That Woman Is Poison! is an album by the American musician Rufus Thomas.[1][2] Originally recorded for King Snake Records, it was released in 1988 via Alligator Records.[3] Thomas was in his seventies when he made That Woman Is Poison![4]

That Woman Is Poison!
Studio album by
Released1988
GenreBlues, soul
Length36:57
LabelAlligator
ProducerBob Greenlee
Rufus Thomas chronology
Rappin' Rufus
(1986)
That Woman Is Poison!
(1988)
Can't Get Away from This Dog
(1992)

Production

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The backing band was put together by Bob Greenlee, the owner of King Snake. The musicians included the saxophonist Noble "Thin Man" Watts and the harmonica player Lazy Lester.[5] That Woman Is Poison! was recorded in Sanford, Florida.[6] Thomas asked Robert Palmer to write the liner notes.[7] "The Walk" jokingly alludes to both Thomas's age and his previous dance hits "The Funky Chicken" and "Walking the Dog".[8]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [11]

The Chicago Reader thought that Thomas "grinds out his blues with a sweaty crunch that puts to shame men 30 years his junior, and his sense of humor is as wicked as ever."[3] The Crisis wrote that "Thomas uses a traditional blues sound, but struts his way through the vocals with a characteristic smirk."[12] The Edmonton Journal determined that Thomas's "voice still contains the same rich textures as in the past, yet it lacks a sense of urgency."[13]

The Globe and Mail called Thomas "still a great singer, with a full, throaty voice and a great sense of comic timing."[14] The Sun Sentinel praised the "blistering" original songs, and wrote that the "horn work and arrangements are first rate."[15] The Chicago Tribune concluded that, "despite his years, Thomas is in top voice and spirit as he blusters, struts, hams it up, deftly draws from both Memphis blues and soul."[8]

AllMusic deemed it "a masterful comeback album from a blues and soul veteran who was assumed to be ready for the retirement home."[9]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Rufus Thomas; except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."That Woman Is Poison!" 5:11
2."I Just Got to Know"Bob Geddins, Jimmy McCracklin3:20
3."Big Fine Hunk of Woman" 5:47
4."Blues in the Basement" 4:14
5."Somebody's Got to Go"Gatemouth Moore6:01
6."Breaking My Back" 6:02
7."The Walk"Jimmy McCracklin2:57
8."All Night Worker" 3:25

Personnel

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  • Rufus Thomas - vocals
  • Bryan Bassett, Ernie Lancaster - guitar
  • Louis Villery - bass guitar
  • Bob Greenlee - bass guitar, baritone saxophone
  • Lucky Peterson - keyboards
  • Danny Best - drums
  • Kenny Neal - harmonica
  • Noble "Thin Man" Watts - tenor saxophone solos
  • Lawson "Buzz" Montsinger - tenor saxophone
  • Sylvester Polk - trumpet

References

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  1. ^ "Obituary: Rufus Thomas". The Guardian. December 21, 2001. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Gordon, Robert (Mar 1989). "Funky Chicken". Spin. Vol. 4, no. 12. p. 15.
  3. ^ a b "Rufus Thomas That Woman Is Poison!". Chicago Reader. May 11, 1989. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Allen, Greg (December 30, 1988). "The Vinyl Word 1988's Best Rock, Pop, Country and Folk". The Press of Atlantic City. p. D7.
  5. ^ Emerson, Bo (14 Mar 1989). "At 71, 'Grandfather of Funk' still shakes a leg to wild dance tunes". Austin American-Statesman. p. D6.
  6. ^ Duffy, Thom (29 Jan 1989). "Rufus Thomas, That Woman Is Poison". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  7. ^ Trussell, Robert; McTavish, Brian (16 Dec 1988). "Thomas isn't retiring quite yet". The Kansas City Star. p. 22D.
  8. ^ a b Heim, Chris (17 Feb 1989). "Rufus Thomas, That Woman Is Poison". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 54.
  9. ^ a b "That Woman Is Poison!". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  10. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 139.
  11. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 703.
  12. ^ Otis, Lauren (Feb 1990). "The Blues: A Great American Legacy Moves Forward". The Crisis. Vol. 98, no. 2. p. 12.
  13. ^ Campbell, Rod (2 Apr 1989). "Record Reviews". Edmonton Journal. p. D2.
  14. ^ Dafoe, Chris (26 Jan 1989). "That Woman Is Poison! Rufus Thomas". The Globe and Mail. p. C10.
  15. ^ Wilker, Deborah (8 Jan 1989). "New Label, Terrific Album". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.