No Ways Tired is an album by the American musician Fontella Bass, released in 1995.[2][3] Issued as part of Nonesuch's American Explorer Series (which focused on traditional American roots music), the album marked a return to Bass's beginnings in gospel.[4][5]
| No Ways Tired | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Soul, gospel | |||
| Label | Nonesuch[1] | |||
| Producer | Wayne Horvitz | |||
| Fontella Bass chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album".[6]
Production
editNo Ways Tired was produced by Wayne Horvitz.[7] Lester Bowie, Harvey Brooks, and David Sanborn were among the musicians who contributed to the album.[8][9] It includes covers of "Lean on Me" and "What the World Needs Now".[10] Bass wrote "This Place I Call Home"; she also helped to arrange the songs.[11][12]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [13] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [14] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [7] |
| Vancouver Sun | [15] |
The Chicago Reader wrote that "Bass's soprano ascents are as thrilling as ever; her easy phrasing echoes immortals like Mahalia and Aretha; and her years spent immersed in everything from major-label pop to the [Chicago Art Ensemble's] outward-bound art music have given her an unusually broad stylistic and emotional range."[16] The New York Times thought that Bass's "voice is undiminished: a trumpet that peals out optimism."[17]
The Ottawa Citizen determined that "Bass infuses 'What the World Needs Now' with some holy spirit, and cuts the Dionne Warwick version into bits."[18] The Vancouver Sun opined that, "not only is her instrument in top-notch condition, floating in and out of the melody with the grace of a skater, but the energetic instrumentation is a positive kick in the pants."[15] The Washington Informer concluded that "the vocal abilities so evident in her 20's have come to full maturity at 54; the flourishing range and the expressiveness reveal an artist clearly at the height of her powers."[19]
AllMusic wrote that, "unlike Al Green, whose singing intensified when he reverted to gospel, Bass' gift has become more restrained."[13]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Light of the World" | |
| 2. | "You Don't Know What the Lord Told Me" | |
| 3. | "No Ways Tired" | |
| 4. | "Everlasting Arms" | |
| 5. | "What the World Needs Now" | |
| 6. | "All My Burdens" | |
| 7. | "I Surrender All" | |
| 8. | "Lean on Me" | |
| 9. | "This Place I Call Home" | |
| 10. | "This Little Light of Mine" | |
| 11. | "I Must Tell Jesus" |
References
edit- ^ Molanphy, Chris (May 1995). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 21. p. 29.
- ^ "Fontella Bass Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Norment, Lynn (Jun 1995). "Sounding Off". Ebony. Vol. 50, no. 8. p. 20.
- ^ "Music: Hearing Fontella Bass Is Believing". Newsweek. April 23, 1995.
- ^ "Gospel/R&B singer Fontella Bass has a new gospel album, "No Ways Tired". NPR.
- ^ "Fontella Bass". Grammy Awards. November 23, 2020.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 80.
- ^ Durchholz, Daniel (26 Feb 1995). "Fontella Bass 'No Ways Tired'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 3F.
- ^ Benarde, Scott R. (December 18, 2003). Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories. UPNE.
- ^ "In an afternoon of song that is sure to raise the spirit...". Austin American-Statesman. 7 Mar 1995. p. 7.
- ^ Sweeting, Adam (Mar 3, 1995). "Fontella Bass No Ways Tired". The Guardian. p. T14.
- ^ Herndon, David (24 Feb 1995). "Fontella Bass: Rescued Again, 30 Years Later". Newsday. p. B20.
- ^ a b "No Ways Tired". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 458.
- ^ a b Monk, Katherine (13 Apr 1995). "Women doin' it for themselves". Vancouver Sun. p. D10.
- ^ Whiteis, David (September 14, 1995). "Fontella Bass". Chicago Reader.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (22 May 1995). "Pop Review". The New York Times. p. C11.
- ^ Ward, Bruce (28 Mar 1995). "And speaking of returns, Fontella Bass is back...". Ottawa Citizen. p. B8.
- ^ Walton, Brian M. (26 Apr 1995). "Fontella Bass: Still No Ways Tired". The Washington Informer. No. 27. p. 16.