Stevie Salas Colorcode is the debut album by the Native American guitar player Stevie Salas, released in 1990.[2][3] Colorcode was the name Salas gave to his band.
| Stevie Salas Colorcode | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | Island[1] | |||
| Producer | Bill Laswell, Stevie Salas | |||
| Stevie Salas chronology | ||||
| ||||
Salas supported the album by opening for Joe Satriani on a North American tour.[2] The album was a commercial disappointment in the United States, but sold well in international markets.[4] The album's first single was "The Harder They Come".[5]
Production edit
Recorded in New York, the album was coproduced by Bill Laswell.[6][7] Colorcode included Winston Watson Jr. on drums and C.J. De Villier on bass.[8] Salas wrote or cowrote all of the album's songs; Parthenon Huxley contributed to some of the lyrics.[9][10] Salas was at times fretful during the recording sessions, worried because he had quit lucrative sideman jobs.[11]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Calgary Herald | C+[13] |
| Chicago Tribune | [14] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [5] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [15] |
| The State | [10] |
The Globe and Mail thought that Salas "sings with an almost audible sneer, and his guitar playing is white hot."[8] The Province determined that Salas "knows how to lock into a groove and doesn't forsake melody for flash—a Hendrix legacy that other modern guitarists overlook."[6] The Buffalo News appreciated that Salas "never once drops his basic allegiance to the underlying funk groove."[16]
The Calgary Herald lamented that the "songs do nothing more than showcase [the] young guitarist."[13] The Chicago Tribune concluded: "Caught in the limboland between glam rock and Journey-inspired tunes, Stevie Salas allows a menagerie of his musical influences to shine through."[14] The San Diego Union-Tribune deemed the album "a flashy, brash debut, full of talent and youthful exuberance."[17]
AllMusic wrote that "'Indian Chief', a touching, Hendrix-inspired ode to Salas' father, is an understated highlight."[12] The Rolling Stone Album Guide opined that Salas's guitar playing moves "beyond the usual funk-and-metal clichés."[15]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stand Up!" | |
| 2. | "Blind" | |
| 3. | "Caught in the Middle of It" | |
| 4. | "Just Like That" | |
| 5. | "Two Bullets and a Gun" | |
| 6. | "The Harder They Come" | |
| 7. | "Over and Over Again" | |
| 8. | "Baby Walk On" | |
| 9. | "Indian Chief" | |
| 10. | "Cover Me" |
References edit
- ^ Caudle, Todd (9 Mar 1990). "Talented 'Stevie Salas Colorcode' blends rock 'n' soul". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D10.
- ^ a b "Stevie Salas Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Wright-McLeod, Brian (January 30, 2018). The Encyclopedia of Native Music: More Than a Century of Recordings from Wax Cylinder to the Internet. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-8165-3864-5.
- ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (11 July 1990). "Stevie Salas ColorCode". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 230.
- ^ a b Harrison, Tom (20 June 1990). "Nobody has to tell Salas he's a big star". Entertainment. The Province. p. 59.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (December 15, 2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-0-87930-607-6.
- ^ a b Niester, Alan (2 Apr 1990). "Stevie Salas Colorcode". The Globe and Mail. p. C7.
- ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (31 Jan 1990). "Album Debut Impressive by Stevie Salas ColorCode". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
- ^ a b Miller, Michael (January 26, 1990). "Music Fans Can Look Forward – To Rockin' Good Albums in 1990". The State. p. 5D.
- ^ Thompson, Bob (April 5, 1990). "Soul Rocker". Entertainment. Toronto Sun. p. 66.
- ^ a b "Stevie Salas Colorcode". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "April Reviews". Calgary Herald. 3 May 1990. p. H5.
- ^ a b O'Connor Creevy, Caitlin (29 Mar 1990). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 19D.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 616.
- ^ Anderson, Dale (February 16, 1990). "Second Chances". The Buffalo News. p. G33.
- ^ Toombs, Mikel (February 3, 1990). "Stevie Salas has traveled far with a guitar – He's coming home to perform tonight". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C5.