Mugzy's Move

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Mugzy's Move
Studio album by
Royal Crown Revue
Released1996
GenreSwing revival[1]
LabelWarner Bros.[2]
ProducerTed Templeman
Royal Crown Revue chronology
Kings of Gangster Bop
(1991) 		Mugzy's Move
(1996) 		Caught in the Act
(1997)

Mugzy's Move is an album by the American band Royal Crown Revue, released in 1996.[3][4] The album cover art was inspired by classic pulp fiction.[5]

The album peaked at No. 11 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart.[6] The band supported Mugzy's Move by touring with the Pretenders.[7]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Ted Templeman, who had also signed Royal Crown Revue.[8][9][10] The band recorded it as a septet.[11] The lyrics were inspired by frontman Eddie Nichols's love of mid-20th century crime movies and novels.[12]

"Beyond the Sea" is a cover of the song made famous by Bobby Darin.[13] "Honey Child" is a version of the Willie Dixon song.[14] "Hey Pachuco!", which was met with questions related to cultural appropriation, was first heard on the soundtrack to The Mask.[15][16] "Datin' with No Dough" is an autobiographical song.[17]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[18]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]
The Florida Times-UnionA−[19]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[9]
Orange County Register[20]
The Province[21]

The Province wrote: "A self-conscious collision (or collusion?) of film noir, pulp fiction and big band swing, Royal Crown Revue are Kansas City rhythm and blues out of sync and out of time but enormously entertaining."[21] The Florida Times-Union deemed Mugzy's Move "a great recording with a swinging big band sound that can match the energy of any act today."[19] The Orange County Register concluded that "if there's a flaw, it's that singer Eddie Nichols' voice doesn't have the requisite range and suave soulfulness."[20]

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin called the album "a refreshingly original musical journey through the seedier side of the SoCal scene—retro but contemporary."[22] The Baltimore Sun noted the "energetic, muscular sound, thoroughly grounded in California zoot suit culture."[1] The Advocate opined that "for all its hep cat energy, attitude and chops, Royal Crown Revue's retro-swing-bop comes off like an imitation of an imitation."[23]

AllMusic wrote: "Although the band is energetic and proficient, their cutesey originals and campy album art give their music an aura of being some sort of kitschy joke."[18]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Hey Pachuco!" 
2."Zip Gun Pop" 
3."Mugzy's Move" 
4."I Love the Life I Live" 
5."The Walkin' Blues" 
6."Beyond the Sea" 
7."Park's Place" 
8."Datin' with No Dough" 
9."Trouble in Tinsel Town" 
10."Topsy" 
11."The Rise and Fall of the Great Mondello" 
12."Honey Child" 
13."Hey Pachuco! (Reprise)" 
14."Barflies at the Beach" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Considine, J.D. (25 June 1998). "Swinging singing". LIV. The Baltimore Sun. p. 4.
  2. ^ Pener, Degen (June 27, 2009). The Swing Book. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316076678 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Tomashoff, Craig (Jul 8, 1996). "Mugzy's Move". People. 46 (2): 23.
  4. ^ Poet, J. (Dec 1996). "Mugzy's Move". Wired. Vol. 4, no. 12. p. 270.
  5. ^ Partridge, Kenneth (September 14, 2021). Hell of a Hat: The Rise of '90s Ska and Swing. Penn State Press. ISBN 9780271090535 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Royal Crown Revue". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Royal Crown Revue". NPR.
  8. ^ Horak, Terri (Jun 15, 1996). "Royal Crown Revue updates big-band sound on Warner". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 24. p. 13.
  9. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 960.
  10. ^ Kumin, Daniel (May 1998). "Ted Templeman". Stereo Review. 63 (5): 60.
  11. ^ Rollins, Ron (30 June 1996). "MUSIC: LOCAL KID PUTS ON A SHOW, HITS BIG TIME". Dayton Daily News. p. 1C.
  12. ^ Matsumoto, Jon (8 Aug 1996). "For Royal Revue, Jump-Jive Is the Crowning Glory". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  13. ^ Findlay, Prentiss (20 June 1996). "Grab your zoot suit and prepare to swing". The Post and Courier. p. E2.
  14. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 168.
  15. ^ Weitz, Matt (July 4, 1996). "Hey, Pachuco! - Retro rascality or cultural imperialism?". Music. Dallas Observer.
  16. ^ Thomas, Rebecca (4 Oct 1996). "ROYAL CROWN REVUE". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  17. ^ Peterson, Karla (November 7, 1996). "Swingtime! – Royal Crown Revue's retro stylings set music scene on its era". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 4.
  18. ^ a b "Royal Crown Revue - Mugzy's Move Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  19. ^ a b Faulkner, Mark (30 July 1997). "Royal Crown Revue jazzes it up". The Florida Times-Union. p. C5.
  20. ^ a b Darling, Cary (July 5, 1996). "SOUND CHECK". Orange County Register. p. F53.
  21. ^ a b Harrison, Tom (16 Jan 1997). "ROYAL CROWN REVUE: Mugzy's Move". The Province. p. B19.
  22. ^ Berger, John (29 Jan 1998). "Warped: Polo field hosts music and skateboarding extravaganza". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
  23. ^ Wirt, John (June 28, 1996). "ROYAL CROWN REVUE Mugzy's Move". Fun. The Advocate. p. 7.
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