Territory is the second album by the American musician Alvin Youngblood Hart, released in 1998.[1][2] It was his first album for a Rykodisc label.[3] Hart supported the album with a British tour, as well as an appearance at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival.[4][5]
| Territory | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1998 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | Hannibal/Rykodisc | |||
| Producer | Michael Nash, Carey Williams | |||
| Alvin Youngblood Hart chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
edit"Ice Rose" is a cover of the Captain Beefheart song.[6] "Illinois Blues" was written by Skip James.[7] "John Hardy" is a version of the traditional folk song.[8] Hart's cover of "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" was inspired by X's interpretation of the song.[9] "Countrycide" references an 1886 lynching in Carroll County, Mississippi.[10] Hart played acoustic guitar, electric guitar, six-strings, concertina, lap steel, 12-strings, dobro, and mandolin.[11]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Birmingham Post | [13] |
| Calgary Herald | [14] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[15] |
| Edmonton Journal | [3] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [16] |
| Vancouver Sun |  [8] |
The Observer called Hart "the best of the new crop of acoustic bluesmen."[6] The Chicago Tribune noted that "Hart's distinctive voice and rocking spirit draw a straight line through everything"; the paper chose the album as the second best blues album of 1998.[17][18] The Calgary Herald wrote that "Hart stretches stylistically ... while impressively staying true to his acoustic blues heart."[14] The Birmingham Post deemed Hart "a wonderfully inventive player happily mining away at odd, forgotten seams in the vast motherlode of American music."[13]
The Washington Post opined: "Playing a variety of acoustic and electric instruments, he brings surprising color and texture to an improbable but thoroughly enjoyable collection."[19] Newsday concluded that "all this variety might be pointless showing-off were it not for his consistently inventive guitar and compelling vocals, which seem to carry urgent messages from a long-lost past."[20] JazzTimes determined that "Hart’s obvious command of Piedmont and Delta styles is beautifully balanced by a sincere and soulful expression."[21]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tallacatcha" | |
| 2. | "Illinois Blues" | |
| 3. | "Ouachita Run" | |
| 4. | "Sallie, Queen of the Pines" | |
| 5. | "Countrycide" | |
| 6. | "Ice Rose" | |
| 7. | "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" | |
| 8. | "Mama Don't Allow" | |
| 9. | "John Hardy" | |
| 10. | "Just About to Go" | |
| 11. | "Underway at Seven" |
References
edit- ^ "Alvin Youngblood Hart". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. 21 June 1998. p. 40.
- ^ "Alvin Youngblood Hart Biography by Richard Skelly". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Nothing but Talent". Edmonton Journal. 3 Oct 1998. p. C3.
- ^ Trapp, Roger (18 July 1998). "Music: Jazz & Blues". Features. The Independent. p. 39.
- ^ "Seven Unsung Headliners". Edmonton Journal. 6 Aug 1998. p. C5.
- ^ a b Spencer, Neil (28 June 1998). "The Week in Reviews: New pop CDs". The Observer Review Page. The Observer. p. 11.
- ^ Adams, Rob (4 July 1998). "On the Record". The Herald. Glasgow. p. 6.
- ^ a b Harrison, Tom (21 July 1998). "Alvin Youngblood Hart Territory". Vancouver Sun. p. B3.
- ^ Ray, Linda (21 Aug 1998). "In Chicago, Sweet Home Mississippi". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 2.
- ^ Reilly, Terry (23 Oct 1998). "CD Reviews". Entertainment Guide. The Age. p. 8.
- ^ McLennan, Scott (27 Aug 1998). "Alvin Youngblood Hart has a gift for suspending time...". Telegram & Gazette. p. C5.
- ^ "Territory Review by Tim Sheridan". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ a b Langley, Sid (25 July 1998). "Alvin Youngblood Hart,Territory". Birmingham Post. p. 35.
- ^ a b Muretich, James (23 July 1998). "CD of the Week". Calgary Herald. p. HL20.
- ^ "Alvin Youngblood Hart". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 246.
- ^ Knopper, Steve (12 July 1998). "Recordings". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 12.
- ^ Knopper, Steve (6 Dec 1998). "Sound Decisions". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 10.
- ^ Joyce, Mike (26 Aug 1998). "Three Hues of Blues". The Washington Post. p. D5.
- ^ Young, Jon (27 Aug 1998). "New Sounds". Newsday. p. C7.
- ^ Milkowski, Bill (October 1, 1998). "Alvin Youngblood Hart: Territory". JazzTimes.