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Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!

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Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!
Studio album by
Released1991
StudioStarlight Sound, Richmond, California
GenreBlues rock
LabelAlligator[1]
ProducerElvin Bishop
Elvin Bishop chronology
Big Fun
(1988)
Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!
(1991)
The Best of Elvin Bishop: Tulsa Shuffle
(1994)

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

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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]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Calgary HeraldB+[12]
Chicago Tribune[13]
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[15]
Houston Chronicle[16]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[10]
The Tampa Tribune[6]

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.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fannie Mae"Deborahe Glasgow3:18
2."Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down" 2:48
3."Murder in the First Degree"St. Louis Jimmy Oden3:08
4."Kissing in the Dark"Ernest Lawlers2:44
5."My Whiskey Head Buddies" 5:23
6."Stepping Up in Class"Jimmy McCracklin2:56
7."You Got to Rock 'Em" 4:10
8."Come On in This House"Mel London3:09
9."Soul Food" 2:45
10."Rollin' with My Blues" 3:38
11."Devil's Slide" 2:57
12."Just Your Fool"Walter Jacobs2:42

References

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  1. ^ Komara, Edward M. (December 25, 2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Psychology Press.
  2. ^ "Elvin Bishop Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Boehm, Mike (18 July 1991). "Musical Acts Will Amplify Nostalgia". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
  4. ^ Luhrssen, Dave (23 Apr 1991). "Thorogood's live show beats his Memorex". The Milwaukee Journal. p. B5.
  5. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 108.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ North, Peter (21 Aug 1999). "Elvin Bishop digs struttin' his stuff on stage". Edmonton Journal. p. C1.
  8. ^ Hadley, Frank-John (December 25, 1993). The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD. Grove Press.
  9. ^ Orr, John (May 10, 1991). "Elvin Bishop: Living the Blues Life". San Jose Mercury News. p. 12E.
  10. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 60.
  11. ^ "Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!". AllMusic.
  12. ^ a b Wagamese, Richard (3 Mar 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F5.
  13. ^ a b Kening, Dan (14 Mar 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  14. ^ "Elvin Bishop". Robert Christgau.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. pp. 620–621.
  16. ^ a b Racine, Marty (March 3, 1991). "Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down! Elvin Bishop". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 16.
  17. ^ Blue, Buddy (January 22, 1992). "Straight blues has stifled Bishop style". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D7.