Texas Sugar/Strat Magik

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Texas Sugar/Strat Magik
Studio album by
Chris Duarte
Released1994
StudioBad Animals
LabelSilvertone[1]
ProducerDennis Herring
Chris Duarte chronology
Chris Duarte & The Bad Boys
(1987) 		Texas Sugar/Strat Magik
(1994) 		Tailspin Headwhack
(1997)

Texas Sugar/Strat Magik is an album by the American musician Chris Duarte, credited to the Chris Duarte Group.[2][3] It was released in 1994.[4] Duarte promoted the album by playing shows with the Radiators, Bad Company, and Neil Zaza, among others; the Chris Duarte Group also toured Australia, Europe, and Japan.[5][6][7][8]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Dennis Herring.[9] Brannen Temple and John Jordan played, respectively, drums and bass on the album.[10] The album title, which was chosen by Silvertone, refers to Duarte's preference in guitars, and is also a reference to Blood Sugar Sex Magik.[11][6][12]

"Shiloh" is a tribute to Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan.[13] "Just Kissed My Baby" is a cover of the Meters' song.[14] "Letter to My Girlfriend" is a cover of the Guitar Slim song.[15]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
Calgary HeraldA[17]
Chicago Tribune[18]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[19]
The Indianapolis Star[6]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[20]

The Calgary Herald wrote that Duarte "drags the late Stevie Ray Vaughan's chops through the dirt and cooks them over smokin' bonfires that light the firmament with blues power."[17] The Ottawa Citizen noted that, "with Duarte's tight, punchy band, his gritty Hendrixian vocals and a flashy but light-fingered style, blues-rock fans can't go wrong with Texas Sugar/Strat Majik."[21] The Dallas Morning News concluded that the album illustrates "the limited triumphs and triumphant limitations of bar-band music."[22]

The Chicago Tribune opined that, "for all his technique and showmanship, Duarte still sounds too much like a Vaughan disciple."[18] The St. Petersburg Times likewise determined that "certain moments on Duarte's latest album make you wish that some of the late giant's patented riffs had been declared part of his estate when he died."[23] The Times thought that the album has "a raw immediacy which is rarely captured on contemporary blues recordings."[24]

AllMusic wrote that Duarte "fails to come up with any memorable songs, although he does contribute several competent, unexceptional genre pieces—but as an instrumentalist, he's first-rate, spitting out solos with a blistering intensity or laying back with gentle, lyrical phrases."[16] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide praised "Shiloh", but concluded that "other than that, Texas Sugar lacks a few dozen degrees of vitality."[20]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."My Way Down" 
2."Letter to My Girlfriend" 
3."C-Butt Rock" 
4."Just Kissed My Baby" 
5."Shiloh" 
6."Scrawl" 
7."What Can I Do?" 
8."Big-Legged Woman" 
9."Borrowed Love" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gregory, Hugh (May 18, 2003). Roadhouse Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Texas R&B. Hal Leonard Corporation.
  2. ^ Koster, Rick (May 8, 2000). Texas Music. Macmillan.
  3. ^ Komara, Edward M. (May 18, 2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Taylor & Francis US.
  4. ^ "Chris Duarte Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  5. ^ Dickinson, Chris (17 Feb 1995). "Other concerts of note". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. P.
  6. ^ a b c Konz, Joe (11 June 1995). "Chris Duarte Group 'Texas Sugar/Strat Magik'". The Indianapolis Star. p. I4.
  7. ^ "Taste of Texas sugar". Go!. Dayton Daily News. 10 Mar 1995. p. 3.
  8. ^ Sherman, Jim (December 29, 1994). "That Indefinable Something – Chris Duarte brings a retro energy to rockin' blues and bluesy rock". Music. Houston Press.
  9. ^ The Encyclopedia of Record Producers. Billboard Books. 1999. p. 319.
  10. ^ Asakawa, Gil (9 Dec 1994). "Blues with an Attitude". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. AA13.
  11. ^ "Chris Duarte gets 'in your face'". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. June 23, 1995.
  12. ^ Thompson, Stephen (12 Oct 1995). "Clubs Offer Little Bit of Everything for All". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 8.
  13. ^ "Duarte's 'Magik' axe". XL ENT. Austin American-Statesman. 1 Dec 1994. p. 5.
  14. ^ Krewen, Nick (1 Dec 1994). "Chris Duarte Group Texas Sugar/Strat Magik". Ego. The Hamilton Spectator. p. 4.
  15. ^ Sorg, Lisa (October 13, 1995). "Audibles". The Herald-Times.
  16. ^ a b "Texas Sugar/Strat Magik". AllMusic.
  17. ^ a b Buckingham, Brooker (4 Dec 1994). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  18. ^ a b Kot, Greg (28 Oct 1994). "Guy Anxiety". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 5.
  19. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 139.
  20. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 366.
  21. ^ Saxberg, Lynn (10 Dec 1994). "Chris Duarte Group Texas Sugar/Strat Magik". Ottawa Citizen. p. E3.
  22. ^ Weitz, Matt (May 21, 1995). "Chris Duarte Group Texas Sugar Strat Magik". The Dallas Morning News. p. 8C.
  23. ^ Green, Tony (11 Nov 1994). "The guitars have it". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 24.
  24. ^ Sinclair, David (March 17, 1995). "Chris Duarte Group Texas Sugar/Strat Magik". Features. The Times.
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