Back on Track (Arthur Adams album)
| Back on Track | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1999 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | Blind Pig | |||
| Producer | Arthur Adams | |||
| Arthur Adams chronology | ||||
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Back on Track is an album by the American musician Arthur Adams, released in 1999.[1][2] It was his first album in 20 years.[3] Adams supported Back on Track with an international tour.[4]
Production
[edit]The album was produced by Adams, who also cowrote or wrote the majority of the songs.[4] B. B. King played guitar and sang on "The Long Haul" and "Get You Next to Me"; at the time, Adams was the bandleader at King's Los Angeles club.[5][6] "Rehabilitation Song" recounts Adams's time in a halfway house.[5]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| The Commercial Appeal |  [7] |
| The Gazette | [8] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [9] |
The CMJ New Music Report wrote that "Adams's soulful tenor and crisp guitar solos soar passionately."[10] The Commercial Appeal determined that, "when Adams solos on guitar, his sophisticated, jazzy tone looks equally to Little Milton and B. B. King."[7] The Telegraph-Journal said that "Adams has a honey voice, and comes up with lots of up-tempo soul stirrers."[11]
The Gazette praised "his soulful, gospel-tinged vocals and rocking blues band sound highlighted by his always-fluid electric guitar solos."[8] The Santa Cruz Sentinel noted the soulful vocals and liquidy blues guitar."[12] The Asbury Park Press listed Back on Track among the 10 best blues albums of 2000.[13]
AllMusic wrote that Adams's "vocalizing has a sweet, soulful quality ala Robert Cray or at times Bobby Bland... And his electric six string takes definite cues from his idol, B. B. King."[5] The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings admired the "intelligent, adult themes."[9]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back on Track" | |
| 2. | "Get You Next to Me" | |
| 3. | "Who Does She Think She Is" | |
| 4. | "The Long Haul" | |
| 5. | "No Big Deal" | |
| 6. | "Jumpin' the Gun" | |
| 7. | "You Really Got It Going On" | |
| 8. | "Good Good Good" | |
| 9. | "Rehabilitation Song" | |
| 10. | "Honda Betty" | |
| 11. | "Backup Man" |
References
[edit]- ^ Santelli, Robert (2001). The Big Book of Blues: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Penguin Books. p. 4.
- ^ Kinsler, Robert (22 Oct 1999). "Back on Track". Orange County Register. p. F50.
- ^ Shuster, Fred (9 July 1999). "Full-blown blues". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L5.
- ^ a b "Arthur Adams Biography by Thom Jurek". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Back on Track Review by Michael G. Nastos". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "I was his bandleader at the club...". Time Out. Ventura County Star. 16 Sep 2016. p. 13.
- ^ a b Ellis, Bill (21 Aug 1999). "Recordings". The Commercial Appeal. p. F4.
- ^ a b Regenstreif, Mike (7 Oct 1999). "Blues". The Gazette. p. C15.
- ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 1.
- ^ "Arthur Adams Back on Track". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 59, no. 628. Jul 26, 1999. p. 32.
- ^ Mersereau, Bob (21 Aug 1999). "This ain't rock 'n' roll". Telegraph-Journal.
- ^ "Music". Spotlight. Santa Cruz Sentinel. 10 Dec 1999. p. 12.
- ^ Skelly, Richard (5 Jan 2001). "Happy Blues Year". Asbury Park Press. p. 13.