Uptown (Neville Brothers album) explained

Uptown
Type:studio
Artist:the Neville Brothers
Cover:Uptown (Neville Brothers album).jpg
Released:1987
Label:EMI America
Producer:Jim Gaines (executive producer)
Prev Title:Treacherous: A History of the Neville Brothers
Prev Year:1986
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Next Year:1989

Uptown is an album by the American musical group the Neville Brothers, released in 1987.[1] [2] The album's title is an homage to the New Orleans neighborhood in which the Nevilles grew up. The group supported the album by touring with Santana.[3]

The album peaked at No. 155 on the Billboard 200.[4]

Production

After four commercially unsuccessful albums, the Nevilles brought in outside writers, producers, and musicians, including Jerry Garcia, Branford Marsalis.[5] The album was overseen by Jim Gaines, then best known as Huey Lewis's producer, who agreed to executive produce only if he was allowed to make a "non-traditional" New Orleans album.[5] Uptown was recorded in Metairie, Louisiana.[6]

"Midnight Key" was cowritten by Jimmy Buffett. Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley also contributed to the album.

Critical reception

Spin wrote: "By stripping them of all but the most subtle New Orleansisms, the Nevilles sound like Journey. Or Rick Springfield. Or instant mashed potatoes."[7] Robert Christgau thought that "between adult themes, solidly insinuating tunes, uncommonly grizzled vocals, and faint indigenous lilt, what we have here is a pretty damn good [Contemporary Hit Radio] album."

The Globe and Mail considered that "the long-term pleasures come from Art Neville's rock steady keyboards and growling voice."[8] USA Today thought that "the undistinquished playing offers little of the funky fire that has made the Nevilles New Orleans' top rhythm band."[9] The Star Tribune opined that, "at best, this slick production evokes vintage Tower of Power with a Southern accent; at worst, it's as bland as the made-for-radio barroom-rock 'n' soul of Huey Lewis."[10]

AllMusic wrote that the album contains the group's "usual tight playing and exuberant collective vocals." The Rolling Stone Album Guide panned the use of "sequencers and electronic percussion."

Personnel

Additional musicians

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Neville Brothers Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic. 2021-09-14. 2021-06-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20210604193615/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/neville-brothers-mn0000891497/biography. live.
  2. Watch the Grateful Dead Jam with the Neville Brothers in 1987. October 24, 2018. Relix. September 14, 2021. September 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210914130035/https://relix.com/blogs/detail/watch-the-grateful-dead-jam-with-the-neville-brothers-in-1987/. live.
  3. News: Graff . Gary . Nevilles Tune Up for the Top 40 . Chicago Tribune . 7 July 1987 . Tempo . 5.
  4. Book: Whitburn . Joel . Top Pop Albums . 2010 . Record Research . 563 . 7th.
  5. The Neville Brothers: Funky but Chic. Rob. Tannenbaum. Rolling Stone. July 2, 1987. September 14, 2021. September 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210914130045/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-neville-brothers-funky-but-chic-97592/. live.
  6. Book: Musical Gumbo: The Music of New Orleans. Grace. Lichtenstein. Laura. Dankner. September 14, 1993. W.W. Norton. 9780393034684. September 14, 2021. September 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210914130046/https://books.google.com/books?id=ed2TF84G-t8C&pg=PA315&lpg=PA315. live.
  7. Matthews . Bunny . Uptown and Down . Spin . Apr 1987 . 3 . 1 . 25–27.
  8. News: Lacey . Liam . Uptown The Neville Brothers . The Globe and Mail . 7 May 1987 . C3.
  9. News: Milward . John . Popular . USA Today . 1 Apr 1987 . 4D.
  10. News: Bream . Jon . Neville Brothers, 'Uptown' . Star Tribune . 1 May 1987 . 3C.

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