Preacher and the President

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Preacher and the President
Studio album by
Joe Louis Walker
Released1998
StudioMuscle Shoals Sound
GenreBlues
LabelVerve
ProducerSteve Cropper, Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker chronology
Great Guitars
(1997) 		Preacher and the President
(1998) 		Silvertone Blues
(1999)

Preacher and the President is an album by the American musician Joe Louis Walker, released in 1998 through Verve Records.[1][2] Walker supported the album with a North American tour, backed by the Bosstalkers.[3][4] The album was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award.[5]

Production[edit]

Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, the album was produced by Steve Cropper.[6][7] Walker wrote nine of the album's 10 songs.[8] He was backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.[9] The title track references Jimmy Swaggart and Bill Clinton.[10] "Uhh!" is a cover of the Dyke and the Blazers song.[11]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Age[12]
AllMusic[13]
Robert Christgau(neither)[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[15]
Knight RidderA[11]
The Tampa Tribune[16]

The Age opined that "Joe Louis demonstrates on the pleading 'Tell the Truth' and the profoundly emotional 'Yveline' why he is one of the few major blues finds of the past decade."[12] The Chicago Tribune wrote that, "if the vocals and fretwork on the LP smolder rather than sear, the soulful songcraft is still first-rate."[17] The Washington Post noted that the album "offers an appealing view of his extroverted showmanship and his considerable growth as a songwriter who knows how to provoke an audience's laughter and sympathy."[18]

The Toronto Star stated that "Walker's songwriting is fine, his fancy backup sophisticated."[19] The Chicago Reader concluded that Walker "approaches the suave urbanity of Al Green or Lionel Richie."[20] The Advocate deemed Walker "an American roots music master."[21] The Chicago Sun-Times listed Preacher and the President among the 10 best blues albums of 1998.[22]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Preacher and the President" 
2."Yveline" 
3."Repay My Love" 
4."I'm Not Messin' Around" 
5."Y&T" 
6."Lyin' in the Name of Love" 
7."Pride of a Fool" 
8."Uhh!" 
9."Tell the Truth" 
10."My Real Fantasy" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Joe Louis Walker and the Chicago Playboys". Time Out. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights. 9 Oct 1998. p. 4.
  2. ^ Trapp, Roger (10 Oct 1998). "Jazz & Blues". Features. The Independent. p. 45.
  3. ^ Johnson, Martin (29 Oct 1998). "NYC Nights". Newsday. p. C5.
  4. ^ Hill, Jack W. (October 4, 1998). "Songwriter strives for tunes that are honest, not preachy". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. p. E2.
  5. ^ Ellis, Bill (23 Jan 1999). "Contemporary Blues Album of the Year...". The Commercial Appeal. p. F1.
  6. ^ Robertson, Gail (6 Oct 1998). "Singer takes jab at hypocrites in high places". Windsor Star. p. B8.
  7. ^ Isaacson, David (24 Jan 1999). "New wine in the blues bottle". Arts. The Jerusalem Post. p. 8.
  8. ^ Point, Michael (21 Oct 1998). "Blues buddies Walker, Strehli team up". Austin American-Statesman. p. E7.
  9. ^ Leigh, Bill (Feb 1999). "Joe Louis Walker: Preacher and the President". Bass Player. 10 (2): 77.
  10. ^ Kinsman, Michael (September 10, 1998). "Blues". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 32.
  11. ^ a b Lawson, Terry (October 9, 1998). "Blues". Contra Costa Times. Knight Ridder. p. TO24.
  12. ^ a b Reilly, Terry (20 Dec 1998). "CD Reviews". Applause. The Age. p. 9.
  13. ^ "Preacher & The President Review by Becky Byrkit". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Joe Louis Walker". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 482.
  16. ^ Dunn, Michael (September 11, 1998). "Joe Louis Walker, Preacher and the President". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 17.
  17. ^ Reger, Rick (9 Oct 1998). "Joe Louis Walker, Friday at Buddy Guy's Legends". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 29.
  18. ^ Joyce, Mike (28 Oct 1998). "Joe Louis Walker". The Washington Post. p. D7.
  19. ^ Chapman, Geoff (26 Dec 1998). "Joe Louis Walker Preacher and the President". Entertainment. Toronto Star. p. 1.
  20. ^ Whiteis, David (October 8, 1998). "Joe Louis Walker". Chicago Reader.
  21. ^ Wirt, John (September 4, 1998). "Joe Louis Walker Preacher and the President Verve". Fun. The Advocate. p. 7.
  22. ^ Johnson, Jeff (December 27, 1998). "Banner year for the blues". Showcase. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 7.
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