Cadillac Blues

Cadillac Blues
Studio album by
Johnnie Bassett
Released1998
StudioRoyal
GenreBlues
LabelCannonball
ProducerRon Levy
Johnnie Bassett chronology
Bassett Hound
(1997) 		Cadillac Blues
(1998) 		Party My Blues Away
(1999)

Cadillac Blues is an album by the American musician Johnnie Bassett, released in 1998.[1][2] He is credited with his band, the Blues Insurgents.[3] Bassett supported the album with a North American tour.[4] Cadillac Blues was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best traditional blues album.[5]

Production

Recorded in Memphis, the album was produced primarily by Ron Levy, with assistance on some tracks by Willie Mitchell.[6][7] It was inspired by Bassett's time as a Cadillac salesman.[8] Most of the songs were written by Bassett and organist Chris Codish.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]

The Record wrote that "Bassett wields a superb electric hollow body with that uptown urban style."[11] The Chicago Reader noted that Bassett's "concise hollow-body sound is traditional, but he's no throwback—he's actually a hallowed veteran of the Motor City's 50s blues explosion."[12] JazzTimes deemed the album a "sophisticated, urbane version of the blues."[6] The Associated Press praised the "groove-laden jams."[13]

The Detroit Free Press called the Blues Insurgents "one of the most facile, versatile and outright musical blues bands in the United States."[14] Billboard concluded that "Bassett's lovely style is something any aspiring guitarist would want to emulate."[15] The Star Tribune said that Cadillac Blues "offers oodles of tasty uptown T-Bone Walker-influenced guitar and vocals."[16]

AllMusic wrote that "Bassett, musically, is a direct descendant of B.B. King circa 1965, with his pure, clean tone and long, flowing guitar lines uncluttered by electronic devices."[10]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."I'm Gonna Do, What I'm Gonna Do" 
2."Cadillac Blues" 
3."Broke in Pieces" 
4."I Can't Get It Together" 
5."That's Fair Play" 
6."Get Over Here Baby" 
7."Raise the Roof, Raise the Rent" 
8."Walk On Baby" 
9."Memories of Your Perfume" 
10."Cadillac Baby" 
11."Dog House Is My Home" 
12."Dresser Drawers" 

References

  1. ^ Gilbert, Melanie (22 Jan 1998). "Other People's Plans: Bluesy Bassett sets a weekend full of music". The Detroit News. p. F3.
  2. ^ "Johnnie Bassett & The Blues Insurgents Biography by AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  3. ^ Fulmer, Douglas (27 Mar 1998). "Johnnie Bassett and the Blues Insurgents". Friday. The Plain Dealer. p. 11.
  4. ^ Krewen, Nick (27 Mar 1998). "Organ gives deeper sound to Johnnie Bassett's blues". The Record. Kitchener. p. A17.
  5. ^ Ellis, Bill (23 Jan 1999). "The complete nominees". The Commercial Appeal. p. F1.
  6. ^ a b Milkowski, Bill (May 1998). "Bluetones". JazzTimes. pp. 99–100.
  7. ^ McArdle, Terence (10 Aug 2012). "Singer, guitarist favored jump-blues style". The Washington Post. p. B6.
  8. ^ "Bassett a Cadillac musician". Ottawa Citizen. 26 Mar 1998. p. F3.
  9. ^ "Bassett, other blues acts, find home at Dark Horse". Battle Creek Enquirer. 4 Jun 1998. p. 5.
  10. ^ a b "Cadillac Blues Review by Sigmund Finman". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Johnnie Bassett: Cadillac Blues". The Record. 19 Mar 1998. p. D7.
  12. ^ Dahl, Bill (May 28, 1998). "Chicago Blues festival 1998". Arts & Culture. Chicago Reader.
  13. ^ Reindl, James (22 Jan 1998). "Thumbs-up to 'Cadillac Blues'". The Jackson Sun. AP. p. 7.
  14. ^ Lawson, Terry (15 Feb 1998). "Johnnie Bassett and the Blues Insurgents". Detroit Free Press. p. 6H.
  15. ^ Morris, Chris (Jan 31, 1998). "Flag Waving". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 5. p. 73.
  16. ^ Surowicz, Tom (16 Sep 1998). "Bassett and blues". Star Tribune. p. E1.