Alligator (Leslie West album)

1989 studio album by Leslie West

Alligator

Studio album by

Leslie West

Released| 1989
Genre| Hard rock, heavy metal, blues rock
Length| 29:52
Label| I.R.S.
Producer| Leslie West, Paul Orofino
Leslie West chronology
| Theme
(1988)  | Alligator
(1989)  | Night of the Guitar – Live!
(1989)

|
|

Alligator is an album by the American musician Leslie West, released in 1989 on I.R.S. Records.[1][2] West supported the album by participating in the Guitar Speak and Night of the Guitars tours.[3][4]

## Production

[edit]

I.R.S. allowed West the freedom to make the album he wanted.[5] Stanley Clarke played bass on "Whiskey" and "All of Me".[6] Johnette Napolitano sang on the cover of Free's "The Stealer".[6] "I Put a Spell on You" is a cover of the Screamin' Jay Hawkins song.[7] The liner notes contain a recipe for alligator chili.[8]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [9]

The Province deemed the album "as patchy as any of his solo LPs but it highlights his recent work with a Casio guitar synthesizer and his fluid, crying style—a style still rooted in rock and blues that is different from voguish speed merchants."[10] The Chicago Sun-Times called it "an eclectic collection of songs that highlights West's deft electric guitar-playing skills and passion for unusual material."[11]

The Daily Breeze opined that the "'Hall of the Mountain King/Theme from Exodus' medley, one of the album's most painful episodes, sounds like it was accidentally recorded during a rehearsal."[12] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that "instrumentals 'Waiting for the F Change', 'Whiskey', 'All of Me' and 'Alligator' promise much, but West seems to lose concentration, grow bored or something."[13]

AllMusic wrote that West "plays some hot guitar here, of course, but then not as much as one might like, and he sings a lot here, too, perhaps more than one might like."[9]

## Track listing

[edit]

1. "Sea of Fire" (George Cintron) — 5:01
2. "Waiting for the F Change" (West) — 4:24
3. "Whiskey" (West) — 2:17
4. "Alligator" (West) — 3:23
5. "I Put a Spell on You" (Screamin' Jay Hawkins) — 4:12
6. "All of Me" (West) — 3:06
7. "The Stealer" (Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers, Paul Kossoff) — 2:17
8. "Hall of the Mountain King / Theme from Exodus" (Edvard Grieg/Ernest Gold) — 3:09
9. "Dream Lover" (Bobby Darin) — 2:03

## Personnel

[edit]

* Leslie West — guitar, bass guitar, vocals
* Steve Luongo — drums, percussion
* Jack Hotop — keyboards on "Alligator"
* Stanley Clarke — bass on "Whiskey" and "All of Me”
* Tony Miceli — keyboards on "Waiting for the F Change" and "I Put a Spell On You"
* Johnette Napolitano — vocals on "The Stealer"

## Credits

[edit]

* Producers — Leslie West and Paul Orofino
* Executive Producer — Miles Copeland III
* Engineers — Paul Orofino, Carl Davino and Judd Levison (Stanley Clarke overdubs at Devonshire Studios, N. Hollywood only)
* Mastering — Ron McMaster
* Direction — Stevo Glendinning

## References

[edit]

1. ^ MacInnis, Craig (31 Oct 1989). "250-pounder gives term heavy metal his own definition". Toronto Star. p. C3.
2. ^ Robins, Wayne (5 Nov 1989). "He's Been to the Mountain: Heavy-metal pioneer Leslie West is still rocking hard, watching his health...". Part II. Newsday. p. 13.
3. ^ Washburn, Jim (6 Feb 1990). "Leslie West Takes His Music, Not Himself, Seriously". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
4. ^ Thompson, Bob (November 1, 1989). "Still Climbing". Entertainment. Toronto Sun. p. 77.
5. ^ Eichenberger, Bill (January 19, 1990). "Undaunted, West Works Way Up Another Mountain". The Columbus Dispatch. p. 9D.
6. ^ a b Bourke, Brian G. (October 15, 1989). "New Music". Stars. Syracuse Herald American. p. 28.
7. ^ Scott, Jane (January 19, 1990). "Old song lifts Mountain man". The Plain Dealer.
8. ^ "This Week in the Arts". The Columbus Dispatch. January 14, 1990. p. 3H.
9. ^ a b "Alligator Review by Steve Leggett". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
10. ^ Harrison, Tom (11 Mar 1990). "Putting primary voice of rock in the spotlight". Entertainment. The Province. p. 87.
11. ^ Kim, Jae-Ha (January 26, 1990). "West's still a Mountain of a musician". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 31.
12. ^ Tranfa, Anthony D. (January 26, 1990). "'Alligator', Leslie West". Daily Breeze. p. E10.
13. ^ Hawkins, Robert J. (February 2, 1990). "Another Cream Mix?". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C2.