Harlem Blues (Satan and Adam album)

Harlem Blues
Studio album by
Satan and Adam
Released1991
StudioGiant Sound
GenreBlues
LabelFlying Fish
ProducerRachel Faro
Satan and Adam chronology
Harlem Blues
(1991) 		Mother Mojo
(1993)

Harlem Blues is the debut album by the American musical duo Satan and Adam (Sterling Magee and Adam Gussow), released in 1991.[1][2] The liner notes penned by Adam relay the history of the pair.[3] The duo supported the album with a European tour.[4] Harlem Blues was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Traditional Blues Album of the Year".[5]

Production

The album was produced by Rachel Faro.[6] Satan was reluctant to enter a studio, and had to be goaded by his wife.[7] Most of the duo's original songs came together during live street performances, with Satan writing the majority of the lyrics.[8] In addition to guitar, he played a drum kit that he assembled from various percussive instruments.[9] "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" is a version of the Duke Ellington song.[6] "Sweet Home Chicago" is a cover of the Roosevelt Sykes song.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Los Angeles Times[12]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide[6]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[13]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[3]

The Washington Post called Harlem Blues "one of the true sleepers (and keepers) of the year," writing that the duo "make intensely visceral, highly idiosyncratic music—a clangorous, juke-joint jumble of blues, funk, soul and jazz."[14] The Los Angeles Times concluded that "the songs aren't much, but wild performances setting Adam's wailing harmonica against Satan's slashing guitar, runaway drums and searing vocals reminiscent of Captain Beefheart in his blues shouter mold sure are."[12] The Chicago Tribune labeled the album "an out-of-left-field charmer."[15]

The Philadelphia Inquirer praised the "grinning inventiveness ... that is fierce, funny and hard to find."[3] The Winston-Salem Journal considered the album to be "one of the most vital and unpretentious blues albums in recent memory," writing that such "gloriously raw performances ... have not been heard since the early works of Howlin' Wolf."[16] The Philadelphia Daily News listed Harlem Blues as the ninth best album of 1991.[17]

AllMusic wrote that "Satan and Adam stick to a basic acoustic blues duo, but their rhythms and techniques occasionally stray into funkier, jazzier territory."[11]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."I Want You" 
2."Groovy People" 
3."Read My Lips" 
4."Don't Get Around Much Anymore" 
5."Ride the Wind" 
6."Down Home Blues" 
7."Sweet Home Chicago" 
8."I Create the Music" 
9."C.C. Rider" 
10."Sunshine in the Shade" 

References

  1. ^ Anderson, John (July 17, 1991). "Harlem Blues". Part II. Newsday. p. 8.
  2. ^ Krampert, Peter (2016). The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica. Mel Bay Publications. p. 155.
  3. ^ a b c DeLuca, Dan (August 11, 1991). "Blues". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 8L.
  4. ^ Martin, Douglas (October 12, 1991). "About New York". The New York Times. p. 1.33.
  5. ^ Curtin, Mike (January 15, 1993). "Satan and Adam". The Post-Star. p. D1.
  6. ^ a b c MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 326.
  7. ^ Gettelman, Parry (March 12, 1993). "Satan and Adam: A Match Made in Heaven". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 6.
  8. ^ Hoekstra, Dave (May 31, 1992). "Satan and Adam: Harlem shufflers". Show. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 7.
  9. ^ Punter, Jennie (March 4, 1993). "Harlem the unlikely Paradise when this Satan tempted Adam". Toronto Star. p. G10.
  10. ^ Koeppel, Frederic (August 23, 1991). "Blues". The Commercial Appeal. p. E8.
  11. ^ a b "Harlem Blues Review by Thom Owens". AllMusic. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Snowden, Don (October 4, 1992). "Satan and Adam, 'Harlem Blues'". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 70.
  13. ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. 2006. pp. 566, 567.
  14. ^ Joyce, Mike (September 6, 1991). "Lending an Ear to Latest Acoustics". The Washington Post. p. N16.
  15. ^ Dahl, Bill (November 25, 1993). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  16. ^ Bumgardner, Ed (January 11, 1992). "Wax Facts". Entertainment Week. Winston-Salem Journal. p. 6.
  17. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (January 3, 1992). "Pop Music". Time Out. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 48.
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