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That Woman Is Poison!

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That Woman Is Poison!
Studio album by
Released1988
GenreBlues, soul
Length36:57
LabelAlligator
ProducerBob Greenlee
Rufus Thomas chronology
Rappin' Rufus
(1986)
That Woman Is Poison!
(1988)
Can't Get Away from This Dog
(1992)

That Woman Is Poison! is an album by the American musician Rufus Thomas.[1][2] Originally recorded for King Snake Records, it was released in 1988 via Alligator Records.[3] Thomas was in his seventies when he made That Woman Is Poison![4]

Production

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The backing band was put together by Bob Greenlee, the owner of King Snake. The musicians included the saxophonist Noble "Thin Man" Watts and the harmonica player Lazy Lester.[5] That Woman Is Poison! was recorded in Sanford, Florida.[6] Thomas asked Robert Palmer to write the liner notes.[7] "The Walk" jokingly alludes to both Thomas's age and his previous dance hits "The Funky Chicken" and "Walking the Dog".[8]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[11]

The Chicago Reader thought that Thomas "grinds out his blues with a sweaty crunch that puts to shame men 30 years his junior, and his sense of humor is as wicked as ever."[3] The Crisis wrote that "Thomas uses a traditional blues sound, but struts his way through the vocals with a characteristic smirk."[12] The Edmonton Journal determined that Thomas's "voice still contains the same rich textures as in the past, yet it lacks a sense of urgency."[13]

The Globe and Mail called Thomas "still a great singer, with a full, throaty voice and a great sense of comic timing."[14] The Sun Sentinel praised the "blistering" original songs, and wrote that the "horn work and arrangements are first rate."[15] The Chicago Tribune concluded that, "despite his years, Thomas is in top voice and spirit as he blusters, struts, hams it up, deftly draws from both Memphis blues and soul."[8]

AllMusic deemed it "a masterful comeback album from a blues and soul veteran who was assumed to be ready for the retirement home."[9]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Rufus Thomas; except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."That Woman Is Poison!" 5:11
2."I Just Got to Know"Bob Geddins, Jimmy McCracklin3:20
3."Big Fine Hunk of Woman" 5:47
4."Blues in the Basement" 4:14
5."Somebody's Got to Go"Gatemouth Moore6:01
6."Breaking My Back" 6:02
7."The Walk"Jimmy McCracklin2:57
8."All Night Worker" 3:25

Personnel

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  • Rufus Thomas - vocals
  • Bryan Bassett, Ernie Lancaster - guitar
  • Louis Villery - bass guitar
  • Bob Greenlee - bass guitar, baritone saxophone
  • Lucky Peterson - keyboards
  • Danny Best - drums
  • Kenny Neal - harmonica
  • Noble "Thin Man" Watts - tenor saxophone solos
  • Lawson "Buzz" Montsinger - tenor saxophone
  • Sylvester Polk - trumpet

References

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  1. ^ "Obituary: Rufus Thomas". The Guardian. December 21, 2001. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Gordon, Robert (Mar 1989). "Funky Chicken". Spin. Vol. 4, no. 12. p. 15.
  3. ^ a b "Rufus Thomas That Woman Is Poison!". Chicago Reader. May 11, 1989. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Allen, Greg (December 30, 1988). "The Vinyl Word 1988's Best Rock, Pop, Country and Folk". The Press of Atlantic City. p. D7.
  5. ^ Emerson, Bo (14 Mar 1989). "At 71, 'Grandfather of Funk' still shakes a leg to wild dance tunes". Austin American-Statesman. p. D6.
  6. ^ Duffy, Thom (29 Jan 1989). "Rufus Thomas, That Woman Is Poison". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  7. ^ Trussell, Robert; McTavish, Brian (16 Dec 1988). "Thomas isn't retiring quite yet". The Kansas City Star. p. 22D.
  8. ^ a b Heim, Chris (17 Feb 1989). "Rufus Thomas, That Woman Is Poison". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 54.
  9. ^ a b "That Woman Is Poison!". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  10. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 139.
  11. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 703.
  12. ^ Otis, Lauren (Feb 1990). "The Blues: A Great American Legacy Moves Forward". The Crisis. Vol. 98, no. 2. p. 12.
  13. ^ Campbell, Rod (2 Apr 1989). "Record Reviews". Edmonton Journal. p. D2.
  14. ^ Dafoe, Chris (26 Jan 1989). "That Woman Is Poison! Rufus Thomas". The Globe and Mail. p. C10.
  15. ^ Wilker, Deborah (8 Jan 1989). "New Label, Terrific Album". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.