Jump to content

Whoopin' (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Whoopin'
Studio album by
Released1984
GenreBlues
LabelAlligator
ProducerJohnny Winter
Sonny Terry chronology
Midnight Special
(1978)
Whoopin'
(1984)
Old Town Blues, Vol. 1
(1986)

Whoopin' is an album by the American musician Sonny Terry, released in 1984.[1][2] He is credited with Johnny Winter and Willie Dixon.[3] The album was also released as I Think I Got the Blues.[4] It was the first of Winter's two 1984 Alligator Records albums.[5]

Production

[edit]

Recorded in three days, Whoopin' was produced by Winter.[6][7] He wanted to capture a rawer, Delta sound, rather than the mellower, prettier one that Terry played with Brownie McGhee.[8] "I Think I Got the Blues" was written by Dixon, who also played bass on the album.[9] Styve Homnick played drums.[10] "Ya, Ya" is a cover of the Lee Dorsey song.[11]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Calgary HeraldA[6]
The Commercial Appeal[13]
Lincoln Journal Star[14]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide[15]
Omaha World-Herald[16]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[17]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues[18]

The Globe and Mail noted that, "although the familiar, jolly material ... jumps along at Terry's usual, casual pace, Winters seems intent on pushing it into overdrive."[9] The Boston Globe wrote that Terry's "playing had its familiar sweeping tone and was still electrifying."[19] The Sydney Morning Herald called the album "excellent," writing that "Johnny and Sonny whoop, holler and jam to their hearts' content."[4] The Pittsburgh Press opined that Winter "shows admirable restraint in these more subtle, traditional blues."[20]

The Press of Atlantic City praised the "outstanding musicianship" and "sweet harp."[11] The Commercial Appeal determined that Whoopin' "is destined for 'classic' status," writing that "every cut is raw, lean, and mean."[13] The Omaha World-Herald stated that Terry plays "a mean harmonica on 10 rocking blues numbers."[16] The Lincoln Journal Star determined that "Terry achieves something that's electrified, but not modernly electronic."[14] The Idaho Statesman listed Whoopin' as the eighth best album of 1984.[21]

AllMusic lamented that "Terry didn't put any amplified muscle behind his harmonica."[12]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."I Got My Eyes on You" 
2."Sonny's Whoopin' the Doop" 
3."Burnt Child" 
4."Whoee, Whoee" 
5."Crow Jane" 
6."So Tough with Me" 
7."Whoo Wee Baby" 
8."I Think I Got the Blues" 
9."Ya, Ya" 
10."Roll Me Baby" 

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Krampert, Peter (2016). The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica. Mel Bay Publications. p. 172.
  2. ^ "Sonny Terry Biography by Al Campbell". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  3. ^ Williams, Stephen (13 Mar 1986). "Country blues singer Terry dies at 74". Ottawa Citizen. Newsday. p. C17.
  4. ^ a b Everingham, Henry (13 Feb 1984). "Sonny and Johnny Holler On". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
  5. ^ Shepard, Eric (24 Aug 1984). "Other Blues Notes". The Journal-News. p. 5.
  6. ^ a b Muretich, James (8 Sep 1984). "Whoopin' Terry reveals power of the blues". Calgary Herald. p. F11.
  7. ^ Morse, Steve (27 Apr 1984). "Johnny Winter Keeps the Blues Coming". Arts/Film. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
  8. ^ Anderson, J.P. (3 May 1984). "Winter's happy playing the blues". The Citizen Register. p. D3.
  9. ^ a b Lacey, Liam (30 Aug 1984). "Whoopin' Sonny Terry, Johnny Winter and Willie Dixon". The Globe and Mail. p. E3.
  10. ^ Clark, Roxanne (7 Apr 1985). "Records". The Indianapolis Star. p. 8E.
  11. ^ a b Allen, Greg (18 May 1984). "Whoopin' Sonny Terry". The Press of Atlantic City. p. V3.
  12. ^ a b "Whoopin' Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  13. ^ a b Burnett, Brown (3 Jun 1984). "Whoopin' by Sonny Terry". The Commercial Appeal. p. 12.
  14. ^ a b Becker, Bart (19 Jun 1984). "Rough and Raw". Lifestyle. Lincoln Journal Star. p. 4.
  15. ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. pp. 359, 360.
  16. ^ a b Catlin, Roger (5 Jun 1984). "New Sounds". Omaha World-Herald. p. 17.
  17. ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. 2006. p. 639.
  18. ^ Larkin, Colin (2013). The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues. Virgin.
  19. ^ Morse, Steve (14 Mar 1986). "Sonny Terry's Legacy: Love of the Country Blues". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 39.
  20. ^ White, Jim (8 Jul 1984). "Blues". The Pittsburgh Press. p. E6.
  21. ^ Weinstein, Norman (9 Dec 1984). "1984's Top 10 Albums". Idaho Statesman. p. D1.