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Sonny Burgess (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sonny Burgess
Studio album by
Released1996
GenreRockabilly
LabelRounder[1]
ProducerGarry Tallent
Sonny Burgess chronology
Tennessee Border
(1992)
Sonny Burgess
(1996)

Sonny Burgess (occasionally referred to as Sonny Burgess Has Still Got It, per its back cover) is an album by the American musician Sonny Burgess, released in 1996.[2][3]

Burgess supported the album by touring with Rosie Flores.[4]

Production

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Recorded in Nashville, the album was produced by Garry Tallent; he allegedly sought control over all aspects of the recording sessions.[5][6] Dave Alvin, Steve Forbert, Radney Foster, and Bruce Springsteen, among others, contributed to the songwriting.[7][8] Scotty Moore and the Jordanaires appear on "Bigger Than Elvis".[9] Springsteen's contribution, "Tiger Rose", had not yet been recorded by him; he had to sing the lyrics over the phone for Tallent.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[12]
Lincoln Journal Star[13]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[8]

The Washington Post wrote that "Burgess is still a rousing rockabilly performer, with a raspy baritone growl and a stinging guitar sound."[7] The Orlando Sentinel thought that "'Hell Yes I Cheated' is the kind of country slow-dance they don't write often enough anymore... Burgess' economical guitar is particularly eloquent on Steve Forbert's 'Catbird Seat'."[14]

Stereo Review determined that, "unlike myriad rockabilly nostalgists, Burgess is the real thing—and more often than not, he'll give you chills."[15] The Lincoln Journal Star noted that the album "lacks the out-of-control feeling of his early music," but praised "the hard-country confessional ballad 'Hell Yes I Cheated'."[13] The Chicago Tribune concluded that, "where younger practitioners accent the 'rock' in rockabilly, Burgess restores the music's loping country rhythms and backwoods drawl."[16]

AllMusic deemed Sonny Burgess "a modern rockabilly classic."[11] The Encyclopedia of Popular Music considered Burgess's voice to be "remarkably fresh-sounding."[12]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."If I Could I Would" 
2."Tiger Rose" 
3."Big Black Cadillac" 
4."Six Nights a Week" 
5."Hang Up the Moon" 
6."Bigger Than Elvis" 
7."Didn't Know Love at All" 
8."Leave Your Lovin' at Home" 
9."Fast Train" 
10."You Tear Me Up" 
11."Lookin' Out for Number One" 
12."Hell Yes I Cheated" 
13."Catbird Seat" 
14."Fly Right On By" 

References

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  1. ^ Betts, Stephen L. (August 21, 2017). "Sonny Burgess, Rockabilly Legend, Dead at 88". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "Sonny Burgess". No Depression. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  3. ^ McCall, Michael; Rumble, John; Kingsbury, Paul (February 1, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  4. ^ Kiviat, Steve (May 31, 1996). "Sonny Burgess". Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  5. ^ Ridley, Jim. "Country Cousins". Nashville Scene. Archived from the original on 2021-12-27. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  6. ^ Burke, Ken; Griffin, Dan (August 27, 2006). The Blue Moon Boys. Chicago Review Press. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Rousing Burgess". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 174.
  9. ^ McGuinness, Jim (7 June 1996). "A Fifties Rocker Is Back". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. p. 4.
  10. ^ Morris, Chris (Aug 17, 1996). "Flag Waving". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 33. p. 61.
  11. ^ a b "Sonny Burgess". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-12-27. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  12. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 62.
  13. ^ a b Moser, Daniel R. (14 July 1996). "Rockabilly". Lincoln Journal Star. p. H6.
  14. ^ Gettelman, Parry (26 July 1996). "Reverend Horton Heat Sonny Burgess Ronnie Dawson". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 10.
  15. ^ Nash, Alanna (Oct 1996). "Sonny Burgess". Stereo Review. Vol. 61, no. 10. p. 102.
  16. ^ Reger, Rick (6 Sep 1996). "Sonny Burgess". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.