Alligator (Leslie West album) explained
Alligator |
Type: | studio |
Artist: | Leslie West |
Cover: | alligator_cover_artwork.jpg |
Released: | 1989 |
Genre: | Hard rock, heavy metal, blues rock |
Length: | 29:52 |
Label: | I.R.S. |
Producer: | Leslie West, Paul Orofino |
Prev Title: | Theme |
Prev Year: | 1988 |
Next Title: | Night of the Guitar – Live! |
Next Year: | 1989 |
Alligator is an album by the American musician Leslie West, released in 1989 on I.R.S. Records.[1] [2] West supported the album by participating in the Guitar Speak and Night of the Guitars tours.[3] [4]
Production
I.R.S. allowed West the freedom to make the album he wanted.[5] Stanley Clarke played bass on "Whiskey" and "All of Me".[6] Johnette Napolitano sang on the cover of Free's "The Stealer".[6] "I Put a Spell on You" is a cover of the Screamin' Jay Hawkins song.[7] The liner notes contain a recipe for alligator chili.[8]
Critical reception
The Province deemed the album "as patchy as any of his solo LPs but it highlights his recent work with a Casio guitar synthesizer and his fluid, crying style—a style still rooted in rock and blues that is different from voguish speed merchants."[9] The Chicago Sun-Times called it "an eclectic collection of songs that highlights West's deft electric guitar-playing skills and passion for unusual material."[10]
The Daily Breeze opined that the "'Hall of the Mountain King/Theme from Exodus' medley, one of the album's most painful episodes, sounds like it was accidentally recorded during a rehearsal."[11] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that "instrumentals 'Waiting for the F Change', 'Whiskey', 'All of Me' and 'Alligator' promise much, but West seems to lose concentration, grow bored or something."[12]
AllMusic wrote that West "plays some hot guitar here, of course, but then not as much as one might like, and he sings a lot here, too, perhaps more than one might like."
Track listing
- "Sea of Fire" (George Cintron) — 5:01
- "Waiting for the F Change" (West) — 4:24
- "Whiskey" (West) — 2:17
- "Alligator" (West) — 3:23
- "I Put a Spell on You" (Screamin' Jay Hawkins) — 4:12
- "All of Me" (West) — 3:06
- "The Stealer" (Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers, Paul Kossoff) — 2:17
- "Hall of the Mountain King / Theme from Exodus" (Edvard Grieg/Ernest Gold) — 3:09
- "Dream Lover" (Bobby Darin) — 2:03
Personnel
- Leslie West — guitar, bass guitar, vocals
- Steve Luongo — drums, percussion
- Jack Hotop — keyboards on "Alligator"
- Stanley Clarke — bass on "Whiskey" and "All of Me”
- Tony Miceli — keyboards on "Waiting for the F Change" and "I Put a Spell On You"
- Johnette Napolitano — vocals on "The Stealer"
Credits
- Producers — Leslie West and Paul Orofino
- Executive Producer — Miles Copeland III
- Engineers — Paul Orofino, Carl Davino and Judd Levison (Stanley Clarke overdubs at Devonshire Studios, N. Hollywood only)
- Mastering — Ron McMaster
- Direction — Stevo Glendinning
Notes and References
- News: MacInnis . Craig . 250-pounder gives term heavy metal his own definition . Toronto Star . 31 Oct 1989 . C3.
- News: Robins . Wayne . He's Been to the Mountain: Heavy-metal pioneer Leslie West is still rocking hard, watching his health... . Newsday . 5 Nov 1989 . Part II . 13.
- News: Washburn . Jim . Leslie West Takes His Music, Not Himself, Seriously . Los Angeles Times . 6 Feb 1990 . F2.
- News: Thompson . Bob . Still Climbing . Toronto Sun . November 1, 1989 . Entertainment . 77.
- News: Eichenberger . Bill . Undaunted, West Works Way Up Another Mountain . The Columbus Dispatch . January 19, 1990 . 9D.
- News: Bourke . Brian G. . New Music . Syracuse Herald American . October 15, 1989 . Stars . 28.
- News: Scott . Jane . Old song lifts Mountain man . The Plain Dealer . January 19, 1990.
- News: This Week in the Arts . The Columbus Dispatch . January 14, 1990 . 3H.
- News: Harrison . Tom . Putting primary voice of rock in the spotlight . The Province . 11 Mar 1990 . Entertainment . 87.
- News: Kim . Jae-Ha . West's still a Mountain of a musician . Chicago Sun-Times . January 26, 1990 . Weekend Plus . 31.
- News: Tranfa . Anthony D. . 'Alligator', Leslie West . Daily Breeze . January 26, 1990 . E10.
- News: Hawkins . Robert J. . Another Cream Mix? . The San Diego Union-Tribune . February 2, 1990 . C2.