Hard Times in the Land of Plenty
1987 studio album by Omar & the Howlers
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Hard Times in the Land of Plenty is an album by the American band Omar & the Howlers, released in 1987.[1][2] It was their first album for major label.[3] The title track peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart and appeared in the film Like Father Like Son.[4][5] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[6] Hard Times in the Land of Plenty was sometimes included with "heartland rock" albums of the 1980s that addressed worsening economic conditions in the United States.[7]
| Hard Times in the Land of Plenty | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Blues rock, Southern rock, heartland rock | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Richard Mullen | |||
| Omar & the Howlers chronology | ||||
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Production
The album was produced by Richard Mullen.[8] It was recorded by the band as a power trio, with the Howlers adding a keyboardist prior to touring.[9] Unlike many blues rock players of the time, frontman Omar Dykes preferred power chords over one-note guitar solos.[10] His primary vocal influence was Howlin' Wolf.[11] The title track bemoans the rise of poverty in the United States during the 1980s.[12]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [13] |
| MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide |  [8] |
| The Windsor Star | B−[14] |
The Houston Chronicle praised Omar's "often fanciful and reverberating guitar chops and his always sly and dangerous vocals, which alternate between a smokey hoarseness and a Howlin' Wolf-styled lowdown growl."[15] The Sun-Sentinel concluded that, "despite the rather monotonous stylings of the 10 original songs, Omar's silty, root-bound rasp overcomes the flaws and makes this one of the better party albums to appear in awhile."[16] The Vancouver Sun noted that "they all look like bikers, and sound like it as well, rolling out savage roadhouse R&B and swamp boogie that'll be roarin' from car stereos for years to come."[12]
The Boston Globe opined that the band "are true songwriters, not just boogie merchants along the lines of Southern rock oldsters like Molly Hatchet or Wet Willie."[17] The Toronto Star deemed the album "non-nonsense, thoughtful, intelligent yet fiery rock 'n' roll."[18] The Windsor Star said that "Omar's voice could prepare car bodies for the primer coat, and the shuffle never quits."[14] USA Today listed Hard Times in the Land of Plenty among the best pop albums of 1987.[19]
AllMusic called the album "a rough and tumble collection that is driven as much by fine original songwriting as it is by the band's edgy sound."[13]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hard Times in the Land of Plenty" | 3:54 |
| 2. | "Dancing in the Canebrake" | 4:34 |
| 3. | "Border Girl" | 3:36 |
| 4. | "Mississippi Hoo Doo Man" | 3:54 |
| 5. | "Don't Rock Me the Wrong Way" | 3:30 |
| 6. | "Same Old Grind" | 2:28 |
| 7. | "Don't You Know" | 3:46 |
| 8. | "You Ain't Foolin' Nobody" | 2:30 |
| 9. | "Shadow Man" | 3:43 |
| 10. | "Lee Anne" | 5:11 |