Night People (Lee Dorsey album)
Night People | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1978 | |||
Genre | R&B, soul, rock and roll | |||
Label | ABC[1] | |||
Producer | Allen Toussaint | |||
Lee Dorsey chronology | ||||
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Night People is an album by the American musician Lee Dorsey, released in 1978.[2][3] It was Dorsey's final studio album, although a few country-influenced tunes were recorded before his death in 1986.[3]
Although the album failed to chart, the title track peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.[4]
Production
[edit]The album was produced by Allen Toussaint, with whom Dorsey had collaborated many times over the years.[5] Toussaint also wrote the album's songs.[6] The producer used Chocolate Milk, a New Orleans band, as Dorsey's backup musicians.[7] Irma Thomas provided backing vocals.[8]
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | A−[10] |
DownBeat | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau deemed the album "astonishingly listenable," writing that "Dorsey's subtle, small-scale rock and roll genre statement defines songwriter-producer Toussaint better than Toussaint the performer ever has."[10] Texas Monthly called the title track "a mad celebration of soul-stomping, pressure-cooking Crescent City spirit."[13] High Fidelity wrote that "Dorsey is in fine shape for the bouncy, frequently humorous songs."[7] The Gazette said that "the instrumentation is lively, brassy, and Dorsey's sophisticated soul vocalese shines bright."[14]
AllMusic called the album "a shade too slick, with hints of disco and a couple of rare mawkish misfires by Allen Toussaint."[9]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Say It Again" | 2:56 |
2. | "God Must Have Blessed America" | 3:37 |
3. | "Soul Mine" | 3:59 |
4. | "Keep on Doing It to Me" | 3:07 |
5. | "Thank You" | 3:24 |
6. | "Night People" | 4:20 |
7. | "Can I Be the One" | 4:33 |
8. | "Babe" | 3:48 |
9. | "Draining" | 4:24 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Lee Dorsey Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ The Da Capo Companion to 20th-Century Popular Music. Da Capo Press. 1995. p. 264.
- ^ a b "The Star in Creasy Overalls". Record Collector.
- ^ "Lee Dorsey". Billboard.
- ^ "Lee Dorsey, 59, Rock Singer Popular in the 50's and 60's". The New York Times. December 10, 1986.
- ^ "Signings". Billboard. Vol. 89, no. 51. Dec 24, 1977. p. 104.
- ^ a b Everett, Todd (June 1978). "Lee Dorsey: Night People". High Fidelity. Vol. 28, no. 6. pp. 133, 135.
- ^ a b "Lee Dorsey Night People". DownBeat. Vol. 45, no. 14. August 10, 1978. p. 40.
- ^ a b "Night People". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Lee Dorsey". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 91.
- ^ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 181.
- ^ Patoski, Joe Nick (May 1978). "On Record". Texas Monthly. Vol. 6, no. 6. p. 151.
- ^ "Soul still has quality". The Gazette. 4 Mar 1978. p. 29.