Positively Beale St. Explained

Positively Beale St.
Type:studio
Artist:the Walter Trout Band
Cover:WalterTroutPositivelyBealeSt.jpeg
Recorded:February 19 – March 21, 1997
Studio:315 Beale St. Recording (Memphis, Tennessee)
Genre:
Length:71:43
Label:Provogue
Producer:Jim Gaines
Chronology:Walter Trout solo
Prev Title:Breaking the Rules
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Positively Beale St. is the sixth solo studio album by American blues rock musician Walter Trout, the last to be credited to the Walter Trout Band. Recorded between February and March 1997 at 315 Beale St. Recording in Memphis, Tennessee, it was produced by Jim Gaines and released on May 19, 1997, by Provogue Records. The album charted at number 65 on the Dutch Albums Chart and number 9 on the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart. Following its initial release in Europe, Positively Beale St. was issued in North America by Ruf Records under the title Walter Trout, credited to Trout as a solo artist.

Background

The Walter Trout Band recorded Positively Beale St. between February 19 and March 21, 1997, at 315 Beale St. Recording in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] The album was produced by Jim Gaines and was reportedly intended as "a tribute to Memphis and its musical legacy".[2] "Let Me Be the One" was released as the sole single from the album on October 6, 1997.[3] After the album was released in Europe by Provogue Records, Trout signed a deal with Ruf Records for a North American release.[4] In early 1998, the album was issued by Ruf under the title Walter Trout, with opening track "Got a Broken Heart" issued as a limited edition "heart-shaped" CD single.[2]

Reception

Commercial

Positively Beale St. reached number 65 on the Dutch Albums Chart and number 9 on the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart.[5] [6]

Critical

Media response to Positively Beale St. was positive. In a review of the original European release for Music & Media, Thessa Mooij wrote that the album "clearly shows the depth [Trout's] own material has developed over the years", praising both his guitar playing but also his vocal performance.[7] In a feature titled "The Walter Trout albums you should definitely own" for Classic Rock, Henry Yates suggested that "Positively Beale Street changed everything" for Trout, describing it as "a whistle-stop tour of all Uncle Sam's most seminal genres, from the late-night blues of 'Marie's Mood' to the falsetto-led R&B of 'Song for a Wanderer'".[8]

Personnel

Walter Trout Band

Additional musicians

Additional personnel

Notes

Charts

Chart (1997)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)65
UK Jazz & Blues Albums (OCC)9

Notes and References

  1. Positively Beale St. . . 1997 . . June 11, 2024 .
  2. DiConstanzo . Frank . U.S. Bluesman Trout Hopes To Match Euro Success . . 110 . 22 . May 30, 1998 . New York City, New York . Billboard . 72 . June 11, 2024 .
  3. Irwin . Colin . Hopes are running high for new single . . September 6, 1997 . 38 . June 11, 2024 .
  4. Ruf Records is proud to announce two new signings... . The Gavin Report . 2180 . November 7, 1997 . San Francisco, California . . 24 . June 11, 2024 .
  5. Web site: Discografie Walter Trout . dutchcharts.nl . Dutch . June 11, 2024 .
  6. Web site: Breaking The Rules – Walter Trout Band . . June 11, 2024 .
  7. Mooij . Thessa . Marketplace: Walter Trout Band – Positively Beale Street . . 14 . 21 . May 24, 1997 . 9 . June 11, 2024 .
  8. Web site: The Walter Trout albums you should definitely own . Yates . Henry . . January 1, 2024 . June 11, 2024 .