Sonny Burgess (album) explained
Sonny Burgess (occasionally referred to as Sonny Burgess Has Still Got It, per its back cover) is an album by the American musician Sonny Burgess, released in 1996.[2] [3]
Burgess supported the album by touring with Rosie Flores.[4]
Production
Recorded in Nashville, the album was produced by Garry Tallent; he allegedly sought control over all aspects of the recording sessions.[5] [6] Dave Alvin, Steve Forbert, Radney Foster, and Bruce Springsteen, among others, contributed to the songwriting. Scotty Moore and the Jordanaires appear on "Bigger Than Elvis".[7] Springsteen's contribution, "Tiger Rose", had not yet been recorded by him; he had to sing the lyrics over the phone for Tallent.[8]
Critical reception
The Washington Post wrote that "Burgess is still a rousing rockabilly performer, with a raspy baritone growl and a stinging guitar sound."[9] The Orlando Sentinel thought that "'Hell Yes I Cheated' is the kind of country slow-dance they don't write often enough anymore... Burgess' economical guitar is particularly eloquent on Steve Forbert's 'Catbird Seat'."[10]
Stereo Review determined that, "unlike myriad rockabilly nostalgists, Burgess is the real thing—and more often than not, he'll give you chills."[11] The Lincoln Journal Star noted that the album "lacks the out-of-control feeling of his early music," but praised "the hard-country confessional ballad 'Hell Yes I Cheated'." The Chicago Tribune concluded that, "where younger practitioners accent the 'rock' in rockabilly, Burgess restores the music's loping country rhythms and backwoods drawl."[12]
AllMusic deemed Sonny Burgess "a modern rockabilly classic." The Encyclopedia of Popular Music considered Burgess's voice to be "remarkably fresh-sounding."
Notes and References
- Sonny Burgess, Rockabilly Legend, Dead at 88. Stephen L.. Betts. Rolling Stone. August 21, 2017. December 27, 2021. December 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227152016/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/sonny-burgess-rockabilly-legend-dead-at-88-112204/. live.
- Sonny Burgess . No Depression . 27 December 2021 . 27 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211227152018/https://www.nodepression.com/album-reviews/sonny-burgess-self-titled/ . live .
- Book: The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Michael. McCall. John. Rumble. Paul. Kingsbury. February 1, 2012. Oxford University Press. December 27, 2021. December 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227152019/https://books.google.com/books?id=tLZz02EzmBYC&pg=PA66. live.
- News: Sonny Burgess. Steve. Kiviat. May 31, 1996. Washington City Paper. December 27, 2021. December 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227153722/https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/287745/sonny-burgess/. live.
- News: Country Cousins. Jim. Ridley. Nashville Scene. 2021-12-27. 2021-12-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227152020/https://www.nashvillescene.com/arts_culture/country-cousins/article_69b1e09e-4aee-5d92-9669-df3dc8c7bb1c.html. live.
- Book: The Blue Moon Boys. Ken. Burke. Dan. Griffin. August 27, 2006. Chicago Review Press. December 27, 2021. December 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227152016/https://books.google.com/books?id=I4dp11J2cP4C&pg=PA195. live.
- News: McGuinness . Jim . A Fifties Rocker Is Back . The Record . 7 June 1996 . Lifestyle/Previews . 4.
- Morris . Chris . Flag Waving . Billboard . Aug 17, 1996 . 108 . 33 . 61.
- News: Rousing Burgess . The Washington Post . 27 December 2021 . 21 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821132524/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/05/31/rousing-burgess/67f8b969-d543-4592-9d6a-1a371c25ef03/ . live .
- News: Gettelman . Parry . Reverend Horton Heat Sonny Burgess Ronnie Dawson . Orlando Sentinel . 26 July 1996 . Calendar . 10.
- Nash . Alanna . Sonny Burgess . Stereo Review . Oct 1996 . 61 . 10 . 102.
- News: Reger . Rick . Sonny Burgess . Chicago Tribune . 6 Sep 1996 . Friday . O.
