Wikipedia

Whoopin' (album)

Whoopin' is an album by the American musician Sonny Terry, released in 1984.[1][2] He is credited with Johnny Winter and Willie Dixon.[3] The album was also released as I Think I Got the Blues.[4] It was the first of Winter's two 1984 Alligator Records albums.[5]

Whoopin'
Studio album by
Sonny Terry
Released1984
GenreBlues
LabelAlligator
ProducerJohnny Winter
Sonny Terry chronology
Midnight Special
(1978) 		Whoopin'
(1984) 		Old Town Blues, Vol. 1
(1986)

Production

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Recorded in three days, Whoopin' was produced by Winter.[6][7] He wanted to capture a rawer, Delta sound, rather than the mellower, prettier one that Terry played with Brownie McGhee.[8] "I Think I Got the Blues" was written by Dixon, who also played bass on the album.[9] Styve Homnick played drums.[10] "Ya, Ya" is a cover of the Lee Dorsey song.[11]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [12]
Calgary HeraldA[6]
The Commercial Appeal    [13]
Lincoln Journal Star     [14]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide     [15]
Omaha World-Herald     [16]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings    [17]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues     [18]

The Globe and Mail noted that, "although the familiar, jolly material ... jumps along at Terry's usual, casual pace, Winters seems intent on pushing it into overdrive."[9] The Boston Globe wrote that Terry's "playing had its familiar sweeping tone and was still electrifying."[19] The Sydney Morning Herald called the album "excellent," writing that "Johnny and Sonny whoop, holler and jam to their hearts' content."[4] The Pittsburgh Press opined that Winter "shows admirable restraint in these more subtle, traditional blues."[20]

The Press of Atlantic City praised the "outstanding musicianship" and "sweet harp."[11] The Commercial Appeal determined that Whoopin' "is destined for 'classic' status," writing that "every cut is raw, lean, and mean."[13] The Omaha World-Herald stated that Terry plays "a mean harmonica on 10 rocking blues numbers."[16] The Lincoln Journal Star determined that "Terry achieves something that's electrified, but not modernly electronic."[14] The Idaho Statesman listed Whoopin' as the eighth best album of 1984.[21]

AllMusic lamented that "Terry didn't put any amplified muscle behind his harmonica."[12]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."I Got My Eyes on You" 
2."Sonny's Whoopin' the Doop" 
3."Burnt Child" 
4."Whoee, Whoee" 
5."Crow Jane" 
6."So Tough with Me" 
7."Whoo Wee Baby" 
8."I Think I Got the Blues" 
9."Ya, Ya" 
10."Roll Me Baby" 

References

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  1. ^ Krampert, Peter (2016). The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica. Mel Bay Publications. p. 172.
  2. ^ "Sonny Terry Biography by Al Campbell". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  3. ^ Williams, Stephen (13 Mar 1986). "Country blues singer Terry dies at 74". Ottawa Citizen. Newsday. p. C17.
  4. ^ a b Everingham, Henry (13 Feb 1984). "Sonny and Johnny Holler On". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
  5. ^ Shepard, Eric (24 Aug 1984). "Other Blues Notes". The Journal-News. p. 5.
  6. ^ a b Muretich, James (8 Sep 1984). "Whoopin' Terry reveals power of the blues". Calgary Herald. p. F11.
  7. ^ Morse, Steve (27 Apr 1984). "Johnny Winter Keeps the Blues Coming". Arts/Film. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
  8. ^ Anderson, J.P. (3 May 1984). "Winter's happy playing the blues". The Citizen Register. p. D3.
  9. ^ a b Lacey, Liam (30 Aug 1984). "Whoopin' Sonny Terry, Johnny Winter and Willie Dixon". The Globe and Mail. p. E3.
  10. ^ Clark, Roxanne (7 Apr 1985). "Records". The Indianapolis Star. p. 8E.
  11. ^ a b Allen, Greg (18 May 1984). "Whoopin' Sonny Terry". The Press of Atlantic City. p. V3.
  12. ^ a b "Whoopin' Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  13. ^ a b Burnett, Brown (3 Jun 1984). "Whoopin' by Sonny Terry". The Commercial Appeal. p. 12.
  14. ^ a b Becker, Bart (19 Jun 1984). "Rough and Raw". Lifestyle. Lincoln Journal Star. p. 4.
  15. ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. pp. 359, 360.
  16. ^ a b Catlin, Roger (5 Jun 1984). "New Sounds". Omaha World-Herald. p. 17.
  17. ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. 2006. p. 639.
  18. ^ Larkin, Colin (2013). The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues. Virgin.
  19. ^ Morse, Steve (14 Mar 1986). "Sonny Terry's Legacy: Love of the Country Blues". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 39.
  20. ^ White, Jim (8 Jul 1984). "Blues". The Pittsburgh Press. p. E6.
  21. ^ Weinstein, Norman (9 Dec 1984). "1984's Top 10 Albums". Idaho Statesman. p. D1.
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