Spin the World is an album by the American band Royal Crescent Mob, released in 1989.[2][3] It was the band's major label debut.[4] They supported the album with a North American tour.[5]
| Spin the World | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Genre | Funk, rock | |||
| Label | Sire[1] | |||
| Producer | Richard Goetterer, Royal Crescent Mob | |||
| Royal Crescent Mob chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album's single, "Hungry", peaked at No. 27 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[6]
Production
editThe album was produced by Richard Goetterer and the band.[7] "Big Show" is about the Beatles' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.[8]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[10] |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide |  [11] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [12] |
| The State | [13] |
Trouser Press wrote: "Reaching the majors, the Mob tightened its instrumental wig and reduced funk to a smaller component of its personality, making Spin the World good and credible, but only as far as it goes."[7] Robert Christgau determined that, "bridging the modest distance between Ohio Players fans and Aerosmith-for-the-fun-of-it, they lock into their groove and don't give a single song away."[10] The Los Angeles Times said that "the album’s blend of hip attitude and down-to-earth Berry/Stones fundamentals makes it a notice-serving LP."[14]
The Washington Post praised the "new-found eclecticism in [the band's] songwriting."[15] The Chicago Tribune thought that Spin the World "reinforces the energetic, but repetitious, heavy funk of their first releases by adding some diversity and pop hooks."[16] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called it "a crisp, collection of fun songs that range from a rap tribute to the day [frontman David] Ellison's mother met the Beatles ('The Big Show') to a driving ode to food and lust ('Let Me Eat') to a breakup song ('5 More Minutes') that could have come from the Rolling Stones' vault of unreleased tunes."[17] The State declared: "These guys are having fun—and that's one of rock 'n' roll's prime directives."[13]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that Spin the World "finds the band in its glory ... [the writing] shows strong pop instincts."[12]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Big Show" | |
| 2. | "Hungry" | |
| 3. | "5 More Minutes" | |
| 4. | "Walkin Down the Street" | |
| 5. | "Corporation Enema" | |
| 6. | "Nanana" | |
| 7. | "Silver Street" | |
| 8. | "Stock Car Race" | |
| 9. | "Goin to the Hospital" | |
| 10. | "Tundra" |
References
edit- ^ Moon, Tom (7 July 1989). "Royal Crescent Mob". Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 28.
- ^ "Royal Crescent Mob Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
- ^ Corcoran, Michael (Dec 1989). "The Ohio Players". Spin. Vol. 5, no. 9. p. 26.
- ^ Racine, Marty (May 18, 1989). "Crescent Mob plans to give audience royal treatment". Houston. Houston Chronicle. p. 1.
- ^ Reilly, Terri F. (26 May 1989). "Royal Crescent Mob: Sonic-Level Funk Sound". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. F3.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (September 23, 2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Hal Leonard Corporation. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Royal Crescent Mob". Trouser Press. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ Mawson, Dave (17 Aug 1989). "Royal antidote for the blahs". Telegram & Gazette. p. D3.
- ^ "Spin the World". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Royal Crescent Mob". Robert Christgau.
- ^ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 489.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 608.
- ^ a b Miller, Michael (June 23, 1989). "Greenstreet's Double Bill Features Bands with Recently Released Hit LPs". The State. p. 3D.
- ^ "Ellison likes to write a nice story; : Mob in a Spin". Los Angeles Times. July 30, 1989. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (4 July 1989). "Crescent Mob: Between Punk & Funk". The Washington Post. p. D6.
- ^ Heim, Chris (22 Sep 1989). "Royal Crescent Mob". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
- ^ DeVault, Russ (June 23, 1989). "Crescent Mob Broadening Its Clever Funk". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. F4.