Stevie Salas Colorcode

Stevie Salas Colorcode
Studio album by Stevie Salas
Released	1990
Genre	Rock
Label	Island[1]
Producer	Bill Laswell, Stevie Salas
Stevie Salas chronology
Stevie Salas Colorcode (1990) Stuff (1991)

Stevie Salas Colorcode is the debut album by the Native American guitar player Stevie Salas, released in 1990.[2][3] Colorcode was the name Salas gave to his band.

Salas supported the album by opening for Joe Satriani on a North American tour.[2] The album was a commercial disappointment in the United States, but sold well in international markets.[4] The album's first single was "The Harder They Come".[5]

Production

Recorded in New York, the album was coproduced by Bill Laswell.[6][7] Colorcode included Winston Watson Jr. on drums and C.J. De Villier on bass.[8] Salas wrote or cowrote all of the album's songs; Parthenon Huxley contributed to some of the lyrics.[9][10] Salas was at times fretful during the recording sessions, worried because he had quit lucrative sideman jobs.[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[12]
Calgary Herald	C+[13]
Chicago Tribune	[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[15]
The State	[10]

The Globe and Mail thought that Salas "sings with an almost audible sneer, and his guitar playing is white hot."[8] The Province determined that Salas "knows how to lock into a groove and doesn't forsake melody for flash—a Hendrix legacy that other modern guitarists overlook."[6] The Buffalo News appreciated that Salas "never once drops his basic allegiance to the underlying funk groove."[16]

The Calgary Herald lamented that the "songs do nothing more than showcase [the] young guitarist."[13] The Chicago Tribune concluded: "Caught in the limboland between glam rock and Journey-inspired tunes, Stevie Salas allows a menagerie of his musical influences to shine through."[14] The San Diego Union-Tribune deemed the album "a flashy, brash debut, full of talent and youthful exuberance."[17]

AllMusic wrote that "'Indian Chief', a touching, Hendrix-inspired ode to Salas' father, is an understated highlight."[12] The Rolling Stone Album Guide opined that Salas's guitar playing moves "beyond the usual funk-and-metal clichés."[15]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Stand Up!"
2.	"Blind"
3.	"Caught in the Middle of It"
4.	"Just Like That"
5.	"Two Bullets and a Gun"
6.	"The Harder They Come"
7.	"Over and Over Again"
8.	"Baby Walk On"
9.	"Indian Chief"
10.	"Cover Me"

References

1. Caudle, Todd (9 Mar 1990). "Talented 'Stevie Salas Colorcode' blends rock 'n' soul". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D10.
2. "Stevie Salas Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
3. Wright-McLeod, Brian (January 30, 2018). The Encyclopedia of Native Music: More Than a Century of Recordings from Wax Cylinder to the Internet. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-8165-3864-5.
4. Arnold, Thomas K. (11 July 1990). "Stevie Salas ColorCode". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
5. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 230.
6. Harrison, Tom (20 June 1990). "Nobody has to tell Salas he's a big star". Entertainment. The Province. p. 59.
7. Thompson, Dave (December 15, 2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-0-87930-607-6.
8. Niester, Alan (2 Apr 1990). "Stevie Salas Colorcode". The Globe and Mail. p. C7.
9. Arnold, Thomas K. (31 Jan 1990). "Album Debut Impressive by Stevie Salas ColorCode". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
10. Miller, Michael (January 26, 1990). "Music Fans Can Look Forward – To Rockin' Good Albums in 1990". The State. p. 5D.
11. Thompson, Bob (April 5, 1990). "Soul Rocker". Entertainment. Toronto Sun. p. 66.
12. "Stevie Salas Colorcode". AllMusic.
13. "April Reviews". Calgary Herald. 3 May 1990. p. H5.
14. O'Connor Creevy, Caitlin (29 Mar 1990). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 19D.
15. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 616.
16. Anderson, Dale (February 16, 1990). "Second Chances". The Buffalo News. p. G33.
17. Toombs, Mikel (February 3, 1990). "Stevie Salas has traveled far with a guitar – He's coming home to perform tonight". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C5.