Mighty Man (album)
| Mighty Man | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Genre | Blues, soul | |||
| Label | Blind Pig | |||
| Producer | Mighty Joe Young | |||
| Mighty Joe Young chronology | ||||
| ||||
Mighty Man is an album by the American musician Mighty Joe Young, released in 1997.[1][2] It was his first album for Blind Pig Records, although the label would reissue some of Young's earlier work.[3] Young supported the album with a North American tour.[4]
Mighty Man was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best Soul Blues Album.[4] Living Blues awarded the album "Comeback of the Year".[5]
Production[edit]
The album was produced primarily by Young.[6] Due to recurring health issues involving a pinched nerve, he worked on the album over the course of 11 years.[7][8] Young financed the recording sessions.[1] He played guitar on three of the tracks, all recorded prior to his surgeries.[9] "Got a Hold on Me" was written by Willie Henderson.[10]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide | [6] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [11] |
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote that "Young's smooth, deep soul man's voice enlivens this solid comeback album, which climbs to spectacular only when Young poignantly tries lead guitar."[12] OffBeat determined that "Young knows how to use backup-singing women and horn-playing men without turning them into mere gimmicks."[10] The Michigan Chronicle deemed Young "a master of pure Chicago blues mixed with equal parts of ... smooth, soul blues."[13]
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted that "Bring It On" "makes a fine, bleary-blue ballad."[14] The Chicago Tribune said that "Young still sings mightily, blending soul grooves into his West Side-styled blues."[15] The Sonoma West Times & News deemed the album "a blues set of surpassing warmth and dignity."[16]
AllMusic called the album "soul music deluxe with strong blues roots."[9] The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings considered Mighty Man among the "truly exceptional" blues albums.[11]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Starvation" | |
| 2. | "Mighty Man" | |
| 3. | "Turning Point" | |
| 4. | "Got My Mind on My Woman" | |
| 5. | "Got a Hold on Me" | |
| 6. | "Bring It On" | |
| 7. | "End of the Line" | |
| 8. | "Ain't Goin' for That" | |
| 9. | "Wishy Washy Woman" | |
| 10. | "On the Move Again" |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Mighty Joe Young Biography by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ Bruening, John C. (27 June 1997). "Mighty Man Mighty Joe Young". Friday. The Plain Dealer. p. 28.
- ^ Cooney, Ricardo (10 Dec 1998). "Jambalaya's gets Mighty Joe Young tonight". What's On. Lansing State Journal. p. 9.
- ^ a b "Mighty Joe brings mighty good blues to town". Ottawa Citizen. 16 Apr 1998. p. D3.
- ^ Struzzi, Diane (1 Apr 1999). "'Mighty Joe' Young, 'Swinging' Guitarist". Metro. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
- ^ a b MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 417.
- ^ Komara, Edward (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues: K-Z. Routledge. p. 1105.
- ^ "Mighty Joe Young". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. 6 June 1997. p. 49.
- ^ a b c "Mighty Man Review by Cub Koda". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ a b Orteza, Arsenio (November 1, 1997). "Mighty Joe Young, Mighty Man". Reviews. OffBeat.
- ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. pp. 733, 734.
- ^ Knopper, Steve (13 June 1997). "Mighty Joe Young, 'Mighty Man'". Cue. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ Seedorff, George (10 Sep 1997). "New CDs, local dates, for blues greats Mighty Joe Young and Taj Mahal". Michigan Chronicle. p. 9C.
- ^ Kuelker, Michael (14 Aug 1997). "Mighty Man Mighty Joe Young". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 9:2.
- ^ Dahl, Bill (19 Sep 1997). "At Age 70, Bluesman Mighty Joe Young Is Mounting a Comeback". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 32.
- ^ Robinson, Bruce (25 Jun 1997). "Audio File". Sonoma West Times & News. p. B4.