ^ a b "More Bad Habits". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Toombs, Mikel (March 25, 1999). "More Bad Habits Ronnie Dawson". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 22.
- ^ Surowicz, Tom (27 Aug 1999). "Now hear this". Star Tribune. p. 3E.
- ^ "Ronnie Dawson More Bad Habits | Exclaim!". Exclaim!.
- ^ "Ronnie Dawson". NPR.
- ^ Lambert, Yon (April 30, 1999). "Saturday and Next Week". Weekend. The State. p. 8.
- ^ Wilonsky, Robert (March 11, 1999). "Out Here". Music. Dallas Observer.
- ^ Ferman, Dave (April 2, 1999). "Ronnie Dawson, More Bad Habits". Star Time. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 19.