Nightflight is an album by the American musician Fenton Robinson, released in 1984.[1][2] It was first released in the Netherlands, under the title Blues In Progress.[3] Robinson supported the album with a North American tour.[4]
| Nightflight | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1984 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | Alligator | |||
| Producer | Fenton Robinson, Dick Shurman | |||
| Fenton Robinson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editThe album was produced by Robinson and Dick Shurman.[5] Robinson crooned and played jazz-influenced guitar on some of the album's songs.[6] Junior Wells played harmonica on "Can't Hold Out Much Longer".[7] Many of the songs describe situations set on the south side of Chicago.[8] "Sinner's Prayer" is a cover of the Lowell Fulson song.[9]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Robert Christgau | B[10] |
| MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide | [5] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [11] |
The New York Times called Nightflight one of the best blues albums of 1984, writing that Robinson's "guitar style has evolved from the aggressive, sharp attack of his 1950's Duke recordings to an understated, brooding, behind-the-beat approach, as if trying to push the pulse of the music."[12] Robert Christgau, in a roundabout way, praised Robinson's guitar playing while being less enthusiastic about his vocal style.[10] The Pittsburgh Press said that "the horn-backed arrangements add punch to Robinson's melodic guitar lines throughout."[7]
The Lansing State Journal determined that the album "sounds like the work of other big-bodied hollow-body-guitar players."[13] The Daily Press considered Nightflight to be the best blues album of 1984, writing that "Fenton is still the most underrated blues guitarist in the country."[14] The Morning Call opined that Robinson's "mellifluous voice melts easily with his controlled lead guitar work."[8] The Los Angeles Times labeled Nightflight "a satisfying collection of sophisticated modern blues."[15]
AllMusic deemed the album "another easy-going trip to the mellower side of contemporary blues."[9]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Found Out Yesterday" | |
| 2. | "Slow Walking" | |
| 3. | "Can't Hold Out Much Longer" | |
| 4. | "Nightflight" | |
| 5. | "The Feeling Is Gone" | |
| 6. | "Laundry Man" | |
| 7. | "Crazy, Crazy Lovin'" | |
| 8. | "I Lost My True Love" | |
| 9. | "Schoolboy" | |
| 10. | "Sinner's Prayer" |
References
edit- ^ MacDonald, Patrick (23 Jan 1987). "Mellow Bluesman Robinson Sings with Soul". Tempo. The Seattle Times. p. 4.
- ^ Iglauer, Bruce; Roberts, Patrick A. (2018). Bitten by the Blues: The Alligator Records Story. University of Chicago Press. p. 313.
- ^ Rubin, Dave (2007). Inside the Blues: 1942 to 1982. Hal Leonard. p. 162.
- ^ Moon, Tom (Nov 20, 1986). "On the Town". Miami Herald. p. 7B.
- ^ a b MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 311.
- ^ Kanzler, George (Jan 18, 1985). "Music that spawned rock is alive and kicking on these new records". The Salt Lake Tribune. Newhouse News Service. p. 10M.
- ^ a b White, Jim (Nov 7, 1984). "Fenton Robinson blends blues tradition with contemporary style". The Pittsburgh Press. p. E9.
- ^ a b Blangger, Tim (Dec 29, 1984). "Records". Weekender. The Morning Call. p. 68.
- ^ a b c "Nightflight Review by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Fenton Robinson". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. 2006. p. 550.
- ^ Palmer, Don (15 Sep 1985). "A Handful of Labels Preserve the Troubled Blues". The New York Times. p. A21.
- ^ Winkelstern, David (Nov 17, 1984). "Blues". Lansing State Journal. p. 10S.
- ^ "'Nightflight', Fenton Robinson". Daily Press. Dec 16, 1984. p. I3.
- ^ Snowdon, Don (Jan 27, 1985). "Record Rack". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 57.