The Gift is the second album by the American musician Joe Louis Walker, released in 1988.[1][2] Walker was backed by the Boss Talkers.[3] He supported the album with a North American tour.[4]
Production
The album was produced by Walker with assistance from Bruce Bromberg.[5] Walker's singing style was influenced by gospel music; he wanted the music to be reminiscent of the Memphis soul of the 1960s.[6][7] He tried to avoid blues clichés in his lyrics.[8]The Memphis Horns played on several tracks.[9]Steve Berlin contributed a tenor sax solo to "Mama Didn't Raise No Fool".[10]
The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that "Walker's music swings with a smooth rhythm that lends itself well to his polished vocals and linear guitar solos."[15]The Washington Post called the album "a taut, funky record steeped in '60s soul and highlighted by some stirring vocals that occasionally recall Otis Redding."[16]Robert Christgau said that, "like they say, he just plays the blues... Yet between sharp tempos and worldly-wise material, he overcomes the boredom factor built into that time-worn endeavor."[12]
The Chicago Tribune labeled Walker "an impressive lyric writer [who] has created wry and wise songs gloriously free of the usual blues cliches."[17]The Globe and Mail determined that Walker's "a tad more traditional (and less guilt-ridden) in his approach to the blues (and life) than Cray, and he's got a nice tough edge to his playing that the yuppified Cray sometimes lacks."[18] The San Francisco Examiner praised the "sleek production and depth of feeling."[5]
AllMusic wrote that the album "just may be his finest album of all, filled with soulful vocal performances, bone-cutting guitar work, and tight backing."[11]
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"One Time Around"
2.
"Thin Line"
3.
"747"
4.
"The Gift"
5.
"What About You"
6.
"Shade Tree Mechanic"
7.
"1/4 to 3"
8.
"Mama Didn't Raise No Fool"
9.
"Everybody's Had the Blues"
10.
"Main Goal"
References
^Hadley, Frank-John (1993). The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD. Grove Press. p. 225.
^Dicaire, David (2015). More Blues Singers: Biographies of 50 Artists from the Later 20th Century. McFarland, Inc. p. 107.
^ abKelp, Larry (21 Feb 1988). "Recordings". Calendar. Oakland Tribune. p. 8.
^Mackie, John (18 Aug 1988). "Walker's own old-style sound adds soul to blues double bill". The Vancouver Sun. p. G6.
^ ab"Pop Records". Datebook. San Francisco Examiner. 7 Feb 1988. p. 42.
^MacInnnis, Craig (30 June 1989). "Return of the once and future blues giant". Toronto Star. p. E14.
^Point, Michael (3 Mar 1988). "Walker tries to keep 'true soul' alive through his music". Austin American-Statesman. p. F5.
^Anft, Michael (24 Mar 1988). "Blues hasn't been easy for Walker". The Evening Sun. p. C8.
^Wynn, Ron (4 Mar 1988). "Albums". The Commercial Appeal. p. E23.
^Hall, Ken (20 Mar 1988). "Blues for today". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
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