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You Need to Live a Little
1995 studio album by Larry Garner From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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You Need to Live a Little is an album by the American musician Larry Garner, released in 1995.[1][2] Garner's contract with Gitanes/Verve Records allowed him to quit his day job in order to promote the album.[3] He supported it with United Kingdom and North American tours.[4][5]
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Production
Garner was signed to Gitanes/Verve after successful shows at the Parisian nightclub New Morning.[6] You Need to Live a Little was produced by John Snyder.[7] Willie Weeks played bass on the album.[8] David "Fathead" Newman played a saxophone solo on "Miracles of Time"; Garner wrote a letter to Gladys Knight, his favorite singer, to ask if she had listened to the song as he wanted her to cover it.[8][9] The Legendary White Trash Horns contributed to a few tracks.[10] Garner considered his lyrics to be of an observational nature, touching on problems in his own life that were also universal.[11] "Four Cars Running" describes the financial burden of supporting grown children.[12] "Rats and Roaches in My Kitchen" is a cover of the Silas Hogan song, on which Sonny Landreth played slide guitar.[13] The album is dedicated to Hogan.[8]
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Critical reception
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The Times Colonist wrote that "Garner's gifts for songwriting, singing, guitar playing, and arranging shine through the recording's unpretentious stance."[8] OffBeat determined that "the moody urgings of the title track open with a minor-key arrangement that recalls the jazzy 1eanings of the Allman Brothers classic instrumental 'In Memory of Elizabeth Reed'."[15] The Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph noted that "although his roots are in Louisiana swamp blues—characterized by bleak guitar grooves and shuffled backbeats—Garner's music is surprisingly fresh and soulful."[16] The Home News & Tribune listed You Need to Live a Little among the best blues albums of 1995.[17]
The Chicago Tribune said that You Need to Live a Little "showcases a witty, innovative writer and tasty guitarist who refuses to limit himself to standard 12-bar forms."[18] The Michigan Chronicle opined that "Miracles of Time" "may be among the decade's most enduring songs."[19] The Record labeled Garner "a wittier version of Albert Collins."[20] The Miami New Times stated that "Garner's guitar playing services the song, rather than vice versa, although he squeezes off some clean B.B. King-like solos."[10]
AllMusic called Garner "a witty, imaginative songwriter, crisply concise guitarist, and convincing singer".[14] MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide considered the title track, "Nobody's Special", and "Another Bad Day" to be "moody, minor-key masterpieces".[7]
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Track listing
- "Another Bad Day" – 4:59
- "Someone New" – 3:20
- "Miracles of Time" – 4:51
- "Four Cars Running" – 5:01
- "Live a Little" – 6:16
- "The Preacher Man" – 7:37
- "Shak Bully" – 5:18
- "Rats and Roaches in My Kitchen" – 5:52
- "Don't Run Talking" – 4:56
- "Keep Playing the Blues" – 6:14
- "Had to Quit Drinking" – 3:50
- "Nobody's Special" – 5:19
References
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