Night People is an album by the American musician Lee Dorsey, released in 1978.[2][3] It was Dorsey's final studio album, although a few country-influenced tunes were recorded before his death in 1986.[3]
| Night People | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1978 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul, rock and roll | |||
| Label | ABC[1] | |||
| Producer | Allen Toussaint | |||
| Lee Dorsey chronology | ||||
| ||||
Although the album failed to chart, the title track peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.[4]
Production
editThe album was produced by Allen Toussaint, with whom Dorsey had collaborated many times over the years.[5] Toussaint also wrote the album's songs.[6] The producer used Chocolate Milk, a New Orleans band, as Dorsey's backup musicians.[7] Irma Thomas provided backing vocals.[8]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [9] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[10] |
| DownBeat | [8] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [11] |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | [12] |
Robert Christgau deemed the album "astonishingly listenable," writing that "Dorsey's subtle, small-scale rock and roll genre statement defines songwriter-producer Toussaint better than Toussaint the performer ever has."[10] Texas Monthly called the title track "a mad celebration of soul-stomping, pressure-cooking Crescent City spirit."[13] High Fidelity wrote that "Dorsey is in fine shape for the bouncy, frequently humorous songs."[7] The Gazette said that "the instrumentation is lively, brassy, and Dorsey's sophisticated soul vocalese shines bright."[14]
AllMusic called the album "a shade too slick, with hints of disco and a couple of rare mawkish misfires by Allen Toussaint."[9]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Say It Again" | 2:56 |
| 2. | "God Must Have Blessed America" | 3:37 |
| 3. | "Soul Mine" | 3:59 |
| 4. | "Keep on Doing It to Me" | 3:07 |
| 5. | "Thank You" | 3:24 |
| 6. | "Night People" | 4:20 |
| 7. | "Can I Be the One" | 4:33 |
| 8. | "Babe" | 3:48 |
| 9. | "Draining" | 4:24 |
References
edit- ^ "Lee Dorsey Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ The Da Capo Companion to 20th-Century Popular Music. Da Capo Press. 1995. p. 264.
- ^ a b "The Star in Creasy Overalls". Record Collector.
- ^ "Lee Dorsey". Billboard.
- ^ "Lee Dorsey, 59, Rock Singer Popular in the 50's and 60's". The New York Times. December 10, 1986.
- ^ "Signings". Billboard. Vol. 89, no. 51. Dec 24, 1977. p. 104.
- ^ a b Everett, Todd (June 1978). "Lee Dorsey: Night People". High Fidelity. Vol. 28, no. 6. pp. 133, 135.
- ^ a b "Lee Dorsey Night People". DownBeat. Vol. 45, no. 14. August 10, 1978. p. 40.
- ^ a b "Night People". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Lee Dorsey". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 91.
- ^ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 181.
- ^ Patoski, Joe Nick (May 1978). "On Record". Texas Monthly. Vol. 6, no. 6. p. 151.
- ^ "Soul still has quality". The Gazette. 4 Mar 1978. p. 29.