Amtrak Blues

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Amtrak Blues
Studio album by
Alberta Hunter
Released1980
GenreBlues, jazz
LabelColumbia Records
ProducerJohn Hammond
Alberta Hunter chronology
Remember My Name
(1978) 		Amtrak Blues
(1980) 		The Glory of Alberta Hunter
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4/5 stars[1]
Robert ChristgauA[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music3/5 stars[3]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings3/4 stars[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide4/5 stars[5]

Amtrak Blues is an album by the American blues and jazz musician Alberta Hunter, released in 1980.[6][7] 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".[8]

Production[]

The album was produced by John Hammond.[9] 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.[1]

Critical reception[]

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."[2] 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."[10] High Fidelity called it "a bright, clean recording that brings out the warm, vivid colors in her incredibly lively voice."[11] Cadence lamented that the musicians often played "quiet, uninspired cocktail runs."[12]

Colin Larkin opined that Hunter "inimitably interpreted every nuance of the lyrics, especially when they were her own."[3] The Rolling Stone Album Guide stated that Amtrak Blues "accurately captures the sassy strength of her singing."[5] 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."[4]

Track listing[]

No.TitleLength
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[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Amtrak Blues - Alberta Hunter | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Alberta Hunter". www.robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Volume 4: MUZE. p. 416.CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. 2006. pp. 294–295.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 335.
  6. ^ "Alberta Hunter | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  7. ^ "Recording of Special Merit: Alberta Hunter: Amtrak Blues". Stereo Review. 45 (4): 101. October 1980.
  8. ^ "The First Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards". Living Blues (49): 8. Winter 1980–81.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  9. ^ Tunzi, Kristina (Nov 18, 2006). "DEATHS: Gerald Cook". Billboard. 118 (46): 76.
  10. ^ Devall, Cheryl (28 Aug 1980). "RECORDS/REVIEWS". The Boston Globe. Calendar. p. 1.
  11. ^ Wilson, John S. (August 1980). "Spin Offs". High Fidelity. 30 (8): 102.
  12. ^ Little, Sam (September 1980). "Record Reviews". Cadence. 6 (9): 55.
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