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Rhythm of the People

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Rhythm of the People
Studio album by
Released1993
StudioArlyn
GenreR&B, blues
LabelBlack Top[1]
ProducerHammond Scott
Robert Ward chronology
Fear No Evil
(1991)
Rhythm of the People
(1993)
Hot Stuff
(1995)

Rhythm of the People is an album by the American musician Robert Ward, released in 1993.[2][3]

Production

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Produced by Hammond Scott, the majority of the album was recorded at Arlyn Studios, in Austin, Texas.[4][5] "I Found a Love" was recorded in New Orleans, with bass player George Porter Jr.[5] The Kamikaze Horns played on some of the songs.[6] Ward's wife Roberta sang on some of the gospel-influenced tracks.[7] Ward used his Magnatone amp on the album.[8] The musician felt that Rhythm of the People was a better representation of his musical interests than his previous album, Fear No Evil.[9]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Chicago Tribune[8]
Robert Christgau(dud)[11]
DownBeat[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[7]
Los Angeles Times[13]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide[14]
Toronto Sun[15]

The Edmonton Journal noted that "Ward's taste for fast, gutsy, clear, making-every-note-count attacks on the fingerboard was an influence on Stevie Ray Vaughan and others."[6] The Chicago Tribune stated that "a couple of alleged originals borrow too heavily from vintage R & B sources."[8] The Denver Post opined that "the element of surprise is gone—and some of Ward's new songs are a little preachy... But there still are enough beautiful classic-soul moments."[16]

The Gazette determined that "a tastier mix of contemporary soul, gospel and R&B is hard to imagine."[17] The Los Angeles Times concluded that "Ward seems so re-energized that he occasionally pushes his voice too hard, but the music is punchier and its gospel-rooted flavor and message are even more in evidence."[13] The Toronto Sun deemed the album "essential for anyone who's ever thrilled to the sounds of Stax-Volt, Motown, or '60s soul and R & B in general."[15]

AllMusic wrote that Ward's "vocals don't sound nearly as hearty this time around, and a some of the songs just aren't up to par."[10]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."A Good Man" 
2."The Real Deal" 
3."Say What You Mean" 
4."White Fox" 
5."You Can't Stop My Lovin' Now" 
6."Children of the World (Don't Forget to Pray)" 
7."All Proud Races" 
8."I Do What I Want" 
9."What a Friend We Have In Jesus" 
10."Some Things" 
11."Soap Opera Blues" 
12."I Found a Love" 
13."Twiggs County" 

References

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  1. ^ Komara, Edward (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Routledge. p. 1049.
  2. ^ "Robert Ward Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  3. ^ "Obituary: Robert Ward". The Guardian. March 4, 2009. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  4. ^ "Rhythm of the People by Robert Ward". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 18. May 1, 1993. p. 50.
  5. ^ a b Point, Michael (15 Apr 1993). "Taste a sample of the blues". Austin American-Statesman. p. C13.
  6. ^ a b Levesque, Roger (10 May 1993). "Blues". Edmonton Journal. p. B7.
  7. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 508.
  8. ^ a b c Dahl, Bill (13 May 1993). "Robert Ward Rhythm of the People". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  9. ^ Dahl, Bill (17 Sep 1993). "Fear Not: Guitarist Robert Ward Is On the Way Back". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
  10. ^ a b "Robert Ward Rhythm of the People". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  11. ^ "Robert Ward". Robert Chrisgau. Archived from the original on 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  12. ^ Hadley, Frank-John (Jul 1993). "Blues hoodoo". DownBeat. Vol. 60, no. 7. p. 42.
  13. ^ a b Snowden, Don (9 Jan 1994). "Finding America's Lost R&B Masters". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 60.
  14. ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 383.
  15. ^ a b Sakamoto, John (May 16, 1993). "Robert Ward Rhythm of the People". Toronto Sun. p. S7.
  16. ^ Rosen, Steven (June 11, 1993). "Robert Ward's 'Fear No Evil' album was the blues/R&B treasure of 1991...". The Denver Post. p. 26.
  17. ^ Lamey, Mary (3 Sep 1993). "Spectrum ranges from Glaswegian blues to Iroquoian pop". The Gazette. Montreal. p. C4.