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I'm a Blues Man

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I'm a Blues Man
Studio album by
Z. Z. Hill
Released1983
Genre
Length35:06
LabelMalaco
ProducerTommy Couch, Wolf Stephenson
Z. Z. Hill chronology
Velvet Soul
(1982) 		I'm a Blues Man
(1983) 		Bluesmaster
(1984)

I'm a Blues Man is an album by the American musician Z. Z. Hill, released in 1983.[1][2] Like Hill's previous albums, it is a mixture of blues, R&B, and Southern soul.[3][4] I'm a Blues Man was among the 25 best selling Top Black Albums of 1984, and remained on that chart for almost a year; for a brief period, Hill's three 1982 and 1983 Malaco albums were on the chart at the same time.[5][6][7] I'm a Blues Man was the last album released in Hill's lifetime.[8]

Production

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The album was produced by Tommy Couch and Wolf Stephenson.[9] The title track, which mentions Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed, was written by Walter Godbold.[10][11] Vasti Jackson played guitar on the album.[12]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Robert ChristgauB+[14]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[10]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul[15]

The Los Angeles Times noted that the album "employs a more pronounced Stax attack on Hill's typical assortment of cheating love songs".[16] The Daily Herald said that Hill "never rises out of a larded grits-and-chitlins groove, but he's polished it until it shines like a diamond."[17] Robert Christgau wrote that the songs were stronger than on Hill's previous Malaco album, The Rhythm and the Blues.[14] The Lake Geneva Regional News called Hill "a link to the Southern tradition who shines on every song he sings".[18] The Valley Advocate labeled Hill's music "red-clay soul", and listed I'm a Blues Man among the best "Black Pop" albums of 1984.[19]

AllMusic opined that "Hill had indeed rechristened himself as a blues man of the first order."[13]

Track listing

[edit]
I'm a Blues Man track listing
No.TitleLength
1."I'm a Blues Man"3:34
2."Three into Two Won't Go"2:52
3."Cheatin' Love"3:26
4."Shade Tree Mechanic"2:57
5."It's Been So Long"3:29
6."Get a Little, Give a Little"4:12
7."Please Don't Let Our Good Thing End"4:18
8."Steal Away"4:09
9."Blind Side"2:47
10."I Ain't Buying What You're Selling"3:22
Total length:35:06

References

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  1. ^ Hardy, Phil; Laing, Dave (1995). The Da Capo Companion to 20th-Century Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 427.
  2. ^ Miller, Debby (March 29, 1984). "I'm a Blues Man". Rolling Stone. No. 418. p. 73.
  3. ^ Herzhaft, Gérard (1997). Encyclopedia of the Blues. University of Arkansas Press. p. 83.
  4. ^ Govenar, Alan B. (2008). Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound. Texas A&M University Press. p. 121.
  5. ^ "Top Black Albums". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-22.
  6. ^ "Top Black Albums". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 47. November 24, 1984. p. 52.
  7. ^ Hurst, Jack (May 2, 1984). "Services for Z.Z. Hill; brought rebirth of blues". Chicago Tribune. p. 2.10.
  8. ^ "Singer Z.Z. Hill dies in Dallas". The Clarion-Ledger. April 28, 1984. p. 2B.
  9. ^ "Z. Z. Hill I'm a Blues Man". High Fidelity. Vol. 34, no. 6. June 1984. p. 81.
  10. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 257.
  11. ^ Farley, Charles (2011). Soul of the Man: Bobby "Blue" Bland. University Press of Mississippi. p. 244.
  12. ^ Garrett, Reggie (August 23, 1993). "Multi-Ethic Celebration". The Star-Ledger.
  13. ^ a b "I'm a Blues Man Review by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Z.Z. Hill". Robert Christgau. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin Books. p. 153.
  16. ^ Snowden, Don (February 12, 1984). "LP Briefs". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 95.
  17. ^ Kelton, Jim (March 25, 1984). "Records". Venture. Daily Herald. p. 5.
  18. ^ Burke, Jack (September 13, 1984). "The Wax Works". Lake Geneva Regional News. p. 89.
  19. ^ Lane, George (January 16, 1985). "The Changing Face of Black Pop". Valley Advocate. Springfield. p. 28.
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