Midnight Lady Called the Blues
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| Midnight Lady Called the Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1986 | |||
| Label | Muse[1] | |||
| Producer | Doc Pomus, Dr. John | |||
| Jimmy Witherspoon chronology | ||||
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Midnight Lady Called the Blues is an album by the American musician Jimmy Witherspoon, released in 1986.[2][3] It was recorded shortly after Witherspoon recovered from throat cancer.[4] Midnight Lady Called the Blues was dedicated to Big Joe Turner.[5] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male".[6]
The album was cowritten and coproduced by Doc Pomus and Dr. John; it was allegedly recorded in eight hours.[7][8][9] It was the first time that Witherspoon had songs written explicitly for him.[10] Hank Crawford played saxophone on the album.[9] Bernard Purdie played drums.[11]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [13] |
| MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide | [14] |
The Miami Herald determined that, "while Witherspoon is responsible for the blues vibrations in the studio, every musician shines in support."[9] The Washington Post called Midnight Lady Sings the Blues "one of the grittiest R&B albums he's ever made."[11] Cash Box deemed it "a saucy, creamy, steamy LP."[15] Glenn O'Brien in Spin found it "a powerfully soulful, mature record from a singer, two songwriters, and a great band, all at the height of their achievement."[16]
AllMusic wrote that "the spirited set has more than its share of interesting and exciting moments despite the obscurity of the material."[12] The Guardian noted that the album "gave [Witherspoon's] admirers almost unalloyed satisfaction, thanks partly to sympathetic collaborators, but chiefly to his sheer professionalism."[17] MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide dismissed it as "bland, uninspired."[14]