THE CHRISTGAU CONSUMER GUIDE
David Bromberg: “Wanted Dead or Alive” (Columbia). Any Jewish boy with glasses who makes his living doing Blind Willie McTell imitations had better remember his place. Hence, this key line: “When I got up this morning I had Someone Else’s Blues.”
David Bromberg: “Wanted Dead or Alive” (Columbia). Any Jewish boy with glasses who makes his living doing Blind Willie McTell imitations had better remember his place. Hence, this key line: “When I got up this morning I had Someone Else’s Blues.” He always could play, and now that he no longer takes his voice seriously the fact that it sounds funny is an extra added'attraction. B plus.
Toni Brown: “Good For You, Too” (MCA). In which the former co-auteur of Joy jai Cooking finds happiness and loses her music. C minus.
Larry Coryell: “The 11th House” (Vanguard). Another attempt at real jazzrock by the man a lot of people think is the best guitarist in the world. Thin and contrived at times, but more often multi-layered and hard, with no mystical bullshit. B plus.
The Credibility Gap: “A Great Gift Idea” (Reprise). The best writing on any comedy record since “Don’t Crush That Dwarf,” sometimes flattened by inadequate acting. But the 15-minute Johnny Carson spoof is perfect, the ultimate expose of a subject you thought didn’t need it. A minus.