Fear No Evil (Robert Ward album)
Fear No Evil | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1991 | |||
Genre | Blues, soul | |||
Label | Black Top | |||
Producer | Hammond Scott | |||
Robert Ward chronology | ||||
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Fear No Evil is an album by the American musician Robert Ward, released in 1991.[1][2] He is credited with his band, the Black Top All-Stars.[3] Ward supported the album with a North American tour.[4] Ann Peebles covered the title track on her 1992 album, Full Time Love.[5]
Production
[edit]Recorded in New Orleans, Fear No Evil was produced by Hammond Scott.[6][7] Ward used a pronounced tremolo in his guitar playing.[8] George Porter Jr. played bass on the album.[9] Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff led the horn section.[10] Some songs dated to Ward's Ohio Untouchables days.[11] Ward's wife, Roberta, sang on "Strictly Reserved for You".[12]
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | A−[14] |
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Philadelphia Inquirer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
USA Today called Ward "an overlooked virtuoso."[16] OffBeat considered Fear No Evil "one of the great soul discs of recent years."[17] The Chicago Tribune wrote that it "crackles with funky, Memphis soul arrangements, gospel-blues vocals ... and, most of all, Ward's distinctive guitar playing."[12] Robert Christgau considered Ward to be "a better-than-average writer, a hooky arranger, and a sneaky soloist you remember for the wobbly sound of his Magnatone amp alone."[14]
The New York Times determined that "the percussive urgency of '60s soul and '70s funk ... fuels Robert Ward's superb Fear No Evil."[9] The Commercial Appeal praised the "jovial quips" and "explosive solos."[18] The Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph listed Fear No Evil among the 10 best albums of 1991.[19]
AllMusic deemed Fear No Evil "one of the classic blues/soul albums of the '90s."[13]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Your Love Is Amazing" | |
2. | "Born to Entertain" | |
3. | "Forgive Me Darling" | |
4. | "Your Love Is Real" | |
5. | "Something for Nothing" | |
6. | "Fear No Evil" | |
7. | "Trying My Best (Not to Never Do Wrong)" | |
8. | "Strictly Reserved for You" | |
9. | "So Tired of Wandering" | |
10. | "Blessings" | |
11. | "Newborn Music" | |
12. | "K-Po-Kee" | |
13. | "Lord Have Mercy on Me" | |
14. | "Dry Spell" |
References
[edit]- ^ Oulette, Dan (Jun 1991). "Fear No Evil by Robert Ward". DownBeat. Vol. 58, no. 6. p. 38.
- ^ Santelli, Robert (Sep 5, 1991). "Fear No Evil by Robert Ward". Rolling Stone. No. 612. p. 92.
- ^ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (27 Apr 1991). "Reviews". Scene. Courier Journal. p. 10.
- ^ McLeese, Don (28 Jan 1992). "Influential guitarist Robert Ward raises profile again". Austin American-Statesman. p. D6.
- ^ Robins, Wayne (12 June 1992). "Ann Peebles: Back in the Spotlight". Weekend. Newsday. p. 94.
- ^ a b DeLuca, Dan (7 Jul 1991). "Robert Ward, Tom Petty and Luigi Rossi's 'Orfeo'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 5L.
- ^ "Robert Ward Biography by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ Wald, Elijah (9 May 1991). "Recordings". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 8.
- ^ a b Fricke, David (4 Aug 1991). "Son Seals and Robert Ward invest their music with an indomitable pride". The New York Times. p. H19.
- ^ Dollar, Steve (10 Aug 1991). "Blues". Weekend. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. 22.
- ^ a b MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 383.
- ^ a b c Kot, Greg (20 June 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
- ^ a b "Fear No Evil Review by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Robert Ward and the Black Top All-Stars". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 681.
- ^ Gundersen, Edna (24 Apr 1991). "Robert Ward, Fear No Evil". USA Today. p. 4D.
- ^ Fry, Macon (May 1991). "Robert Ward, Fear No Evil". Reviews. OffBeat.
- ^ Wynn, Ron (12 Apr 1991). "Recordings". The Commercial Appeal. p. E19.
- ^ Okamoto, David (27 Dec 1991). "Old, familiar faces make top albums". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D2.