Mighty Earthquake and Hurricane

Mighty Earthquake and Hurricane
Studio album by
Willie Dixon
Released1984
GenreBlues
LabelPausa[1]
ProducerWillie Dixon
Willie Dixon chronology
What Happened to My Blues
(1976) 		Mighty Earthquake and Hurricane
(1984) 		Willie Dixon: Live (Backstage Access)
(1985)

Mighty Earthquake and Hurricane is an album by the American blues musician Willie Dixon, released in 1984.[2][3] Dixon supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Production

The album was recorded in California, with most of it finished by 1982.[5][6] Dixon is backed by his Chicago All-Stars.[7] Typical of Dixon's writing, the album addresses topical issues such as religious dogma ("Pie in the Sky") and nuclear war ("It Don't Make Sense (You Can't Make Peace").[8] Dixon called the latter song his favorite of all the ones that he had written.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[11]
Quad-City TimesB−[12]

The Globe and Mail wrote that "the music, with the honky-tonk flourishes of piano player Lafayette Leak, and the solemn wail of harmonica player Billy Branch, is consistently engaging."[8] The Quad-City Times determined that the album "lacks the reckless spontaneity of his better groups."[12]

AllMusic deemed it a "decent modern album by the prolific legend."[10]

Cover versions

Soon after the album's release, Tina Turner added a cover version of the title track to her live set.[8] "Flamin' Mamie" was covered by Koko Taylor on Queen of the Blues, released in 1985.[13]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Earthquake and Hurricane" 
2."It Don't Make Sense (You Can't Make Peace)" 
3."After Five Long Years" 
4."Everything's Got a Time" 
5."Wigglin' Worm" 
6."Flamin' Mamie" 
7."Grave Digger Blues" 
8."Pie in the Sky" 

References

  1. ^ Komara, Edward M. (November 19, 2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415926997.
  2. ^ Inaba, Mitsutoshi (November 19, 2011). Willie Dixon: Preacher of the Blues. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810869936.
  3. ^ "Bug Buddies". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 38. Oct 6, 1984. p. 58.
  4. ^ Perry, Jonathan (Aug 23, 1984). "Blues legend coming to town". Daily Hampshire Gazette. p. 26.
  5. ^ Floyd Jr., Samuel A., ed. (1999). International Dictionary of Black Composers. Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN 1884964273.
  6. ^ "End of the (touring) road nears for blues great Willie Dixon". Courier News. Jan 29, 1982. p. B2.
  7. ^ Pareles, Jon (30 Jan 1992). "Willie Dixon, Musician, 76, Dies; Singer and Writer of Classic Blues". The New York Times. p. B9.
  8. ^ a b c Lacey, Liam (23 Aug 1984). "Mighty Earthquake and Hurricane Willie Dixon and the Chicago All-Stars". The Globe and Mail. p. E5.
  9. ^ Garabedian, Steven (July 2015). "'It Don't Make Sense': Willie Dixon, the Blues, War, and Peace". Peace & Change. 40 (3): 287. doi:10.1111/pech.12131.
  10. ^ a b "Mighty Earthquake & Hurricane". AllMusic.
  11. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 37.
  12. ^ a b "Willie Dixon Mighty Earthquake and Hurricane". Quad-City Times. Go!. May 17, 1984. p. 21.
  13. ^ Salter, Rosa (16 Aug 1985). "Koko Taylor's Mainstream Blues". The Morning Call. p. D1.