| Amtrak Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Alberta Hunter | ||||
| Released | 1980 | |||
| Genre | Blues, jazz | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | John Hammond | |||
| Alberta Hunter chronology | ||||
| ||||
Amtrak Blues is an album by the American blues and jazz musician Alberta Hunter, released in 1980. The album was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award, in the "Traditional Blues Album" category; Hunter won the 1980 award for best "Traditional Blues Female Artist".
Production
The album was produced by John Hammond. Hunter was backed by the Gerald Cook quartet on a few of the album's tracks; Hunter's resurgence was in part due to Cook's championing. Doc Cheatham played trumpet on the album.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | A |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Robert Christgau wrote that Hunter's "timing and intonation are as savvy as you'd figure, and though the voice isn't quite as full as it must have been, it packs an amazing wallop." The Boston Globe thought that the album "exquisitely captures Hunter's spunk, wry humor and zest for life," writing that "Hunter snaps, crackles and pops in a way younger singers can't touch." High Fidelity called it "a bright, clean recording that brings out the warm, vivid colors in her incredibly lively voice." Cadence lamented that the musicians often played "quiet, uninspired cocktail runs." The Richmond Times-Dispatch noted that Hunter "can tickle the libido in spots the randiest modern pop singers haven't discovered yet."
Colin Larkin opined that Hunter "inimitably interpreted every nuance of the lyrics, especially when they were her own." The Rolling Stone Album Guide stated that Amtrak Blues "accurately captures the sassy strength of her singing." The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings wrote: "Inevitably, 'marvellous for her age' was used as a selling point, but in sober truth Hunter's accuracy, timing and vigour were pretty astonishing."
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Darktown Strutters' Ball" | 5:20 |
| 2. | "Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out" | 3:48 |
| 3. | "I'm Having a Good Time" | 2:35 |
| 4. | "Always" | 3:41 |
| 5. | "My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More" | 3:45 |
| 6. | "Amtrak Blues" | 3:21 |
| 7. | "Old Fashioned Love" | 4:12 |
| 8. | "Sweet Georgia Brown" | 4:10 |
| 9. | "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" | 3:56 |
| 10. | "I've Got a Mind to Ramble" | 4:13 |
Personnel
- Alberta Hunter - vocals
- Doc Cheatham - trumpet
- Gerald Cook - piano
- Vic Dickenson - trombone
- Norris Turney - reeds
- Frank Wess - reeds
References
- "Alberta Hunter | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- "Recording of Special Merit: Alberta Hunter: Amtrak Blues". Stereo Review. Vol. 45, no. 4. October 1980. p. 101.
- "The First Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards". Living Blues. No. 49. Winter 1980–81. p. 8.
- Tunzi, Kristina (Nov 18, 2006). "Deaths: Gerald Cook". Billboard. Vol. 118, no. 46. p. 76.
- ^ "Amtrak Blues - Alberta Hunter | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
- Bradford, Gary (22 May 1980). "Records". The Pittsburgh Press. p. D8.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Alberta Hunter". Robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 416.
- ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. 2006. pp. 294–295.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 335.
- Devall, Cheryl (28 Aug 1980). "Records/Reviews". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
- Wilson, John S. (August 1980). "Spin Offs". High Fidelity. Vol. 30, no. 8. p. 102.
- Little, Sam (September 1980). "Record Reviews". Cadence. Vol. 6, no. 9. p. 55.
- Bustard, C.A. (28 May 1980). "Rekindling the Torch Song". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. A6.