Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!
| Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Studio | Starlight Sound, Richmond, California | |||
| Genre | Blues rock | |||
| Label | Alligator[1] | |||
| Producer | Elvin Bishop | |||
| Elvin Bishop chronology | ||||
| ||||
Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down! is an album by the American musician Elvin Bishop, released in 1991.[2][3]
Bishop supported the album by touring with George Thorogood.[4]
Production[edit]
Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down! was produced by Bishop, who also wrote half of the album's songs.[5][6] The title track was inspired by a dispute Bishop had with his label head, Bruce Iglauer.[7] "Stepping Up in Class" is a cover of Jimmy McCracklin's "Steppin'".[8] "Devil's Slide" is an instrumental, while "Rollin' with My Blues" is a tribute to Freddie King, Albert King, and B.B. King.[9][10]
Critical reception[edit]
The Calgary Herald noted that there is "lots of leftover nuance from the Paul Butterfield Blues Band days to remind you that this was once a pair of hands equated with Hendrix and Clapton."[12] The Chicago Tribune praised the "serious playing here, adding some potent slide guitar to 'Come On in This House' and some razor-sharp licks to 'Stepping Up in Class'."[13]
The Houston Chronicle thought that "a little slide action and tasty arrangements on several cuts open the door for Bishop's considerable and road-hardened guitar work, which is as focused on record as it has been in years."[16] The San Diego Union-Tribune determined that, while the album "features the trademark Bishop humor and the occasional dash of funk, it is, for the most part, a straight blues effort."[17]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Elvin Bishop; except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fannie Mae" | Deborahe Glasgow | 3:18 |
| 2. | "Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down" | 2:48 | |
| 3. | "Murder in the First Degree" | St. Louis Jimmy Oden | 3:08 |
| 4. | "Kissing in the Dark" | Ernest Lawlers | 2:44 |
| 5. | "My Whiskey Head Buddies" | 5:23 | |
| 6. | "Stepping Up in Class" | Jimmy McCracklin | 2:56 |
| 7. | "You Got to Rock 'Em" | 4:10 | |
| 8. | "Come On in This House" | Mel London | 3:09 |
| 9. | "Soul Food" | 2:45 | |
| 10. | "Rollin' with My Blues" | 3:38 | |
| 11. | "Devil's Slide" | 2:57 | |
| 12. | "Just Your Fool" | Walter Jacobs | 2:42 |
References[edit]
- ^ Komara, Edward M. (December 25, 2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Psychology Press.
- ^ "Elvin Bishop Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Boehm, Mike (18 July 1991). "Musical Acts Will Amplify Nostalgia". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
- ^ Luhrssen, Dave (23 Apr 1991). "Thorogood's live show beats his Memorex". The Milwaukee Journal. p. B5.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 108.
- ^ a b Booth, Philip (February 22, 1991). "Elvin Bishop, Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!". Tampa Bay Times. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
- ^ North, Peter (21 Aug 1999). "Elvin Bishop digs struttin' his stuff on stage". Edmonton Journal. p. C1.
- ^ Hadley, Frank-John (December 25, 1993). The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD. Grove Press.
- ^ Orr, John (May 10, 1991). "Elvin Bishop: Living the Blues Life". San Jose Mercury News. p. 12E.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 60.
- ^ "Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Wagamese, Richard (3 Mar 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F5.
- ^ a b Kening, Dan (14 Mar 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ "Elvin Bishop". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. pp. 620–621.
- ^ a b Racine, Marty (March 3, 1991). "Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down! Elvin Bishop". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 16.
- ^ Blue, Buddy (January 22, 1992). "Straight blues has stifled Bishop style". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D7.
