That Woman Is Poison!
That Woman Is Poison! is an album by the American R&B musician Rufus Thomas.[4][5] Originally recorded for King Snake Records, it was released in 1988 via Alligator Records.[6] Thomas was in his seventies when he made That Woman Is Poison![7]
| That Woman Is Poison! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Blues, funk, soul, R&B | |||
| Label | Alligator | |||
| Producer | Bob Greenlee | |||
| Rufus Thomas chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Production
The backing band was put together by Bob Greenlee, the owner of King Snake. The musicians included the saxophonist Noble "Thin Man" Watts and the harmonica player Lazy Lester.[8] That Woman Is Poison! was recorded in Sanford, Florida.[9]
"The Walk" jokingly alludes to both Thomas's age and his previous dance hits "The Funky Chicken" and "Walking the Dog".[10]
Critical reception
The Chicago Reader thought that Thomas "grinds out his blues with a sweaty crunch that puts to shame men 30 years his junior, and his sense of humor is as wicked as ever."[6] The Crisis wrote that "Thomas uses a traditional blues sound, but struts his way through the vocals with a characteristic smirk."[11] The Edmonton Journal determined that Thomas's "voice still contains the same rich textures as in the past, yet it lacks a sense of urgency."[12]
The Globe and Mail called Thomas "still a great singer, with a full, throaty voice and a great sense of comic timing."[13] The Sun Sentinel praised the "blistering" original songs, and wrote that the "horn work and arrangements are first rate."[14] The Chicago Tribune concluded that "despite his years, Thomas is in top voice and spirit as he blusters, struts, hams it up, deftly draws from both Memphis blues and soul."[10]
AllMusic deemed it "a masterful comeback album from a blues and soul veteran who was assumed to be ready for the retirement home."[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "That Woman Is Poison!" | |
| 2. | "I Just Got to Know" | |
| 3. | "Big Fine Hunk of Woman" | |
| 4. | "Blues in the Basement" | |
| 5. | "Somebody's Got to Go" | |
| 6. | "Breaking My Back" | |
| 7. | "The Walk" | |
| 8. | "All Night Worker" |
Personnel
- Rufus Thomas - vocals
- Bryan Bassett, Ernie Lancaster - guitar
- Louis Villery - bass guitar
- Bob Greenlee - bass guitar, baritone saxophone
- Lucky Peterson - keyboards
- Danny Best - drums
- Kenny Neal - harmonica
- Noble "Thin Man" Watts - tenor saxophone solos
- Lawson "Buzz" Montsinger - tenor saxophone
- Sylvester Polk - trumpet
References
- "That Woman Is Poison! - Rufus Thomas | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2021-10-13 – via www.allmusic.com.
- Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Volume 8: MUZE. p. 139.CS1 maint: location (link)
- The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 703.
- "Obituary: Rufus Thomas". the Guardian. December 21, 2001. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- Gordon, Robert (Mar 1989). "Funky Chicken". Spin. 4 (12): 15.
- "Rufus Thomas-That Woman Is Poison!". Chicago Reader. May 11, 1989. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- Allen, Greg (December 30, 1988). "THE VINYL WORD 1988'S BEST ROCK, POP, COUNTRY AND FOLK". The Press of Atlantic City. p. D7.
- Emerson, Bo (14 Mar 1989). "At 71, `Grandfather of Funk' still shakes a leg to wild dance tunes". Austin American-Statesman. p. D6.
- Duffy, Thom (29 Jan 1989). "Rufus Thomas, That Woman Is Poison". Orlando Sentinel. Calendar. p. 7.
- Heim, Chris (17 Feb 1989). "Rufus Thomas, That Woman Is Poison (Alligator)". Chicago Tribune. Friday. p. 54.
- Otis, Lauren (Feb 1990). "The Blues: A Great American Legacy Moves Forward". The Crisis. 98 (2): 12.
- Campbell, Rod (2 Apr 1989). "Record Reviews". Edmonton Journal. p. D2.
- Dafoe, Chris (26 Jan 1989). "INSIDE THE SLEEVE POP That Woman Is Poison! Rufus Thomas". The Globe and Mail. p. C10.
- Wilker, Deborah (8 Jan 1989). "NEW LABEL, TERRIFIC ALBUM". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.