Insane Asylum (album)
| Insane Asylum | ||||
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| Released | February 1974 | |||
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| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer | David Briggs | |||
| Kathi McDonald chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Insane Asylum | ||||
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Insane Asylum is the debut album by American blues rock singer Kathi McDonald. The album was released on Capitol Records in February 1974.[1]
Background[]
Anacortes, Washington native Kathi McDonald played in several bands around the Pacific Northwest in the 1960s. She got her first professional experience recording with Ike & Tina Turner as an Ikette.[2] She recorded with Leon Russell a part of his Shelter People and trouped along with Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. McDonald sang on the Rolling Stones album Exile On Main St. and she worked with Delaney & Bonnie, Freddy King, and Big Brother and the Holding Company before she signed a solo deal with Capitol Records.[3]
Recording and release[]
McDonald recorded the album in 1973 with co-producers David Briggs and Pete Sears who also played keys, bass and was musical arranger for the record. The album, Insane Asylum, is titled after the Willie Nixon penned track by Koko Taylor, which McDonald sang as a duet with Sly Stone.[3] Two singles were released from the album, "Freak Lover" and "Bogart to Bowie."[4][5]
Critical reception[]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [6] |
Cash Box (March 2, 1974):
The pretty young lady whose voice so gorgeously backed the likes of Leon Russell and Joe Cocker explodes with beauty and power at the same time on her new Capitol LP. Reminiscent in a way of Janis Joplin in her prime, Kathi displays her talents both as a stylist and songwriter as she sings the Bee Gees "To Love Somebody", Holland-Dozier-Holland's "Heat Wave", and the Elvis Presley classic, "Heartbreak Hotel". The title track, written by Willie Dixon, is probably the strongest cut on the album and could be a potential single if given a good shot. The time is right for Kathi and this LP.[7]
Personnel[]
- Kathi McDonald -vocals
- Sly Stone - vocals on “Insane Asylum”.
- Pointer Sisters - back-up vocals.
- Pete Sears - bass, keyboards, musical arrangements. Guitar on “Insane Asylum”.
- Nils Lofgren - guitar[3]
- John Cipollina - guitar on “Something Else”.
- Greg Douglass - rhythm guitar
- Ronnie Montrose - guitar
- Jim McPherson - bass on “Freak Lover”.
- Gary Philippet - guitar on “Something Else”.
- Neal Schon - guitar[3]
- Aynsley Dunbar - drums[3]
- Bobby Hall - Percussion
- Tower of Power Horns - on “Heat Wave” and “If You Need Me”.
- Boots Hughston - trumpet, saxophone[2]
Chart performance[]
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Top LP's & Tapes[8] | 156 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 Albums Cont'd[9] | 104 |
| US Record World The Album Chart[10] | 140 |
References[]
- ^ "Capitol Bows 7 LP's In February" (PDF). Cash Box: 14. February 23, 1974.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Sekuler, Eliot (June 22, 1974). "Kathi McDonald -A Questionable Effervescence" (PDF). Cash Box: 28.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Sedlmayr, Billy (July 3, 2017). "Song of the Day: Billy Sedlmayr on Kathi McDonald Covering Willie Dixon's 'Insane Asylum'". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "Top Singles Picks: First Time Around" (PDF). Billboard: 52. February 16, 1974.
- ^ "Singles Picks" (PDF). Record World: 10. April 27, 1974.
- ^ "Insane Asylum - Kathi McDonald | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
- ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 27. March 2, 1974.
- ^ "Top LP's & Tapes" (PDF). Billboard: 58. June 8, 1974.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums Cont'd 101-175" (PDF). Cash Box: 46. June 8, 1974.
- ^ "The Album Chart 101-150" (PDF). Record World: 36. May 4, 1974.
- 1974 debut albums
- Capitol Records albums
- Blues rock albums by American artists
- Blue-eyed soul albums