Blues Is My Wailin' Wall
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| Blues Is My Wailin' Wall | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1999 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | Blue Thumb | |||
| Producer | Mighty Mo Rodgers | |||
| Mighty Mo Rodgers chronology | ||||
| ||||
Blues Is My Wailin' Wall is the debut album by the American musician Mighty Mo Rodgers, released in 1999.[1][2] Rodgers referred to his music as "nu bluez"; he was also working on a master's thesis titled "Blues as Metaphysical Music (Its Musicality and Ontological Underpinnings)".[3][4] He initially released the album on his label, North Star Records, in December 1998.[5] Rodgers supported the album with a North American tour.[6] He was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Best New Artist Debut".[7]
Production
[edit]Rodgers funded the album, which he produced and recorded over 18 months.[5][8] Rodgers was influenced by Ralph Ellison's Juneteenth, which argued that the blues were a part of the lives of all Black Americans.[9] He was also influenced by Jimmy Reed and Willie Dixon, whom he saw perform at his father's Indiana club.[10] "Tuskegee Blues" is about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.[5] "Took Away the Drum" made use of kalimbas.[11]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Edmonton Journal | [13] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [11] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [14] |
| The Press of Atlantic City | [15] |
Exclaim! wrote that the album "is no revivalist camp ... but a richly musical charge that recalls the work of the late Curtis Mayfield... Rodgers' deep, warm vocals embrace gospel and R&B, and his voice alternates between a powerful growl and a gentle caress across arrangements designed around solid hooks that first seduce the listener before driving home their message."[16] The Daily Herald noted that, "where most contemporary blues songs are riffs built around hogging guitar solos, Rodgers brings a literate, philosophical punch to the genre."[17] The Edmonton Journal said that "slices of soul, dips into R&B, some rootsy roadhouse arrangements and a voice that has lived every lyric, amounts to an impressive 11 songs."[13] The Press of Atlantic City determined that "the album is uneven in spots, but Rodgers makes a valiant effort to do something different."[15]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blues Is My Wailin' Wall" | |
| 2. | "Took Away the Drum" | |
| 3. | "Heaven's Got the Blues" | |
| 4. | "No Regrets" | |
| 5. | "Tuskegee Blues" | |
| 6. | "No Dough" | |
| 7. | "The Kennedy Song" | |
| 8. | "(Bring Back) Sweet Soul Music" | |
| 9. | "Willie B. and Me" | |
| 10. | "Gone Fishin'" | |
| 11. | "Shame!" |
References
[edit]- ^ "Mighty Mo Rodgers Biography by Al Campbell". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ Helms, Colin (Nov 29, 1999). "Roots 'n' Blues". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 60, no. 645. pp. 20, 21.
- ^ Kassulke, Natasha (20 Jan 2000). "Spotlight: Mighty Mo Rodgers". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 18.
- ^ "Mighty Mo Rodgers Blues Is My Wailin' Wall". The Hamilton Spectator. 29 Feb 2000. p. E8.
- ^ a b c Morris, Chris (Mar 13, 1999). "MO Rodgers: Shaking up the blues". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 11. pp. WB8, WB34.
- ^ Knopper, Steve (14 Jan 2000). "Blues-y Performance". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 3.
- ^ Kabuubi, Maxine (4 Aug 2000). "Blues: Harvesting a heritage: Mighty Mo Rodgers Jazz Cafe, London". The Guardian. p. 1.16.
- ^ Kinsman, Michael (23 Sep 1999). "Class Will Now Begin". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 13.
- ^ "Mighty Mo Rodgers Releases 'Nu Bluez' on Blue Thumb". Los Angeles Sentinel. 14 Oct 1999. p. B5.
- ^ Locey, Bill (11 Aug 2000). "Out & About". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
- ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. 2006. p. 556.
- ^ "Blues Is My Wailin' Wall Mighty Mo Rodgers". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ a b North, Peter (31 Jan 2000). "Mighty Mo Rodgers Blues Is My Wailin' Wall". Edmonton Journal. p. B8.
- ^ DeLuca, Dan (Feb 20, 2000). "Mighty Mo Rodgers Blues Is My Wailin' Wall". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I14.
- ^ a b Fine, Eric (Nov 19, 1999). "Short Takes". At the Shore. The Press of Atlantic City. p. 19.
- ^ Thom, Eric (Feb 29, 2000). "Mighty Mo Rodgers Blues Is My Wailin' Wall". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ Guarino, Mark (14 Jan 2000). "'Mighty' Mo: He's true blues". Time Out!. Daily Herald. p. 4.