A.C. Reed [extended]
- Take These Blues and Shove 'Em [Ice Cube, 1982]
B+
- I'm in the Wrong Business [Alligator, 1987]
B+
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Consumer Guide Reviews:
A.C. Reed & His Spark Plugs: Take These Blues and Shove 'Em [Ice Cube, 1982]
The crudest blues album anybody's made on purpose since Hound Dog Taylor died allows this saxophone player to sing--about needing a day job. Unlike his sometime leader Albert Collins, Reed doesn't stand a chance of knocking you over with his chops, which he knows. Unlike his noncousin Jimmy (whose tunes and harp parts he's wont to lift), he's far from certain to win you over with his slurs, either. This he may not know. But his earthiness is down-and-dirty enough to ensure that he'll come close. B+
I'm in the Wrong Business [Alligator, 1987]
Title boast to the contrary, Reed has a commercial knack--he knows how to distinguish himself from competing bluesmen, more gifted ones included. His specialty is novelty lyrics like the title boast, here augmented by "Fast Food Annie" and "Don't Drive Drunk." Reparations from Stevie Ray Vaughan don't hurt either. B+
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