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Fear No Evil (Robert Ward album)

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Fear No Evil
Studio album by
Robert Ward
Released1991
GenreBlues, soul
LabelBlack Top
ProducerHammond Scott
Robert Ward chronology
Fear No Evil
(1991) 		Rhythm of the People
(1993)

Fear No Evil is an album by the American musician Robert Ward, released in 1991.[1][2] He is credited with his band, the Black Top All-Stars.[3] Ward supported the album with a North American tour.[4] Ann Peebles covered the title track on her 1992 album, Full Time Love.[5]

Production

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Recorded in New Orleans, Fear No Evil was produced by Hammond Scott.[6][7] Ward used a pronounced tremolo in his guitar playing.[8] George Porter Jr. played bass on the album.[9] Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff led the horn section.[10] Some songs dated to Ward's Ohio Untouchables days.[11] Ward's wife, Roberta, sang on "Strictly Reserved for You".[12]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Chicago Tribune[12]
Robert ChristgauA−[14]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide[11]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[15]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[6]

USA Today called Ward "an overlooked virtuoso."[16] OffBeat considered Fear No Evil "one of the great soul discs of recent years."[17] The Chicago Tribune wrote that it "crackles with funky, Memphis soul arrangements, gospel-blues vocals ... and, most of all, Ward's distinctive guitar playing."[12] Robert Christgau considered Ward to be "a better-than-average writer, a hooky arranger, and a sneaky soloist you remember for the wobbly sound of his Magnatone amp alone."[14]

The New York Times determined that "the percussive urgency of '60s soul and '70s funk ... fuels Robert Ward's superb Fear No Evil."[9] The Commercial Appeal praised the "jovial quips" and "explosive solos."[18] The Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph listed Fear No Evil among the 10 best albums of 1991.[19]

AllMusic deemed Fear No Evil "one of the classic blues/soul albums of the '90s."[13]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Your Love Is Amazing" 
2."Born to Entertain" 
3."Forgive Me Darling" 
4."Your Love Is Real" 
5."Something for Nothing" 
6."Fear No Evil" 
7."Trying My Best (Not to Never Do Wrong)" 
8."Strictly Reserved for You" 
9."So Tired of Wandering" 
10."Blessings" 
11."Newborn Music" 
12."K-Po-Kee" 
13."Lord Have Mercy on Me" 
14."Dry Spell" 

References

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  1. ^ Oulette, Dan (Jun 1991). "Fear No Evil by Robert Ward". DownBeat. Vol. 58, no. 6. p. 38.
  2. ^ Santelli, Robert (Sep 5, 1991). "Fear No Evil by Robert Ward". Rolling Stone. No. 612. p. 92.
  3. ^ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (27 Apr 1991). "Reviews". Scene. Courier Journal. p. 10.
  4. ^ McLeese, Don (28 Jan 1992). "Influential guitarist Robert Ward raises profile again". Austin American-Statesman. p. D6.
  5. ^ Robins, Wayne (12 June 1992). "Ann Peebles: Back in the Spotlight". Weekend. Newsday. p. 94.
  6. ^ a b DeLuca, Dan (7 Jul 1991). "Robert Ward, Tom Petty and Luigi Rossi's 'Orfeo'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 5L.
  7. ^ "Robert Ward Biography by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ Wald, Elijah (9 May 1991). "Recordings". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 8.
  9. ^ a b Fricke, David (4 Aug 1991). "Son Seals and Robert Ward invest their music with an indomitable pride". The New York Times. p. H19.
  10. ^ Dollar, Steve (10 Aug 1991). "Blues". Weekend. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. 22.
  11. ^ a b MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 383.
  12. ^ a b c Kot, Greg (20 June 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
  13. ^ a b "Fear No Evil Review by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Robert Ward and the Black Top All-Stars". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  15. ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 681.
  16. ^ Gundersen, Edna (24 Apr 1991). "Robert Ward, Fear No Evil". USA Today. p. 4D.
  17. ^ Fry, Macon (May 1991). "Robert Ward, Fear No Evil". Reviews. OffBeat.
  18. ^ Wynn, Ron (12 Apr 1991). "Recordings". The Commercial Appeal. p. E19.
  19. ^ Okamoto, David (27 Dec 1991). "Old, familiar faces make top albums". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D2.
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