Mourning in the Morning

Mourning In the Morning
Studio album by Otis Rush
Released	August 1969
Recorded	1969
Studio	FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Genre	Blues
Length	39:43
Label	Cotillion[1]
Producer	Nick Gravenites, Mike Bloomfield
Otis Rush chronology
Mourning In the Morning (1969) Screamin' and Cryin (1974)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Chicago Tribune	[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[1]
Rolling Stone	(mixed)[4]

Mourning In the Morning is an album by the American blues singer and guitarist Otis Rush, released in 1969.^[5][6] Though Rush had been cutting singles since 1955, this was his first album. It infuses Rush's deep blues sound with soul and rock. The album was panned by many critics, but has since developed a cult following.^[2]

Originally released on Cotillion, the album was re-released in the early 1990s; it was also re-released in 2006 by Collectables Records.

Production

Mourning in the Morning was coproduced by Mike Bloomfield and Nick Gravenites.^[7] It was recorded at FAME Studios, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.^[8] Duane Allman and members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section played on the album.^[9][8]

Critical reception

Reviewing a reissue, the Chicago Tribune wrote that "an instrumental workout on Aretha Franklin`s 'Baby I Love You' is a spine-chilling showcase for the southpaw guitarist`s extraordinary string bending."^[3]

Track listing

Except where otherwise noted, tracks composed by Otis Rush

1. "Me" (Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites) - 2:55
2. "Working Man" (Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites) - 2:25
3. "You're Killing My Love" (Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites) - 3:00
4. "Feel So Bad" (Chuck Willis) - 3:39
5. "Gambler's Blues" (B.B. King, Jules Taub) - 5:39
6. "Baby, I Love You" (Ronnie Shannon) - 3:09
7. "My Old Lady" (Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites) - 2:11
8. "My Love Will Never Die" - 4:33
9. "Reap What You Sow" (Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites) - 4:54
10. "It Takes Time" - 3:26
11. "Can't Wait No Longer" (Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites) - 3:52

Personnel

Musicians

• Otis Rush - vocals, guitar
• Aaron Varnell - tenor saxophone
• Joe Arnold - tenor saxophone
• Ronald Eades - baritone saxophone
• Gene "Bowlegs" Miller - trumpet
• Jimmy Johnson - guitar
• Duane Allman - guitar (Tracks 1, 3-4, 9-11)
• Jerry Jemmott - bass
• Barry Beckett - keyboards
• Mark Naftalin - keyboards
• Roger Hawkins - drums

Production

• Nick Gravenites - producer
• Mike Bloomfield - producer
• Mickey Buckins - Recording engineer
• Norris McNamara - photography
• Nick Gravenites - liner notes

References

1. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 193.
2. "Mourning in the Morning - Otis Rush - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
3. Dahl, Bill. "Otis RushMourning in the Morning (Atlantic) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)Roundly..." chicagotribune.com.
4. Wedling, Pete (31 May 1969). "Records". Rolling Stone (34). San Francisco: Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.: 36.
5. Rubin, Dave (January 1, 2007). "Inside the Blues: 1942 to 1982". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
6. Renzhoffer, Martin (26 July 1996). "At The Bird Now, Bluesman Otis Rush Is In Right Place at Right Time". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. D1.
7. Ward, Bruce (26 Jan 1993). "Finding a trio of treasures in world of R&B". Ottawa Citizen. p. B6.
8. Poe, Randy; Gibbons, Billy F. (August 1, 2008). "Skydog: The Duane Allman Story". Rowman & Littlefield – via Google Books.
9. "Otis Rush | Biography & History". AllMusic.

Other sources

1. Rush, Otis. "Mourning In the Morning" Sound Recording. Collectables Records. 2006.