Tall, Dark, And Handsome

by Delbert McClinton

Overview

Retaining the Self-Made Men but adding saxophonist Dana Robbins, the jumping outfit he unveiled on the 2017 album Prick of the Litter, Delbert McClinton shakes things up for the swinging set Tall, Dark, And Handsome. Where Prick of the Litter settled into a mellow vibe, Tall, Dark, And Handsome is bold and restless, finding McClinton trying on all manner of blues for size. Naturally, most of this blues could claim Texas as its home, whether it's the T-Bone blare of "Mr. Smith," the greasy twang of "If I Hock My Guitar," or the woozy Latin accents on "Gone to Mexico." In McClinton's hands, this genre-hopping -- which also includes a bit of smoky jazz on "Any Other Way" and down-and-dirty funk on "Let's Get Down Like We Used To" -- sounds unified, all stemming from the same crossroads of blues, rock & roll, and country. It also sounds like a rollicking good time, a party that doesn't stop until the end, when the album closes with the spare, creepy "Temporary Insane," but even that moment of eeriness gets punctured by the offhand coda "A Poem." Such a casual switch in tone illustrates how Tall, Dark, And Handsome is the work of a master stylist, a musician who draws upon old, familiar sounds and creates something idiosyncratic and soulful in equal measure. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	07/26/2019
Label:	Hot Shot Records
UPC:	0644216810017
Rank:	86685

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Delbert McClinton   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Bob Britt   Guitar,Mandolin,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Robert Bailey   Vocals (Background)
Kevin McKendree   Piano,Guitar,Mellotron,Vocals (Background)
Pat McLaughlin   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
James Pennebaker   Guitar
Vicki Hampton   Vocals (Background)
Jack Bruno   Drums
Wendy Moten   Vocals (Background)
Roy Agee   Trombone
Jim Hoke   Clarinet,Accordion,Saxophone,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Glenn Worf   Bass
Yates McKendree   Guitar
Stuart Duncan   Violin
Dennis Wage   Piano,Wurlitzer
Michael Joyce   Bass
Quentin Ware   Trumpet
Dana Robbins   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Joe Maher   Drums,Percussion
Delaney McClinton   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Bob Britt   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Kevin McKendree   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Pat McLaughlin   Composer
Al Anderson   Composer
Yates McKendree   Engineer
Delbert McClinton   Composer,Producer
Jim DeMain   Mastering
Dennis Wage   Composer
Michael Joyce   Composer
Fetzer Design   Design,Art Direction