Blak and Blu

2012 album by Gary Clark, Jr.

Blak and Blu

Studio album by

Gary Clark Jr.

Released| October 22, 2012
Recorded| 2011–2012
Genre|

* Blues rock
* neo-soul
* R&B
* hard rock

Length| 66:55
Label| Warner Bros.
Producer|

* Gary Clark Jr.
* Mike Elizondo
* Rob Cavallo
* Tim Kelley

Gary Clark Jr. chronology
|  | Blak and Blu
(2012)  | Gary Clark Jr. Live
(2014)

|
|

Singles from  Blak and Blu

1. "Ain't Messin 'Round"
Released: September 18, 2012
2. "Numb"
Released: October 2, 2012

Blak and Blu is the major-label debut studio album by American musician Gary Clark Jr., released on October 22, 2012.[1] The album touches on a wide variety of traditionally black music genres, including soul ("Please Come Home"), hip-hop/R&B ("The Life"), Chuck Berry-esque rock and roll ("Travis County"), and Clark's trademark, blues ("When My Train Pulls In", "Numb", "Next Door Neighbor Blues").

Blak and Blu netted Clark his first two Grammy Award nominations, one for Best Rock Song ("Ain't Messin Round") and the other for Best Traditional R&B Performance ("Please Come Home") which won. This marked the first time that an artist was nominated in both categories in the same year.[2] It peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 album chart, and number one on the Blues Albums chart.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Allmusic| [3]
Chicago Tribune| [4]
Antiquiet| [5]
Ventvox| [6]
Rolling Stone| [7]
Sputnikmusic| [8]

Blak and Blu was awarded a three-and-a-half star rating by Rolling Stone and was listed at No. 27 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, in which the author said "Clark's brain-frying guitar solos are more about noise nuance and phrasing than speed-trial note-spitting."[9][10] The Chicago Tribune gave the album a 2.5 out of 4 review, stating that the album lacked cohesiveness and consistency due to the wide variety of genres featured.[11]

In 2013, Blak and Blu was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Contemporary Blues Album' category.[12]

## Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Gary Clark Jr., except as noted.

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Ain't Messin 'Round"|  | 4:09
2.| "When My Train Pulls In"|  | 7:45
3.| "Blak and Blu"| Gary Clark Jr., Gil Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson, Don Robey| 4:06
4.| "Bright Lights"|  | 5:24
5.| "Travis County"|  | 3:38
6.| "The Life"|  | 5:05
7.| "Glitter Ain't Gold (Jumpin' for Nothin')"| Gary Clark Jr., Doyle Bramhall II, Justin Stanley, Ali Tamposi, Mike Elizondo| 4:18
8.| "Numb"|  | 5:26
9.| "Please Come Home"|  | 4:16
10.| "Things Are Changin'"|  | 3:59
11.| "Third Stone from the Sun/If You Love Me Like You Say"| Jimi Hendrix, Little Johnny Taylor| 9:37
12.| "You Saved Me"|  | 6:11
13.| "Next Door Neighbor Blues"|  | 3:01
Total length:| 66:55

Deluxe version bonus tracks[13]No.| Title| Length

|
|

14.| "Breakdown"| 4:11
15.| "Soul"| 6:15

## Blak and Blu The Mixtape

[edit]

Blak and Blu The Mixtape

Mixtape by

Gary Clark Jr. presented by D-Nice

Released| April 30, 2014 (2014-04-30)
Recorded| 2013–2014
Genre| Hip hop, R&B, pop, indie pop
Producer| D-Nice

On April 30, 2014, Gary Clark Jr. also released a mixtape of the songs under the title Blak and Blu The Mixtape presented by D-Nice.

### Track list

[edit]

No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Blak and Blu" (feat. Big K.R.I.T.)| 3:27
2.| "The Life (Gary Clark Jr EP Version)"| 1:34
3.| "The Life (Robert Glasper Remix)"| 1:57
4.| "Bright Lights" (feat. Talib Kweli)| 3:37
5.| "Soul (Bonus Track from Blak and Blu)"| 3:49
6.| "When My Train Pulls In (Big K.R.I.T. Remix)"| 4:28
7.| "Things Are Changin (Bright Lights EP Version)"| 3:25
8.| "Numb" (feat. Bilal)| 2:37
9.| "Please Come Home" (feat. Alice Smith)| 4:19

## Personnel

[edit]

* Gary Clark Jr. – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, bass, drums, programming, trumpet, percussion, congas
* Eric Zapata – rhythm guitars
* Mike Elizondo – bass, fuzz guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming
* Zac Rae – Keyboards, hammond organ, wurlitzer, piano, vibraphone
* J.J. Johnson – drums, percussion
* Scott Nelson – bass
* Satnam Ramgotra – tabla, percussion
* Danny T. Levin – trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn
* David Moyer – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
* Stevie Black – strings
* Recording engineers: Adam Hawkins, Doug McKean
* Mixing: Adam Hawkins, Doug McKean
* Assistant engineers: Brent Arrowood, Chris Sporleder, Russ Waugh
* Mastering: Ted Jensen
* A&R: Lenny Waronker
* Creative design, direction and photography: Frank Maddocks

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (2012–13)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[14] | 34
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15] | 38
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[16] | 30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[17] | 69
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] | 23
French Albums (SNEP)[19] | 93
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[20] | 6
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] | 52

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Listen To New Music & See Gary On Tour". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
2. ^ "Gary Clark Jr. Receives Two 2013 Grammy Nominations – BWWMusicWorld". Broadwayworld.com. January 26, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
3. ^ Deming, Mark (October 22, 2012). "Blak and Blu – Gary Clark, Jr. : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
4. ^ "Gary Clark Jr. album review; Blak and Blu reviewed – Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. October 22, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
5. ^ "Gary Clark Jr. Claims His Blues Crown With 'Blak and Blu' @ Antiquiet Reviews". Antiquiet.com. October 19, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
6. ^ greg (October 19, 2012). "Gary Clark Jr.: Blak and Blu:: Review". Ventvox.com. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
7. ^ "Blak and Blu | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. October 23, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
8. ^ "Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu User Opinions". sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
9. ^ Jon Pareles (October 23, 2012). "Blak and Blu | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
10. ^ "50 Best Albums of 2012: Gary Clark Jr., 'Blak and Blu'". Rolling Stone. December 5, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
11. ^ "Album review: Gary Clark Jr., 'Blak and Blu'". Chicago Tribune. October 22, 2012.
12. ^ "Blues Music Awards Nominees – 2013 – 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
13. ^ "iTunes – Music – Blak and Blu (Deluxe Version) by Gary Clark Jr". iTunes. October 16, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
14. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
15. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
18. ^ "Gary Clark Jr.: Blak and Blu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
19. ^ "Lescharts.com – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
20. ^ "Charts.nz – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
21. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2013.

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

* v
* t
* e

Gary Clark Jr.

Studio albums|

* Blak and Blu
* The Story of Sonny Boy Slim
* This Land
* JPEG Raw

Live albums|

* Gary Clark Jr. Live

Singles|

* "Come Together"
* "This Land"

Featured singles|

* "Ride"

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template