Red to Blue explained

Red to Blue
Type:studio
Artist:Leon Redbone
Cover:Red to Blue.jpg
Released:1986
Recorded:1985
Studio:
Genre:Jazz, blues
Length:31:51
Label:August
Producer:Beryl Handler, Leon Redbone
Prev Title:Leon Redbone Live
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:No Regrets
Next Year:1988

Red to Blue is an album by the American musician Leon Redbone, released in 1986.[1] [2] It was his first album for August Records, a label started by Redbone.[3] Redbone supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Production

The album was produced by Beryl Handler and Redbone.[5] David Bromberg accompanied Redbone on the cover of the Bob Dylan song "Living the Blues".[6] Hank Williams Jr. provided a spoken part for the cover of his father's version of "Lovesick Blues".[7] Biréli Lagrène played guitar on "Whose Honey Are You?"[8] The Roches contributed backing vocals; Dr. John played piano.[9] [10] The album title comes from a Jelly Roll Morton quote that describes the transition from Spanish musical styles to blues-based ones.[8]

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote that "Leon Redbone carries to a peak his mixture of jazz-filtered old pop songs, blues and 'contemp-folk' with the assistance of a pool of traditional jazz and folk-jazz musicians who light momentarily like hummingbirds in these performances, then take off again."[11] The Columbia Daily Tribune said that the album "saunters and shuffles like an old hepcat, past his prime but still jiving along at his own unhurried pace."[12]

The Vancouver Sun determined that "Redbone's almost hallucinogenic, sweeping you up in the gentle swing of his music and transporting you back to a '30s dance hall."[13] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution deemed the album "his standard fare—barely intelligible vocals that get so loooow, clarinets, coronets, guitars, banjoes and tuba."[14] Likewise, the Detroit Free Press considered it "the same old hambone."[15]

AllMusic praised "the usual Dixieland backing augmenting his tasteful fingerpicked guitar work."

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Notes and References

  1. News: Racine . Marty . Records . Houston Chronicle . 9 Mar 1986 . Zest . 12.
  2. News: MacDonald . Patrick . Night Notes . The Seattle Times . 18 Apr 1986 . Tempo . 4.
  3. News: Trussell . Robert C. . Leon Redbone remains eclectically eccentric . The Kansas City Star . Apr 9, 1986 . 6B.
  4. News: Williams . Stephen . Redbone's Ragtime Vaudevillian Show . Newsday . 27 Jan 1987 . Part II . 8.
  5. Reviews . Billboard . Feb 8, 1986 . 98 . 6 . 72.
  6. News: Ayers . Chuck . Leon Redbone . The Morning Call . 31 Jan 1986 . D1.
  7. News: Quill . Greg . A rambling conversation with crooner/beer-booster Redbone . Toronto Star . 29 Aug 1986 . D17.
  8. News: Rense . Rip . Redbone still around — and still sentimental . The San Diego Union-Tribune . 25 July 1986 . C17.
  9. News: Conan . Neal . The Roches Perform Live in NPR's Studio 4A . Talk of the Nation . NPR . Dec 10, 2007.
  10. News: Gettelman . Parry . He's a Bud man . Orlando Sentinel . 21 May 1989 . Calendar . 17.
  11. News: Wilson . John S. . Jazz-Pop Album of the Week . The New York Times . 14 Feb 1986 . C26.
  12. News: Rose . Forrest . Leon Redbone album another bluesy classic . Columbia Daily Tribune . Apr 6, 1986 . 64.
  13. News: Mackie . John . Leon Redbone: Red to Blue . The Vancouver Sun . Apr 19, 1986 . D4.
  14. News: Yandel . Gerry . Record Reviews: Jazz . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Jun 6, 1986 . Weekend . 34.
  15. News: Red to Blue . Detroit Free Press . Jun 8, 1986 . 5E.

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