Sonny Is King Explained

Sonny Is King
Type:	Album
Artist:	Sonny Terry
Cover:	Sonny is King.jpg
Released:	1963
Recorded:	October 26, 1960 & September 1962
Studio:	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ & New York City
Genre:	Blues
Length:	33:17
Label:	Bluesville
Producer:	Ozzie Cadena/Kenneth S. Goldstein
Chronology:	Sonny Terry
Prev Title:	Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee at Sugar Hill
Prev Year:	1961
Next Title:	Blues Hoot
Next Year:	1963

Sonny Is King is an album by blues musician Sonny Terry recorded and sessions in 1960 and 1962 and released on the Bluesville label.^{[1] [2]}

Reception

AllMusic reviewer Thom Owens stated: "Half of Sonny Is King is devoted to a rare session between Sonny Terry and Lightnin' Hopkins ... but the rhythm section fails to kick the pair into overdrive, and much of the music disappointingly meanders ... That's proven by the second side of the album, where Terry falls into the comfortable setting of duetting with Brownie McGhee. While these aren't among the duo's very best recordings, they are nonetheless enjoyable, suggesting that there's something to be said for the familiar".

Track listing

All compositions by Sonny Terry

1. "One Monkey Don't Stop the Show" – 3:04
2. "Changed the Lock On My Door" – 3:30
3. "Tater Pie" – 2:32
4. "She's So Sweet" – 2:39
5. "Diggin' My Potatoes" 3:32
6. "Sonny's Coming" – 2:50
7. "Ida Mae" – 3:10
8. "Callin' My Mama" – 2:33
9. "Bad Luck" – 4:10
10. "Blues from the Bottom" – 4:17

Personnel

Performance

• Sonny Terry – harmonica, vocals
• Lightnin' Hopkins (tracks 1–5), Brownie McGhee (tracks 6–10) – guitar
• Leonard Gaskin – bass (tracks 1–5)
• Belton Evans – drums (tracks 1–5)

Production

• Ozzie Cadena (tracks 1–5), Kenneth S. Goldstein (tracks 6–10) – producer
• Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Notes and References

1. https://www.jazzdisco.org/sonny-terry/catalog/#bluesville-bvlp-1059 Jazzdisc: Sonny Terry Catalog
2. https://www.bsnpubs.com/fantasy/bluesville/bluesville.html Both Sides Now: Prestige/Bluesville Album Discography