At Last (Lou Rawls album)

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At Last
Studio album by
Lou Rawls
Released1989
GenreJazz
LabelBlue Note
ProducerMichael Cuscuna, Billy Vera
Lou Rawls chronology
Family Reunion
(1987) 		At Last
(1989) 		It's Supposed to Be Fun
(1990)

At Last is an album by the American musician Lou Rawls, released in 1989.[1][2] Promoted as a jazz album, it was timed to the 50th anniversary celebration of Blue Note Records.[3] The album peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.[4] At Last was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male" category.[5] Rawls supported the album by playing several European jazz festivals.[6]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Michael Cuscuna and Billy Vera.[7] Rawls recorded his vocals live in the studio with his rhythm section.[8] Lyle Lovett and Vera were among the album's songwriters.[9] "That's Where It's At" is a duet with Ray Charles; Rawls sang on the original version by Sam Cooke.[8] "Fine Brown Frame", a duet with Dianne Reeves, is a cover of the Nellie Lutcher song.[10] "Two Years of Torture" was written by Percy Mayfield.[11] "You Can't Go Home" is about how neighborhoods change over the years.[12]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Chicago Tribune[12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[14]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul[15]

The New York Times wrote that "the album's songs, Mr. Rawls's rich drawling delivery and production that adds discreet pop flavoring to ensemble jazz arrangements all work together to bring jazz, blues and soul inflections into a perfectly relaxed and natural blend."[10] Newsday praised the "superb session help from George Benson and Cornell Dupree."[16] USA Today stated: "Rawls returns beautifully to his roots. At Last brings that velvety baritone back to the record label, the jazz/ blues standards and the small acoustic combo setting that launched his career nearly three decades ago."[17] The Omaha World-Herald noted that, "although Rawls is always nice to hear, the jazz soloists keep the album from drifting into a smooth sameness."[18]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."At Last" 
2."Two Years of Torture" 
3."Fine Brown Frame" 
4."Good Intentions" 
5."That's Where It's At" 
6."If I Were a Magician" 
7."You Can't Go Home" 
8."Room with a View" 
9."After the Lights Go Down Low" 
10."She's No Lady" 
11."Oh, What a Nite" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Warren, Jill (3 Feb 1989). "Concert Notes". The Indianapolis Star. p. D10.
  2. ^ "New York Agenda". Part II. Newsday. 8 May 1989. p. 2.
  3. ^ Warren, Jill (10 Feb 1989). "'At Last,' Rawl's dream record". The Indianapolis Star. p. D9.
  4. ^ "Lou Rawls". Billboard. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Lou Rawls". Recording Academy. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  6. ^ Feather, Leonard (10 Sep 1989). "Is He Blue? Lou Rawls Back to His Roots". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 59.
  7. ^ Mitchell, Rick (20 Aug 1989). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 8.
  8. ^ a b Boulware, Hugh (7 June 1989). "The Original Rapper". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 3.
  9. ^ Gettelman, Parry (25 June 1989). "Music". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  10. ^ a b Holden, Stephen (7 July 1989). "Lou Rawls: Back in Club, Back to Blues". The New York Times. p. C26.
  11. ^ Vera, Billy (2019). Rip It Up: The Specialty Records Story. BMG Books.
  12. ^ a b Weaver, Maurice (12 Oct 1989). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 15F.
  13. ^ "At Last Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  14. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 578.
  15. ^ The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. 1998. p. 273.
  16. ^ "Records". Part II. Newsday. 10 July 1989. p. 2.
  17. ^ Jones IV, James T. (20 July 1989). "The Listening Room". USA Today. p. 4D.
  18. ^ Smith, Will (13 Aug 1989). "Jazz Sounds". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 14.
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