The Man from Mars is an album by the American musician Smokey Wilson, released in 1997.[1][2] Wilson supported the album with a North American tour.[3] The Man from Mars was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best contemporary blues album.[4]
| The Man from Mars | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Genre | Blues, R&B | |||
| Label | Bullseye Blues | |||
| Producer | Ron Levy | |||
| Smokey Wilson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production edit
The album was produced by Ron Levy, who used a rhythm section of Dallas musicians.[5] Wilson wrote eight of its songs.[6] "Louise" was written by Howlin' Wolf, one of Wilson's primary influences; "44 Blues" is a cover of Wolf's version of the standard.[7][8] "Easy Baby" was written by Magic Sam.[9] "Something Inside of Me" is a cover of the Elmore James song.[9] "Thanks for Making Me a Star" is about staying humble after becoming famous.[10]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Edmonton Journal |  [11] |
| The Indianapolis Star | [8] |
| Los Angeles Daily News | [12] |
| MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide | [13] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [14] |
The Los Angeles Daily News wrote that the album "recalls the grit of a '50s juke joint... Wilson's slash and burn guitaring is a breath of fresh air at a time when a generation of tepid teen players are being taken seriously as blues musicians."[12] The Washington Post stated that "thick, punchy horn riffs dominate nearly every song and force Wilson to sharpen the edge on his lead-guitar licks and to pump up his hollering vocals to make himself felt."[5] The Edmonton Journal praised the "shuffles and honky tonk ballads and roaring r'n'b horn workouts."[11]
Guitar Player said that Wilson's "stinging tone, swift vibrato and staccato blasts travel from string-strangling '50s blues to R&B-driven '70s rock."[15] The Record determined that Wilson's "incendiary slide-guitar work carries on the Elmore James tradition, while his gravel-voiced singing recalls Howlin' Wolf and Tyrone Davis."[16] The Indianapolis Star noted that "the juke-joint atmosphere Wilson embraced while cutting his teeth in the profession is evident."[8]
AllMusic wrote that "Levy keeps Wilson's guitar tone at sting and bite level 10 and his vocals right up front and toasty, surrounding him with a solid rhythm section and spare horn stabs."[9]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Thanks for Making Me a Star" | |
| 2. | "Something Inside of Me" | |
| 3. | "The Man from Mars" | |
| 4. | "44 Blues" | |
| 5. | "Louise" | |
| 6. | "Too Drunk to Drive" | |
| 7. | "You Don't Drink What I Drink" | |
| 8. | "Black Widow" | |
| 9. | "Just Like a Mountain" | |
| 10. | "Don't Want to Tangle with Me" | |
| 11. | "Doctor Blues" | |
| 12. | "Easy Baby" |
References edit
- ^ Kinsman, Michael (28 Nov 1996). "Lord knows, Smokey Wilson is full-up on the Mississippi blues". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ "Smokey Wilson Biography by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ Provencher, Norman (10 Apr 1997). "Southern blues bands to heat things up". Ottawa Citizen. p. D2.
- ^ Waller, Don (May 2, 1998). "W. C. Handy Awards Nominees". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 18. p. 42.
- ^ a b Himes, Geoffrey (18 Apr 1997). "Wilson's Robust Soul". The Washington Post. p. WW13.
- ^ Mason, Rick (3 Aug 1997). "Blues". Star Tribune. p. F2.
- ^ Benedetti, Winda (13 June 1997). "Tubs Cafe Opens New Beer Garden with Smokey Wilson's Soulful Blues". Weekend. The Spokesman-Review. p. 2.
- ^ a b c Konz, Joe (21 Sep 1997). "Smokey Wilson 'The Man from Mars'". The Indianapolis Star. p. I7.
- ^ a b c d "The Man from Mars Review by Cub Koda". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ Berkhalter, Denise (3 Apr 1997). "Smokey Wilson plays Blues Alley tonight". Hattiesburg American. p. 2D.
- ^ a b Levesque, Roger (24 Apr 1997). "Smoky Wilson feels the burn on Mars CD". Edmonton Journal. p. D4.
- ^ a b Shuster, Fred (28 Mar 1997). "Blues". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L21.
- ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 408.
- ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 721.
- ^ Obrecht, Jas (Jun 1997). "Lonesome road blues". Guitar Player. Vol. 31, no. 6. p. 113.
- ^ McGuinness, Jim (5 Sep 1997). "Mississippi School of the Blues". Previews. The Record. p. 5.