That Woman Is Poison! is an album by the American musician Rufus Thomas.[1][2] Originally recorded for King Snake Records, it was released in 1988 via Alligator Records.[3] Thomas was in his seventies when he made That Woman Is Poison![4]
| That Woman Is Poison! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Blues, soul | |||
| Length | 36:57 | |||
| Label | Alligator | |||
| Producer | Bob Greenlee | |||
| Rufus Thomas chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editThe backing band was put together by Bob Greenlee, the owner of King Snake. The musicians included the saxophonist Noble "Thin Man" Watts and the harmonica player Lazy Lester.[5] That Woman Is Poison! was recorded in Sanford, Florida.[6] Thomas asked Robert Palmer to write the liner notes.[7] "The Walk" jokingly alludes to both Thomas's age and his previous dance hits "The Funky Chicken" and "Walking the Dog".[8]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [10] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
The Chicago Reader thought that Thomas "grinds out his blues with a sweaty crunch that puts to shame men 30 years his junior, and his sense of humor is as wicked as ever."[3] The Crisis wrote that "Thomas uses a traditional blues sound, but struts his way through the vocals with a characteristic smirk."[12] The Edmonton Journal determined that Thomas's "voice still contains the same rich textures as in the past, yet it lacks a sense of urgency."[13]
The Globe and Mail called Thomas "still a great singer, with a full, throaty voice and a great sense of comic timing."[14] The Sun Sentinel praised the "blistering" original songs, and wrote that the "horn work and arrangements are first rate."[15] The Chicago Tribune concluded that, "despite his years, Thomas is in top voice and spirit as he blusters, struts, hams it up, deftly draws from both Memphis blues and soul."[8]
AllMusic deemed it "a masterful comeback album from a blues and soul veteran who was assumed to be ready for the retirement home."[9]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Rufus Thomas; except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "That Woman Is Poison!" | 5:11 | |
| 2. | "I Just Got to Know" | Bob Geddins, Jimmy McCracklin | 3:20 |
| 3. | "Big Fine Hunk of Woman" | 5:47 | |
| 4. | "Blues in the Basement" | 4:14 | |
| 5. | "Somebody's Got to Go" | Gatemouth Moore | 6:01 |
| 6. | "Breaking My Back" | 6:02 | |
| 7. | "The Walk" | Jimmy McCracklin | 2:57 |
| 8. | "All Night Worker" | 3:25 |
Personnel
edit- Rufus Thomas - vocals
- Bryan Bassett, Ernie Lancaster - guitar
- Louis Villery - bass guitar
- Bob Greenlee - bass guitar, baritone saxophone
- Lucky Peterson - keyboards
- Danny Best - drums
- Kenny Neal - harmonica
- Noble "Thin Man" Watts - tenor saxophone solos
- Lawson "Buzz" Montsinger - tenor saxophone
- Sylvester Polk - trumpet
References
edit- ^ "Obituary: Rufus Thomas". The Guardian. December 21, 2001. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ Gordon, Robert (Mar 1989). "Funky Chicken". Spin. Vol. 4, no. 12. p. 15.
- ^ a b "Rufus Thomas That Woman Is Poison!". Chicago Reader. May 11, 1989. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ Allen, Greg (December 30, 1988). "The Vinyl Word 1988's Best Rock, Pop, Country and Folk". The Press of Atlantic City. p. D7.
- ^ Emerson, Bo (14 Mar 1989). "At 71, 'Grandfather of Funk' still shakes a leg to wild dance tunes". Austin American-Statesman. p. D6.
- ^ Duffy, Thom (29 Jan 1989). "Rufus Thomas, That Woman Is Poison". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
- ^ Trussell, Robert; McTavish, Brian (16 Dec 1988). "Thomas isn't retiring quite yet". The Kansas City Star. p. 22D.
- ^ a b Heim, Chris (17 Feb 1989). "Rufus Thomas, That Woman Is Poison". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 54.
- ^ a b "That Woman Is Poison!". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 139.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 703.
- ^ Otis, Lauren (Feb 1990). "The Blues: A Great American Legacy Moves Forward". The Crisis. Vol. 98, no. 2. p. 12.
- ^ Campbell, Rod (2 Apr 1989). "Record Reviews". Edmonton Journal. p. D2.
- ^ Dafoe, Chris (26 Jan 1989). "That Woman Is Poison! Rufus Thomas". The Globe and Mail. p. C10.
- ^ Wilker, Deborah (8 Jan 1989). "New Label, Terrific Album". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.