Rumble is the second album by the American band Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, released in 1988.[2][3] It was the band's first album for a major label.[4]
| Rumble | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | Columbia[1] | |||
| Producer | Rick Chertoff | |||
| Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album peaked at No. 103 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart.[5] "I'm Not Your Man" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.[6]
Production edit
The album was produced by Rick Chertoff.[7] The fellow Philadelphia band the Hooters worked on the album; Jules Shear helped write two songs.[8] Rumble contains four re-recordings of songs that appeared on the band's independent debut album.[9]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Chicago Sun-Times | [11] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [12] |
The Washington Post called Conwell "a likable roots-rocker who turns out energetic bar-band music, and the attempt to turn him into something else is misguided at best."[13] The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that "Chertoff, perhaps mindful of the hit-singles potential of some of these songs, might have clipped the engaging guitarist too close to the vest in a few spots, denying Rumble's audience the chance to experience an inventive guitar voice."[9] The St. Petersburg Times deemed the album "a savage, blues-based, booze-soaked rock 'n' roll romp that proves a bar band can graduate to major-label status without letting corporate pressure douse its fiery conviction."[14]
The Boston Globe wrote that Rumble "has a few simplistic rock anthems, but comes alive in its striking ability to merge blues and rock with a near-gospel fire."[15] The Toronto Star concluded that "rootsy and real as the music is, it's just a little too contrived."[16] Comparing Conwell to Bruce Springsteen, The Gazette opined that the frontman needed to develop more "vision, if he hopes to proceed beyond Stray Cats-bar band status."[17] The Chicago Sun-Times thought that "Rumble sometimes sounds like the vinyl equivalent of a Brat Pack film, one of the better ones."[11] The Chicago Tribune listed Rumble as one of the 20 best albums of 1988.[18]
AllMusic called "I'm Not Your Man" "as great a roots rocker as the late '80s produced, and reason enough for the group to get its shot at the big time."[10]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'm Not Your Man" | |
| 2. | "Half a Heart" | |
| 3. | "If We Never Meet Again" | |
| 4. | "Love's on Fire" | |
| 5. | "Workout" | |
| 6. | "I Wanna Make You Happy" | |
| 7. | "Everything They Say Is True" | |
| 8. | "Gonna Breakdown" | |
| 9. | "Tell Me What You Want Me to Be" | |
| 10. | "Walkin' on the Water" |
References edit
- ^ Healy, James (August 21, 1988). "Tommy Conwell & the Young Rumblers 'Rumble'". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. SD.
- ^ Takiff, Jonathan (9 Aug 1988). "'Rumble' on the Streets: Tommy Conwell Brings Back 'Heartland' Sound". Features Tonight. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 33.
- ^ Gallo, Phil (September 23, 1988). "Invasion of newcomers: Britny Fox, Young Rumblers, Bar-B-Q Killers". In Tune. New Haven Register.
- ^ Ellis, John (8 Sep 1988). "A Measure of Success". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. H6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7 ed.). Record Research Inc. p. 178.
- ^ Britt, Bruce (October 25, 1988). "Philly Stakes Its Musical Claim". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L17.
- ^ Morris, Chris (Nov 19, 1988). "Conwell Rumbles On". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 47. p. 25.
- ^ Willman, Chris (23 Oct 1988). "Tommy Conwell: A Regional Rumble Goes National". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 69.
- ^ a b Moon, Tom (8 Aug 1988). "A 'Rumble' of Rock and Blues". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E1.
- ^ a b "Rumble". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
- ^ a b McLeese, Don (August 29, 1988). "New Releases". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 25.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 158.
- ^ "Rock Rookies in the Big-League Bland". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ "Romping with the Rumblers". St. Petersburg Times. 18 Sep 1988. p. 2F.
- ^ Morse, Steve (24 Sep 1988). "Explosive Night at the Paradise". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 25.
- ^ Quill, Greg (9 Sep 1988). "Short Cuts". Toronto Star. p. D14.
- ^ Lepage, Mark (24 Nov 1988). "Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers". The Gazette. p. E3.
- ^ Silverman, David (18 Dec 1988). "Santa's Best". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 22.