Charming Snakes
From Wikipedia - Reading time: 7 min
| Charming Snakes | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Jazz rock, jazz fusion | |||
| Length | 51:06 | |||
| Label | Private Music[1] | |||
| Producer |
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| Andy Summers chronology | ||||
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Charming Snakes is an album by the English musician Andy Summers.[2][3] It was released in 1990.[4] Summers promoted the album by opening the 1991 Montreal International Jazz Festival; he also played shows with John McLaughlin.[5][6]
Production
[edit]The album was produced by Summers and David Hentschel.[7] "Monk Gets Ripped" is a tribute to Thelonious Monk.[8] Herbie Hancock played on "Innocence Falls Prey" and "Big Thing".[9] Sting played bass on the title track.[10] Bill Evans played saxophone on many of the tracks.[11]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Calgary Herald | B−[13] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [14] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [7] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [15] |
The Calgary Herald wrote that "the shift to jazz from rock continues," and praised the "vibrant, fluid guitar."[13] The Washington Post determined that "Summers has progressed from the mood noodlings of his earlier solo recordings to solidly structured and arranged pieces."[8] The Dallas Morning News concluded that, "this time out, he eschews most of his synthpop inclinations and puts himself in a studio of consummate session players... This nearly traditional jazz format results in his most lyrical instrumental album so far."[16]
The Vancouver Sun noted that "the guitar is a little more frenetic, the bass faster paced, with strong jazz influences."[9] The Gazette lamented that "Summers couldn't write a catchy melody to save his life."[10]
AllMusic called the album "a strong jazz-rock statement," writing that "Summers's guitar covers the spectrum from in-your-face wailing leads to subtle background colorings, with much use of electronic effects."[12] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide considered it "Summers's first and best turn from ambient rock guitar noise to artful jazz fusion."[7]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Andy Summers.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mexico 1920" | Summers, David Hentschel | 4:00 |
| 2. | "Charming Snakes" | 5:14 | |
| 3. | "Big Thing" | Summers, Hentschel, Dennis Smith | 7:07 |
| 4. | "Rainmaker" | 6:18 | |
| 5. | "Charis" | 3:19 | |
| 6. | "Mickey Goes to Africa" | 4:53 | |
| 7. | "Innocence Falls Prey" | 2:45 | |
| 8. | "Passion of the Shadow" | 5:10 | |
| 9. | "Monk Gets Ripped" | 3:57 | |
| 10. | "Easy on the Ice" | Summers, Hentschel | 4:34 |
| 11. | "The Strong & the Beautiful" | Summers, Hentschel | 3:49 |
Personnel
[edit]- Andy Summers – guitars, slide guitar (6), banjo (6)
- Brian Auger – keyboards (1, 10, 11)
- David Hentschel – keyboards (2-4, 8-10), organ (6)
- Herbie Hancock – keyboards (2, 3, 7), acoustic piano intro solo (3)
- Doug Lunn – bass (1, 3, 4, 6-11), high bass (2)
- Sting – bass (2)
- Darryl Jones – bass (4)
- Chad Wackerman – drums (1-4, 6-11)
- Ed Mann – percussion (3, 4, 6, 8, 11)
- Bill Evans – soprano saxophone (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8), tenor saxophone (6, 7)
- Mark Isham – trumpet (4, 6, 9, 10)
Production
[edit]- David Hentschel – producer, recording, mixing
- Andy Summers – producer, mixing
- Jan Lucas – recording assistant
- Dennis Smith – recording assistant
- Brian Gardner – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
- Norman Moore – art direction, design
- Merlyn Rosenberg – photography
References
[edit]- ^ "Andy Summers". Trouser Press. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Andy Summers Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Milkowski, Bill (Jan 1991). "Record & CD Reviews — Charming Snakes by Andy Summers". DownBeat. Vol. 58, no. 1. p. 32.
- ^ McCann, Ian (Oct 1, 1990). "Rock: Andy Summers Charming Snakes". Vox. Vol. 1, no. 1. p. 80.
- ^ Lepage, Mark (27 June 1991). "Andy Summers comes in from the cold". The Gazette. p. D7.
- ^ DeVault, Russ (October 12, 1990). "Concert Preview". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. G1.
- ^ a b c MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1106.
- ^ a b Brace, Eric (26 Oct 1990). "Andy Summers". The Washington Post. p. C8.
- ^ a b Strachan, Alex (22 Nov 1990). "Charmed by Summers". Vancouver Sun. p. F21.
- ^ a b Wells, Paul (23 Feb 1991). "This musical label covers a multitude of styles, sins". The Gazette. p. D4.
- ^ Robicheau, Paul (25 Oct 1990). "Recordings". The Boston Globe. p. A6.
- ^ a b "Andy Summers Charming Snakes". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Obee, Dave (4 Oct 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F4.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 840.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 683.
- ^ Maurstad, Tom (October 13, 1990). "Arts Day". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.
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