Red Mud (album)

Red Mud
Studio album by
Chris Thomas King
Released1998
GenreBlues
Length53:54
LabelBlack Top
Producer
  • Hammond Scott
  • Chris Thomas King
Chris Thomas King chronology
Chris Thomas King
(1997) 		Red Mud
(1998) 		Me, My Guitar and the Blues
(2000)

Red Mud is an album by the American musician Chris Thomas King, released in 1998.[1][2] King supported the album with a North American tour.[3] Red Mud was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year".[4] King promoted the album on NPR, where he was heard by the casting director of O Brother, Where Art Thou?[5]

Production

King decided to make an acoustic blues album after his former label, Scotti Bros., was sold.[6] His father, Tabby Thomas, sang on the cover of his song "Hoodoo Party" and duetted with King on "Bus Station Blues".[7][8] "Rambling on My Mind" and "Come On in My Kitchen" are versions of the Robert Johnson songs.[9] "Death Letter Blues" was written by Son House.[10] King played a dobro or resonator guitar on many of the tracks and used sampled strings on a few.[11][12] "Wanna Die with a Smile on My Face" is a rerecording of an earlier King song.[13] The title track is about a man contemplating marriage to a twice-married woman.[14] King employed hip hop vocalizing on "Alive".[15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Age[16]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[17]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[9]
The Tampa Tribune[10]

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that "fans of traditional blues should appreciate King's talents in interpreting the music, and his innovative efforts to stretch its limits."[9] The Age praised the "compelling, resonant vocals and intricate guitar work."[16] The Record said that "King tackles straight-ahead acoustic blues with power and vision."[18] The Washington Post opined that "his latest style has seemed more a coat he's just trying on than a jacket he's lived in long enough to wear comfortably."[13] The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that "King brings a quiet authority to this style of music."[17]

Track listing

Red Mud track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Red Mud"4:09
2."If It Ain't One Thang, It's Two"3:58
3."Soon This Morning Blues"3:48
4."Come On in My Kitchen"4:23
5."I'm on Fire"3:30
6."Sinking Feeling"3:01
7."Alive"3:42
8."Dark Cloud"3:18
9."Hoodoo Party"3:42
10."Rambling on My Mind"3:04
11."Wanna Die with a Smile on My Face"2:52
12."Death Letter Blues"5:26
13."Bus Station Blues"4:04
14."Raining Angels"4:57
Total length:53:54

References

  1. ^ Graff, Gary (September 20, 1998). "Robert Johnson: The Music and the Myth". Arts & Entertainment. The Plain Dealer. p. 11.
  2. ^ Hadley, Frank-John (March 1999). "New blues invasion". DownBeat. Vol. 66, no. 3. pp. 22–25.
  3. ^ Houlihan-Skilton, Mary (October 30, 1998). "Club Hopping". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 4.
  4. ^ Ellis, Bill (January 23, 1999). "B. B. King at Top of Handy Nominations". The Commercial Appeal. p. F1.
  5. ^ King, Chris Thomas (2021). The Blues: The Authentic Narrative of My Music and Culture. Chicago Review Press.
  6. ^ Spera, Keith (September 25, 1998). "Chris Thomas King Getting Back to Blues Basics". The Times-Picayune. p. L8.
  7. ^ Wirt, John (September 18, 1998). "King's blues blockbuster rooted in tradition of old masters". Fun. The Advocate. Baton Rouge. p. 9.
  8. ^ Steinberg, David (May 26, 2000). "Bluesman strums to help out dad". Albuquerque Journal. p. F11.
  9. ^ a b c White, Jim (October 4, 1998). "Recordings". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G2.
  10. ^ a b Atkins, Ace (January 22, 1999). "Chris Thomas King, Red Mud". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 17.
  11. ^ Reindl, James (October 8, 1998). "New on CD". Weekend. The Burlington Free Press. AP. p. 27.
  12. ^ Hall, Jeff (September 19, 1998). "Another round of blues". Courier-Post. p. 4E.
  13. ^ a b Himes, Geoffrey (February 12, 1999). "Chris Thomas King 'Red Mud'". The Washington Post. p. N18.
  14. ^ Palmer, Don (October 1999). "Blues: Existential Blues". Jazziz. Vol. 16, no. 10. p. 38.
  15. ^ Paton, Richard (October 23, 1998). "Reviews". Marquee. Sun Herald. Toledo Blade. p. 20.
  16. ^ a b Schwartz, Larry (December 13, 1998). "Chris Thomas King Red Mud". Applause. The Age. p. 8.
  17. ^ a b Cristiano, Nick (January 3, 1999). "Blues". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F10.
  18. ^ Jones, Ryan (February 12, 1999). "Chris Thomas King couldn't be a purist if he wanted to". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. p. 28.
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