I Am Just a Rebel is the debut studio album by American country music band Billy Hill.[1][2] Released by Reprise Records in 1989, the album contains the hit song "Too Much Month at the End of the Money".[3][4] It was the band's only album.[5]
| I Am Just a Rebel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 1989 |
| Genre | Country, country rock |
| Label | Reprise |
| Producer | Billy Hill |
| Singles from I Am Just a Rebel | |
| |
"Rollin' Dice" was originally recorded by lead singer Dennis Robbins in 1986 for his MCA Records album, The First of Me. It was also featured on the soundtrack to the film Pink Cadillac. Billy Hill's version of "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" made an appearance in the 1990 film My Blue Heaven.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic Guide to Country |   [5] |
| Chicago Tribune | [6] |
The Chicago Tribune deemed I Am Just a Rebel a "rollicking album," writing that "Billy Hill delivers heat, humor and heart."[6] The Advocate wrote: "Imagine Levon Helm getting together with Little Feat to play some hillbilly music and you have some idea of what Billy Hill sounds like ... There's lots of hot playing, and the songs are good, too."[7]
The Buffalo News concluded that Billy Hill "have a big, fun, 'bloozy' sound that is heavy on slide guitar, somewhat similar to the Rolling Stones' occasional forays into country."[8] The Orange County Register stated that the "music is down and dirty, R&B-influenced barroom country rock with a ballad or two thrown in for good measure."[9] USA Today listed I Am Just a Rebel as the 25th best country album of 1989.[10]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Bob DiPiero, Dennis Robbins, and John Scott Sherrill, except as noted
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Too Much Month at the End of the Money" | 2:21 |
| 2. | "Nickel to My Name" | 2:35 |
| 3. | "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" (Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Jr.) | 3:34 |
| 4. | "These Lonely Blues" (Sherrill, DiPiero) | 4:03 |
| 5. | "Rollin' Dice" | 3:26 |
| 6. | "What's a Boy to Do" | 2:56 |
| 7. | "Just in Case You Want to Know" | 3:31 |
| 8. | "I Am Just a Rebel" | 3:32 |
| 9. | "Drive On By" | 3:59 |
| 10. | "Gettin' On Down the Road" | 3:33 |
Personnel
editCompiled from liner notes.
Billy Hill
edit- Bob DiPiero — background vocals
- Reno Kling — bass guitar
- Martin Parker — drums, percussion
- Dennis Robbins — lead and background vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar
- John Scott Sherrill — lead and background vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Additional musicians
edit- Bucky Baxter — steel guitar
- Barry Beckett — piano, Hammond B-3 organ
- Bessyl Duhon — accordion
- Glen Duncan — fiddle, mandolin
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Top Country Albums (Billboard) | 55 |
References
edit- ^ Nash, Alanna (Dec 1989). "Popular Music: Billy Hill". Stereo Review. 54 (12): 136.
- ^ Himes, Geoffrey (18 Aug 1989). "Songwriters Sing in Nashville Breakout". The Washington Post. p. WW22.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2019). Goldmine Record Album Price Guide. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 73.
- ^ Wooley, John (October 1, 1989). "The rockabilly 'Too Much Month at the End of the Money'...". Tulsa World. p. H2.
- ^ a b All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music. Miller Freeman. 1997. p. 397.
- ^ a b Hurst, Jack (17 Aug 1989). "Rave Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 15E.
- ^ Gilbert, Calvin (August 4, 1989). "Billy Hill I Am Just a Rebel". Fun. The Advocate. p. 2.
- ^ Herbeck, Dan (August 18, 1989). "Billy Hill, I Am Just A Rebel". The Buffalo News. p. G40.
- ^ Davis, Noel (October 6, 1989). "Country Albums". Orange County Register. p. P32.
- ^ Oermann, Robert K. (December 29, 1989). "TOP 52 COUNTRY ALBUMS". USA Today.
External links
edit- "I Am Just a Rebel – Billy Hill (1989, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved December 22, 2022.