4-11-44 (album)

4-11-44
Studio album by
the Blasters
Released2005
GenreRock and roll
LabelRainman
ProducerThe Blasters
The Blasters chronology
Live Going Home
(2004) 		4-11-44
(2005) 		Live 1986
(2011)

4-11-44 is an album by the American band the Blasters.[1][2] It was released in the UK in late 2004, by Evangeline Records, and in the United States in 2005.[3][4] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[5]

Production

The Blasters tried recording 4-11-44 twice, as a live album, but issues with record labels prevented a release.[6] They were without Dave Alvin; the lineup that recorded 4-11-44 had been playing together for a decade.[7] Phil Alvin and bass player John Bazz were the only founding members to participate in the recording sessions.[8] "Rebound" is a cover of the Charlie Rich song.[9] "Daddy Rollin' Stone" was written by Otis Blackwell.[10] "Dry River" is a cover of the Dave Alvin song.[11] The title track refers to a phrase about gambling.[12] "Window Up Above" is a cover of the George Jones song.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[15]
The Independent[3]
Lexington Herald-Leader[11]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[16]
Rolling Stone[17]

The Independent noted that, "what Dr Feelgood used to do in Essex, the Blasters still do, with added vitamin D, in California: guitars, bass, blues changes, kicking drummer, wittily parochial lyrics, a spot of reverb."[3] Rolling Stone determined that "the edges (particularly on the production) have softened to the point where songs such as 'Love Is My Business' and 'Julie' come off like easy-listening oldies."[17]

The Philadelphia Inquirer concluded that "the Blasters without Dave Alvin are not exactly Creedence minus John Fogerty... They're more akin to the Band without Robbie Robertson—a unit still capable of superb singing and playing."[16] The Columbus Dispatch praised the "scorching lead guitar" of Keith Wyatt.[18] The Albuquerque Journal deemed the album the same "good old rock 'n' roll that the band did so well 25 years ago."[19]

AllMusic wrote: "There was an almost ministerial fervor to the group's original recordings, as if they needed to wake up an audience to a musical tradition that was on the verge of dying out; 4-11-44, on the other hand, sounds like a great roadhouse band rocking on out, but there isn't nearly as much force behind it."[14]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Daddy Rollin' Stone" 
2."4-11-44" 
3."Rebound" 
4."It's All Your Fault" 
5."Julie" 
6."Dry River" 
7."Your Kind of Love" 
8."Love Is My Business" 
9."Slip of the Tongue" 
10."Precious Memories (The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raised)" 
11."Boneyard (Dick Tracy Theme)" 
12."Window Up Above" 
13."Just to Be with You" 
14."Fire of Love" 

References

  1. ^ "The Blasters Biography by Denise Sullivan". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  2. ^ Lamberson, Carolyn (2 Dec 2005). "The Blasters". The Register-Guard. p. E11.
  3. ^ a b c Coleman, Nick (10 Oct 2004). "The Blasters 4-11-44". Features. The Independent. p. 24.
  4. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (31 May 2005). "Rock Around the Clock". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 36.
  5. ^ McLain, Buzz (17 Nov 2005). "The Blasters at Iota". The Washington Post. p. C10.
  6. ^ Senft, Michael (14 Dec 2006). "Blasters Fire Up Sounds from the Past". Calendar. The Arizona Republic. p. 4.
  7. ^ Miller, Jay N. (11 Nov 2005). "Blasters' Phil Alvin interprets the history of music". Features. The Patriot Ledger. p. 31.
  8. ^ Booth, Philip (18 May 2006). "The Blasters". Tampa Bay Times. p. 23W.
  9. ^ Haymes, Greg (14 Nov 2005). "Blasters continue a musical mission". Times Union. p. C4.
  10. ^ Weinberg, Bob (22 Jan 2006). "The Blasters". AE&TV. South Florida Sun Sentinel. p. 3.
  11. ^ a b Tunis, Walter (4 Nov 2005). "Rock". Friday. Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 6.
  12. ^ Spates, Alicia (20 Jul 2007). "Rock 'N Rods on Route 66 features show cars, bands". Herald & Review. p. D7.
  13. ^ "Blasters 4-11-44". No Depression. Nov 2005.
  14. ^ a b "4-11-44 Review by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  16. ^ a b Cristiano, Nick (4 Oct 2005). "The Blasters 4-11-44". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D1.
  17. ^ a b Eliscu, Jenny (Aug 25, 2005). "4-11-44". Rolling Stone. No. 981. p. 102.
  18. ^ "Blasters' Latest on Par with Earlier Work". Weekender. The Columbus Dispatch. 3 Nov 2005. p. 8.
  19. ^ Mayfield, Dan (13 Jan 2006). "The Blasters". Venue. Albuquerque Journal. p. 14.