Misplaced Pages

Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!
Studio album by Elvin Bishop
Released	1991
Studio	Starlight Sound, Richmond, California
Genre	Blues rock
Label	Alligator
Producer	Elvin Bishop
Elvin Bishop chronology
Big Fun (1988) Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down! (1991) The Best of Elvin Bishop: Tulsa Shuffle (1994)

Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down! is an album by the American musician Elvin Bishop, released in 1991.

Bishop supported the album by touring with George Thorogood.

Production

Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down! was produced by Bishop, who also wrote half of the album's songs. The title track was inspired by a dispute Bishop had with his label head, Bruce Iglauer. "Stepping Up in Class" is a cover of Jimmy McCracklin's "Steppin'". "Devil's Slide" is an instrumental, while "Rollin' with My Blues" is a tribute to Freddie King, Albert King, and B.B. King.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Calgary Herald	B+
Chicago Tribune
Robert Christgau
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Houston Chronicle
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Tampa Tribune

The Calgary Herald noted that there is "lots of leftover nuance from the Paul Butterfield Blues Band days to remind you that this was once a pair of hands equated with Hendrix and Clapton." The Chicago Tribune praised the "serious playing here, adding some potent slide guitar to 'Come On in This House' and some razor-sharp licks to 'Stepping Up in Class'."

The Houston Chronicle thought that "a little slide action and tasty arrangements on several cuts open the door for Bishop's considerable and road-hardened guitar work, which is as focused on record as it has been in years." The San Diego Union-Tribune determined that, while the album "features the trademark Bishop humor and the occasional dash of funk, it is, for the most part, a straight blues effort."

Track listing

All tracks are written by Elvin Bishop; except where noted

References

1. Komara, Edward M. (December 25, 2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Psychology Press.
2. "Elvin Bishop Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
3. Boehm, Mike (18 July 1991). "Musical Acts Will Amplify Nostalgia". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
4. Luhrssen, Dave (23 Apr 1991). "Thorogood's live show beats his Memorex". The Milwaukee Journal. p. B5.
5. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 108.
6. ^ Booth, Philip (February 22, 1991). "Elvin Bishop, Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!". Tampa Bay Times. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
7. North, Peter (21 Aug 1999). "Elvin Bishop digs struttin' his stuff on stage". Edmonton Journal. p. C1.
8. Hadley, Frank-John (December 25, 1993). The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD. Grove Press.
9. Orr, John (May 10, 1991). "Elvin Bishop: Living the Blues Life". San Jose Mercury News. p. 12E.
10. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 60.
11. "Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!". AllMusic.
12. ^ Wagamese, Richard (3 Mar 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F5.
13. ^ Kening, Dan (14 Mar 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
14. "Elvin Bishop". Robert Christgau.
15. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. pp. 620–621.
16. ^ Racine, Marty (March 3, 1991). "Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down! Elvin Bishop". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 16.
17. Blue, Buddy (January 22, 1992). "Straight blues has stifled Bishop style". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D7.

• Elvin Bishop albums
• 1991 albums
• Alligator Records albums