Sonny Burgess (occasionally referred to as Sonny Burgess Has Still Got It, per its back cover) is an album by the American musician Sonny Burgess, released in 1996.[2][3]
| Sonny Burgess | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Genre | Rockabilly | |||
| Label | Rounder[1] | |||
| Producer | Garry Tallent | |||
| Sonny Burgess chronology | ||||
| ||||
Burgess supported the album by touring with Rosie Flores.[4]
Production edit
Recorded in Nashville, the album was produced by Garry Tallent; he allegedly sought control over all aspects of the recording sessions.[5][6] Dave Alvin, Steve Forbert, Radney Foster, and Bruce Springsteen, among others, contributed to the songwriting.[7][8] Scotty Moore and the Jordanaires appear on "Bigger Than Elvis".[9] Springsteen's contribution, "Tiger Rose", had not yet been recorded by him; he had to sing the lyrics over the phone for Tallent.[10]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [12] |
| Lincoln Journal Star |  [13] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [8] |
The Washington Post wrote that "Burgess is still a rousing rockabilly performer, with a raspy baritone growl and a stinging guitar sound."[7] The Orlando Sentinel thought that "'Hell Yes I Cheated' is the kind of country slow-dance they don't write often enough anymore... Burgess' economical guitar is particularly eloquent on Steve Forbert's 'Catbird Seat'."[14]
Stereo Review determined that, "unlike myriad rockabilly nostalgists, Burgess is the real thing—and more often than not, he'll give you chills."[15] The Lincoln Journal Star noted that the album "lacks the out-of-control feeling of his early music," but praised "the hard-country confessional ballad 'Hell Yes I Cheated'."[13] The Chicago Tribune concluded that, "where younger practitioners accent the 'rock' in rockabilly, Burgess restores the music's loping country rhythms and backwoods drawl."[16]
AllMusic deemed Sonny Burgess "a modern rockabilly classic."[11] The Encyclopedia of Popular Music considered Burgess's voice to be "remarkably fresh-sounding."[12]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "If I Could I Would" | |
| 2. | "Tiger Rose" | |
| 3. | "Big Black Cadillac" | |
| 4. | "Six Nights a Week" | |
| 5. | "Hang Up the Moon" | |
| 6. | "Bigger Than Elvis" | |
| 7. | "Didn't Know Love at All" | |
| 8. | "Leave Your Lovin' at Home" | |
| 9. | "Fast Train" | |
| 10. | "You Tear Me Up" | |
| 11. | "Lookin' Out for Number One" | |
| 12. | "Hell Yes I Cheated" | |
| 13. | "Catbird Seat" | |
| 14. | "Fly Right On By" |
References edit
- ^ Betts, Stephen L. (August 21, 2017). "Sonny Burgess, Rockabilly Legend, Dead at 88". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ "Sonny Burgess". No Depression. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ McCall, Michael; Rumble, John; Kingsbury, Paul (February 1, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Kiviat, Steve (May 31, 1996). "Sonny Burgess". Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Ridley, Jim. "Country Cousins". Nashville Scene. Archived from the original on 2021-12-27. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
- ^ Burke, Ken; Griffin, Dan (August 27, 2006). The Blue Moon Boys. Chicago Review Press. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ a b "Rousing Burgess". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 174.
- ^ McGuinness, Jim (7 June 1996). "A Fifties Rocker Is Back". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. p. 4.
- ^ Morris, Chris (Aug 17, 1996). "Flag Waving". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 33. p. 61.
- ^ a b "Sonny Burgess". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-12-27. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 62.
- ^ a b Moser, Daniel R. (14 July 1996). "Rockabilly". Lincoln Journal Star. p. H6.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (26 July 1996). "Reverend Horton Heat Sonny Burgess Ronnie Dawson". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 10.
- ^ Nash, Alanna (Oct 1996). "Sonny Burgess". Stereo Review. Vol. 61, no. 10. p. 102.
- ^ Reger, Rick (6 Sep 1996). "Sonny Burgess". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.