Summary
Connected is an album by the American musician Allen Toussaint, released in 1996.[1][2] It was released through NYNO Records, a label cofounded by Toussaint, and was his first new album in almost 20 years.[3][4] Toussaint supported the album with a North American tour.[5]
| Connected | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Studio | Sea-Saint Studios | |||
| Genre | Jazz, funk | |||
| Label | NYNO | |||
| Producer | Allen Toussaint, Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint | |||
| Allen Toussaint chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production edit
Produced by Toussaint, the album was recorded at his Sea-Saint Studios, with his son, Reginald, contributing as Connected's engineer.[6][7] The album is a collection of original songs written by Toussaint.[8] Toussaint had been working on the album for many years; he was prodded by Reginald to finish it.[9]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Robert Christgau |  [11] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [12] |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | [13] |
| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | [8] |
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called the album "a sometimes rollicking, sometimes touching, always first-rate collection of love songs."[8] Newsday wrote that Connected "mixes laid-back New Orleans rhythms with a sweet, smooth pop sound ... In addition to several ballads and some jazz-funk tunes, there is one distinctly '90s touch: 'Computer Lady', a sly ode to online romance."[14] Robert Christgau singled out "Computer Lady" for praise.[11]
The Washington Post panned Toussaint's "dull voice that has a cramped range," but thought that "there are a few gems among the new tunes, most notably the ballads 'If I Leave' and 'Sweet Dreams'."[15] The Dallas Morning News opined that "the album's best tracks—'Do the Do', 'Funky Bars', 'All of It'—rekindle the jazzy New Orleans funk he helped invent in the mid-'60s with Art Neville and other future members of the Meters."[16] The Boston Herald listed Connected as one of the 10 best albums of 1996, deeming it "timeless piano funk."[17]
AllMusic called the album "fresh new funk and roll from the city where American music has always stretched to new levels."[10]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pure Uncut Love" | |
| 2. | "Do the Do" | |
| 3. | "Computer Lady" | |
| 4. | "Get Out of My Life, Woman" | |
| 5. | "We're All Connected" | |
| 6. | "Sweet Dreams" | |
| 7. | "Funky Bars" | |
| 8. | "Ahya" | |
| 9. | "If I Leave" | |
| 10. | "Aign Nyee" | |
| 11. | "In Your Love" | |
| 12. | "Oh My" | |
| 13. | "All of It" | |
| 14. | "Wrong Number" | |
| 15. | "Rolling with the Punches" |
References edit
- ^ "Allen Toussaint Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Buckley, Peter (October 16, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides.
- ^ "Allen Toussaint". MTV News.
- ^ Strauss, Neil (9 May 1996). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C17.
- ^ Dollar, Steve (13 June 1997). "Allen Toussaint". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. P4.
- ^ Shuster, Fred (12 July 1996). "Sounds Like New Orleans: These Days, Allen Toussaint More 'Connected' Than Ever". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L18.
- ^ Verna, Paul (Jun 29, 1996). "Connected". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 26. p. 79.
- ^ a b c "Recording Review". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 8 Sep 1996. p. G8.
- ^ Gundersen, Edna (1 May 1996). "At Jazzfest, age affords respect". USA Today. p. 7D.
- ^ a b "Connected". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Allen Toussaint". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 227.
- ^ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 570.
- ^ Lipp, Marty (26 July 1996). "Spreading Around That Bayou Beat". Newsday. p. B23.
- ^ Himes, Geoffrey (7 August 1996). "Bounty of Blue Notes; Toussaint Puts the Big Easy in the Spotlight". The Washington Post. p. C7.
- ^ Christensen, Thor (May 23, 1996). "The patience of Toussaint – Modest artist is New Orleans' best-kept secret". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.
- ^ Katz, Larry (December 20, 1996). "Larry Katz's top 10". Scene. Boston Herald.