Butt Naked Free
Studio album by
Guy Davis
Released2000
GenreBlues, acoustic blues, folk[1]
LabelRed House
ProducerJohn Platania
Guy Davis chronology
You Don't Know My Mind
(1998)		 Butt Naked Free
(2000)		 Give in Kind
(2002)

Butt Naked Free is an album by the American musician Guy Davis, released in 2000.[2][3] The album title was inspired by a dance performed by Davis's son during the recording sessions, although it was ultimately selected by Red House Records.[4] Davis supported the album with North American and United Kingdom tours.[5][6] Butt Naked Free was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award, in the "Acoustic Blues Album" category.[7] The album was a success on public and college radio stations.[8]

Production

The album was produced by John Platania.[9] Davis used a 12-string guitar on the album.[10] Levon Helm played drums on some of the tracks; Tom Wolk contributed on bass.[11][12] "Raining in My Soul" is dedicated to Oscar Brown III, the son of Oscar Brown.[13] "Writing Paper Blues" is a cover of the Blind Willie McTell song.[14] McTell was a chief influence on Davis's decision to tell stories through his songs.[15] "Sometimes I Wish..." was inspired by Reverend Gary Davis's "Death Don't Have No Mercy".[16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[17]
Calgary Herald[18]
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[19]
DownBeat[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[20]
The Gazette[11]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[16]

The Calgary Herald noted that "this is not blues for an all-night whiskey binge or for shaking your booty... It's more of a beer on the back porch, stroll in the park collection."[18] The Gazette wrote that "Davis has evolved from a traditional revivalist into one of the pre-eminent singer-songwriter-guitarists in acoustic blues music."[11] The Democrat and Chronicle called the album "a smooth ride on enchantingly shambling rhythms and Davis' voice: a phlegmatic-bluesman's rumble, salted with the gravel of the Southern roads of the music's heritage."[21] The Times Colonist praised the "wise, passionate, organic reshaping of archaic forms."[22] The Times stated: "A confident and assured songwriter, Davis uses the McTell pattern book to create his own tales of lowlife ways."[23]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Talkin' 'bout Wings 'n' Brew" 
2."Waiting on the Cards to Fall" 
3."Let Me Stay Awhile" 
4."Writing Paper Blues" 
5."Sometimes I Wish..." 
6."High Flying Rocket" 
7."Never Met No Woman Treats Me Like You Do" 
8."Sugarbelle Blue" 
9."Meet Me Where the River Turns" 
10."My Rambling Ways" 
11."Come On Sally Hitch a Ride" 
12."Ain't No Bluesman" 
13."The Place Where I Come From (Butt Naked Free)" 
14."Raining in My Soul" 

References

  1. ↑ Evans, David (2005). The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Blues. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 198.
  2. ↑ Muretich, James (16 Mar 2000). "Critic's Pick". Calgary Herald. p. HL28.
  3. 1 2 Frank-John, Hadley (Jun 2000). "Axe Grinder". DownBeat. 67 (6): 68.
  4. ↑ Smiderle, Wes (8 June 2000). "Blues singer Guy Davis has a knack for storytelling". Ottawa Citizen. p. E8.
  5. ↑ Hay, Carla (Mar 4, 2000). "Davis' Blues". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 10. p. 38.
  6. ↑ Trapp, Roger (11 Nov 2000). "Jazz & Blues". Features. The Independent. p. 38.
  7. ↑ Ellis, Bill (14 Jan 2001). "Old, New Artists Top Handys List". The Commercial Appeal. p. B1.
  8. ↑ "The Deep Blue Sea". Asbury Park Press. 17 Aug 2001. p. G17.
  9. ↑ Kassulke, Natasha (14 Sep 2000). "Guy Davis". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 16.
  10. ↑ Derdeyn, Stuart (7 Mar 2000). "Guy Davis". The Province. p. B5.
  11. 1 2 3 Regenstreif, Mike (23 Mar 2000). "Blues". The Gazette. p. D15.
  12. ↑ Aloi, Daniel (13 July 2000). "Arts fest has the blues". Star-Gazette. p. D2.
  13. ↑ Levesque, Roger (18 Mar 2000). "Bluesman likes to tell stories and make music". Edmonton Journal. p. C7.
  14. ↑ Gil de Rubio, David (26 Apr 2000). "Guy Davis 'Butt Naked Free'". Newsday. p. C6.
  15. ↑ "Preview". Portland Press Herald. 15 Mar 2001. p. 12D.
  16. 1 2 The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 156.
  17. ↑ "Butt Naked Free Review by Matt Fink". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  18. 1 2 McCoy, Heath Jon (23 Mar 2000). "Guy Davis Butt Naked Free". Calgary Herald. p. HL16.
  19. ↑ "Guy Davis". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  20. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 762.
  21. ↑ Spevak, Jeff (6 Apr 2000). "Bluesman nurtures the spirit through life's trials". Democrat and Chronicle. p. E6.
  22. ↑ Blake, Joseph (17 Apr 2001). "Beautiful blues, live or on CD". Times Colonist. p. D8.
  23. ↑ Clarke, John (April 29, 2000). "Blues Choice". The Times. p. Metro 12.
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