West Coast House Party

West Coast House Party is an album by the American musician Kid Ramos, released in 2000.[1][2] It was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best contemporary blues album.[3] Ramos's third solo album, West Coast House Party was released through Evidence Music.[4] Ramos supported it with a North American tour.[5]

West Coast House Party
Studio album by
Released2000
RecordedFebruary 2000
GenreWest Coast blues, jump blues
LabelEvidence
ProducerKid Ramos
Kid Ramos chronology
Kid Ramos
(1999)
West Coast House Party
(2000)
Greasy Kid Stuff
(2001)

Production

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The album was recorded over two days in February 2000.[6] Junior Watson, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Duke Robillard, and Charlie Baty were among the many guest musicians who contributed to the recording sessions.[6] Stephen Hodges played drums.[7] Janiva Magness contributed backing vocals; her husband wrote "Happy Hour".[8] Kim Wilson sang and played harmonica on "Real Gone Lover".[9] "Love Don't Love Nobody" is a cover of the Roy Brown song.[10] "House Party" was written by Amos Milburn.[11] Ramos included a short history of jump blues in the album liner notes.[9]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [9]
The Austin Chronicle     [12]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings    [11]
The Philadelphia Inquirer    [13]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette    [14]

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette praised the "swinging, danceable tracks that infuse new life into a classic blues style."[14] The Austin Chronicle concluded that "everyone seems to be having a good time, playing and singing enthusiastically, and they're technically competent artists, but only the 76-year-old Brown is an original stylist."[12] The Fort Worth Star-Telegram labeled the songs "danceable delights," and advised to "forget the new Brian Setzer and buy this instead."[10] The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed the album "a delicious slab of greasy, horn-drenched jump-blues and R&B."[13] The Times noted the return to "jump blues and boogies."[15] The Virginian-Pilot said, "although no virtuoso, the Kid is adept at all styles, playing throughout the session with taste, economy and verve."[16]

AllMusic called the album "a consistently exciting and joyously well-performed disc of upbeat jump blues, played with a one-take intensity that's contagious."[9]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Strollin' with Bone (Part 1)" 
2."'Lizabeth" 
3."Guitar Player" 
4."Talking That Talk" 
5."House Party" 
6."Where Were You" 
7."Love Don't Love Nobody" 
8."Welcome Blues" 
9."Bring It Home to Me" 
10."Wipe Your Tears" 
11."Happy Hour" 
12."Real Gone Lover" 
13."Silly Dilly Woman" 
14."One Bar Shot" 
15."One Mo' Peep" 
16."Strollin' with Bone (Part 2)" 

References

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  1. ^ Skelly, Richard (7 Feb 2014). "They're not kidding around". Music. Asbury Park Press.
  2. ^ Gregory, Hugh (2003). Roadhouse Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Texas R&B. Backbeat Books. p. 184.
  3. ^ Ellis, Bill (14 Jan 2001). "Old, New Artists Top Handys List". The Commercial Appeal. p. B1.
  4. ^ "West Coast House Party, Kid Ramos". Weekender. The Columbus Dispatch. 28 Sep 2000. p. 5.
  5. ^ "Hot Ticket". Time Out. Ventura County Star. Mar 23, 2001. p. 18.
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Randy (4 Oct 2000). "Partying with the Kid". Los Angeles Times. p. B8.
  7. ^ Hall, Jeff (Oct 20, 2000). "Ramos raveups". Courier-Post. p. 14T.
  8. ^ Purdy, Jim (Dec 22, 2000). "Tucson Gig No Accident". Music. Arizona Daily Star. p. 41.
  9. ^ a b c d "West Coast House Party Review by Hal Horowitz". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b Ferman, Dave (Sep 1, 2000). "Kid Ramos, West Coast House Party". Star Time. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 19.
  11. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 538.
  12. ^ a b Pekar, Harvey (November 10, 2000). "Kid Ramos West Coast House Party". Record Reviews. The Austin Chronicle.
  13. ^ a b Cristiano, Nick (Sep 10, 2000). "Country/Roots". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I14.
  14. ^ a b White, Jim (22 Oct 2000). "Meanwhile, other blues have been committed...". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G7.
  15. ^ Clarke, John (16 Sep 2000). "Blues Choice". Features. The Times. p. 11.
  16. ^ "The recording, set up like one of those '50s/'60s traveling R&B revues...". The Virginian-Pilot. 19 Jan 2001. p. E10.