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Alligator (Leslie West album)

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Alligator
Studio album by
Leslie West
Released1989
GenreHard rock, heavy metal, blues rock
Length29:52
LabelI.R.S.
ProducerLeslie West, Paul Orofino
Leslie West chronology
Theme
(1988) 		Alligator
(1989) 		Night of the Guitar – Live!
(1989)

Alligator is an album by the American musician Leslie West, released in 1989 on I.R.S. Records.[1][2] West supported the album by participating in the Guitar Speak and Night of the Guitars tours.[3][4]

Production

I.R.S. allowed West the freedom to make the album he wanted.[5] Stanley Clarke played bass on "Whiskey" and "All of Me".[6] Johnette Napolitano sang on the cover of Free's "The Stealer".[6] "I Put a Spell on You" is a cover of the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins song.[7] The liner notes contain a recipe for alligator chili.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]

The Province deemed the album "as patchy as any of his solo LPs but it highlights his recent work with a Casio guitar synthesizer and his fluid, crying style—a style still rooted in rock and blues that is different from voguish speed merchants."[10] The Chicago Sun-Times called it "an eclectic collection of songs that highlights West's deft electric guitar-playing skills and passion for unusual material."[11]

The Daily Breeze opined that the "'Hall of the Mountain King/Theme from Exodus' medley, one of the album's most painful episodes, sounds like it was accidentally recorded during a rehearsal."[12] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that "instrumentals 'Waiting for the F Change', 'Whiskey', 'All of Me' and 'Alligator' promise much, but West seems to lose concentration, grow bored or something."[13]

AllMusic wrote that West "plays some hot guitar here, of course, but then not as much as one might like, and he sings a lot here, too, perhaps more than one might like."[9]

Track listing

  1. "Sea of Fire" (George Cintron) — 5:01
  2. "Waiting for the F Change" (West) — 4:24
  3. "Whiskey" (West) — 2:17
  4. "Alligator" (West) — 3:23
  5. "I Put a Spell on You" (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins) — 4:12
  6. "All of Me" (West) — 3:06
  7. "The Stealer" (Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers, Paul Kossoff) — 2:17
  8. "Hall of the Mountain King / Theme from Exodus" (Edvard Grieg/Ernest Gold) — 3:09
  9. "Dream Lover" (Bobby Darin) — 2:03

Personnel

  • Leslie West — guitar, bass guitar, vocals
  • Steve Luongo — drums, percussion
  • Jack Hotop — keyboards on "Alligator"
  • Stanley Clarke — bass on "Whiskey" and "All of Me”
  • Tony Miceli — keyboards on "Waiting for the F Change" and "I Put a Spell On You"
  • Johnette Napolitano — vocals on "The Stealer"

Credits

  • Producers — Leslie West and Paul Orofino
  • Executive Producer — Miles Copeland III
  • Engineers — Paul Orofino, Carl Davino and Judd Levison (Stanley Clarke overdubs at Devonshire Studios, N. Hollywood only)
  • Mastering — Ron McMaster
  • Direction — Stevo Glendinning

References

  1. ^ MacInnis, Craig (31 Oct 1989). "250-pounder gives term heavy metal his own definition". Toronto Star. p. C3.
  2. ^ Robins, Wayne (5 Nov 1989). "He's Been to the Mountain: Heavy-metal pioneer Leslie West is still rocking hard, watching his health...". Part II. Newsday. p. 13.
  3. ^ Washburn, Jim (6 Feb 1990). "Leslie West Takes His Music, Not Himself, Seriously". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  4. ^ Thompson, Bob (November 1, 1989). "Still Climbing". Entertainment. Toronto Sun. p. 77.
  5. ^ Eichenberger, Bill (January 19, 1990). "Undaunted, West Works Way Up Another Mountain". The Columbus Dispatch. p. 9D.
  6. ^ a b Bourke, Brian G. (October 15, 1989). "New Music". Stars. Syracuse Herald American. p. 28.
  7. ^ Scott, Jane (January 19, 1990). "Old song lifts Mountain man". The Plain Dealer.
  8. ^ "This Week in the Arts". The Columbus Dispatch. January 14, 1990. p. 3H.
  9. ^ a b "Alligator Review by Steve Leggett". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  10. ^ Harrison, Tom (11 Mar 1990). "Putting primary voice of rock in the spotlight". Entertainment. The Province. p. 87.
  11. ^ Kim, Jae-Ha (January 26, 1990). "West's still a Mountain of a musician". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 31.
  12. ^ Tranfa, Anthony D. (January 26, 1990). "'Alligator', Leslie West". Daily Breeze. p. E10.
  13. ^ Hawkins, Robert J. (February 2, 1990). "Another Cream Mix?". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C2.
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