Return of a Legend is an album by the American musician Jody Williams, released in 2002.[2][3] Williams had not recorded music in around 30 years; he was inspired in part to return to the studio after listening to his playing on a 1964 tape he found at his house.[4][5] He supported the album with a North American tour.[6]
| Return of a Legend | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2002 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | Evidence[1] | |||
| Producer | Dick Shurman | |||
| Jody Williams chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album was nominated for two W. C. Handy Awards, for "Traditional Blues Album" and "Comeback Blues Album", winning for the latter.[7][8]
Production
editThe album was produced by Dick Shurman.[9] Williams played "Red Lightnin'", his Gibson guitar.[10] Billy Boy Arnold and Tinsley Ellis were among the musicians backing Williams.[11][12] "Jive Spot" is a version of Williams's song "Five Spot", which he had first recorded with Otis Spann.[13]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Age |  [14] |
| AllMusic |  [15] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [16] |
| Ottawa Citizen |  [17] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [13] |
The Age called the album "a superlative listening experience, up there with Magic Sam's sizzling 1967 West Side Soul." Billboard deemed it "a little classic, marked by sleek solo work and delightful comic songs."[18] The Virginian-Pilot determined that "the R&B-soaked blues is heartfelt, swinging and sounds fresh ... Williams' taut, note-bending playing never sounded better."[10]
The Times concluded that "Williams displays a skill and a talent that can still amaze."[19] The Ottawa Citizen stated that "he's lost little, if any, of his slashing style and, in fact, the seasoning sounds good on him... Classic instrumentals like his rhumba-style 'Lucky Lou', and the straight-ahead 'Moanin' for Molasses', sound better."[17]
AllMusic wrote that it's "a tasteful showcase for one of the blues' lesser-known yet classic stars."[15]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lucky Lou" | |
| 2. | "Come Over to My House" | |
| 3. | "Lifelong Lover" | |
| 4. | "You May" | |
| 5. | "Moanin' for Molasses" | |
| 6. | "Monkey Business" | |
| 7. | "I'm Coming Back In Again" | |
| 8. | "She Found a Fool and Bumped His Head" | |
| 9. | "Jive Spot" | |
| 10. | "Brown Eyes and Big Thighs" | |
| 11. | "Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am" | |
| 12. | "What You Gonna Do?" | |
| 13. | "Henpecked and Happy" |
References
edit- ^ Frank-John, Hadley (Jun 2002). "Jody Williams: Return of a Legend". DownBeat. Vol. 69, no. 6. p. 60.
- ^ "Jody Williams Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Hanson, Karen (October 4, 2007). Today's Chicago Blues. Lake Claremont Press.
- ^ Whiteis, David (Apr 2003). "Jody Williams: The blues return". DownBeat. Vol. 70, no. 4. p. 30.
- ^ Zonkel, Philip (April 4, 2002). "'Blues Unplugged'". Press-Telegram. p. U3.
- ^ Surowicz, Tom (21 Feb 2003). "Blues". Star Tribune. p. 6E.
- ^ Ellis, Bill (21 Jan 2003). "Handys Hail the Many Shades of Blues". The Commercial Appeal. p. C1.
- ^ Ellis, Bill (23 May 2003). "Legends, Up-and-Comers Get Their Due at Handy Awards". The Commercial Appeal. p. B1.
- ^ von Tersch, Gary (Fall 2002). "Return of a Legend". Sing Out!. 46 (3): 138.
- ^ a b Feber, Eric (February 8, 2002). "After 30-Year Absence, Jody Williams Returns with a Jolt". The Virginian-Pilot. p. E10.
- ^ Bialczak, Mark (February 10, 2002). "Guitar legend on NewsLine". Stars. The Post-Standard. p. 12.
- ^ Komara, Edward; Lee, Peter (July 1, 2004). The Blues Encyclopedia. Routledge.
- ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books Ltd. 2006. p. 707.
- ^ Williams, Ken (7 June 2002). "Return of a Legend". Entertainment Guide. The Age. p. 7.
- ^ a b "Jody Williams Return of a Legend". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 681.
- ^ a b "Return of a Legend". Ottawa Citizen. 6 Apr 2002. p. J4.
- ^ Morris, Chris (Feb 16, 2002). "Flag Waving". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 7. p. 56.
- ^ Clarke, John (June 8, 2002). "Music". Features. The Times. p. 10.