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Sweet Potato Pie is an album by the American musician Robert Cray, released in 1997 through Mercury Records.[1][2] Cray produced the album.[3] It was recorded by John Hampton and Skidd Mills (who also did the mixing) at Ardent Studios, in Memphis, Tennessee. "Trick or Treat" is a cover of the Otis Redding song.[4]
Sweet Potato Pie | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1997 | |||
Recorded | Ardent, Memphis, Tennessee | |||
Genre | Blues, R&B | |||
Length | 47:13 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Producer | Robert Cray | |||
Robert Cray chronology | ||||
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Cray supported the album by touring with B. B. King.[5] Sweet Potato Pie peaked at No. 184 on the Billboard 200.[6] It was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Contemporary Blues Album".[7]
Critical reception
editReview scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [8] |
Chicago Tribune | [9] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [10] |
Los Angeles Daily News | [11] |
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide | [3] |
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [12] |
USA Today | [4] |
The Los Angeles Daily News noted that "the material here has a muscular '60s and '70s soul feel... Cray's vocals aren't just paying lip service to Southern r&b heroes O.V. Wright and James Carr."[11] USA Today said that "Cray sings mostly about love and loss, the band's bluesy sound punctuated by the Memphis Horns."[4] The Chicago Tribune concluded that most of the songs "are bland ballad or mid-tempo tunes that do little to distinguish themselves."[9]
Track listing
editAll tracks composed by Robert Cray; except where indicated
- "Nothing Against You" - 5:46
- "Do That for Me" - 4:26
- "Back Home" - 5:59
- "Save It" - 3:32 (bonus track; only on European edition)
- "The One in the Middle" (Jimmy Pugh) - 5:17
- "Little Birds" - 3:50
- "Trick or Treat" (Otis Redding) - 3:10
- "Simple Things" - 4:46
- "Jealous Minds" (Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Pugh) - 4:43
- "Not Bad for Love" - 7:12
- "I Can't Quit" - 5:04
Personnel
edit- Robert Cray – vocals, guitar
- Jimmy Pugh – keyboards
- Karl Sevareid – bass
- Kevin Hayes – drums
References
edit- ^ Dicaire, David (2015). More Blues Singers: Biographies of 50 Artists from the Later 20th Century. McFarland, Inc. p. 113.
- ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides. 1999. p. 228.
- ^ a b MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 95.
- ^ a b c Jones, Steve (6 May 1997). "R&B". USA Today. p. D4.
- ^ Newman, Melinda (Apr 12, 1997). "On the Road". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 15. p. 12.
- ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 23. Jun 7, 1997. p. 99.
- ^ "Robert Cray". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Sweet Potato Pie Review by Thom Owens". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ a b Kening, Dan (9 May 1997). "Robert Cray Sweet Potato Pie". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
- ^ a b Shuster, Fred (2 May 1997). "Sound Check". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L23.
- ^ Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
External links
edit- Sweet Potato Pie at Discogs (list of releases)