Rockit Fuel Only
| Rockit Fuel Only | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Label | Rykodisc[1] | |||
| Producer | Evan Johns | |||
| Evan Johns chronology | ||||
| ||||
Rockit Fuel Only is an album by the American musician Evan Johns, released in 1991.[2][3] He is credited with his backing band, the H-Bombs.[4][5] Johns supported the album with a North American tour.[6]
Production[edit]
Rockit Fuel Only was produced by Johns, who also played mandolin on the album.[7][8] It was recorded in Dallas.[9] Drummer Jim Starboard sings lead on one track.[10]
"Dig That Boogie" is a cover of the Roy Hall song; "Burnin' Over What I Done" is about the televangelist Jimmy Swaggart.[11]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [13] |
| Houston Chronicle | [14] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [10] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [15] |
Trouser Press wrote that "'Boogie Disease' and 'Little Scene Setter' are among the rip-it-up corkers that keep Evan Johns among rock'n'roll's guitar elite."[16] The Orlando Sentinel thought that Johns "detonates his guitar with unpredictable but always spine-shaking results on everything from the monumentally grungy 'Back in the Back Seat' to the roaring 'Little Scene Setter' to the Texas-swinging-out-of-orbit 'Under the Willows in Dixie' to the wistful 'Meant for You'."[15]
The Austin American-Statesman noted that "Johns is more an extremist than a revivalist."[17] The Chicago Tribune complained that "it takes nearly three-quarters of the album and a swaying little tune called 'In the Groove' before he and the band find a groove that isn't just a mindless boogie stomp (with lyrics to match)."[13] The Houston Chronicle concluded that "Johns is in a class by himself when it comes to imagination and fretboard exploration"; the paper later listed the album among the 40 best of 1991.[14][18]
AllMusic wrote: "Johns' craggy vocals make this 100-proof roadhouse rock even when he's in a relatively mellow mood, and it's never too long before he kicks things back into overdrive on fourth-gear rockers like 'Back in the Backseat', 'Sugary Action', and the title cut."[12]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back in the Backseat" | |
| 2. | "Little Scene Setter" | |
| 3. | "Under the Willows in Dixie" | |
| 4. | "Rockit Fuel Only" | |
| 5. | "Meant for You" | |
| 6. | "Prove It to Each Other" | |
| 7. | "Boogie Disease" | |
| 8. | "Who You Are (Where Are You?)" | |
| 9. | "In the Groove" | |
| 10. | "Dig That Boogie" | |
| 11. | "Sugary Action" | |
| 12. | "Burnin' Over What I Done" | |
| 13. | "You Always Go" | |
| 14. | "Juvenile Delinquent" |
References[edit]
- ^ Corcoran, Michael (March 17, 1991). "Record File". Show. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 6.
- ^ "Evan Johns & His H-Bombs Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ Blackstock, Peter (10 May 1991). "Best Bets". Austin American-Statesman. p. A10.
- ^ "Evan Johns and His H-Bombs...". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. May 3, 1991. p. D3.
- ^ Esmonde, Donn (July 19, 1991). "The Twang's the Thang". The Buffalo News. p. G3.
- ^ MacQueen, Steve (May 3, 1991). "'Energetic guitar and a voice like spinning tires on gravel'". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 10D.
- ^ "Album Reviews — Rockit Fuel Only by Evan Johns & His H-Bombs". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 23. Jun 8, 1991. p. 74.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (12 June 1992). "Musical Irons in the Inferno". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
- ^ Booth, Philip (May 3, 1991). "Turning up the Heatwave". Tampa Bay Times. The Tampa Tribune. p. 18.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 609.
- ^ Campbell, Tom (December 28, 1991). "Thanks to Johns, wild rockabilly is coming to town". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L20.
- ^ a b "Rockit Fuel Only". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ a b Heim, Chris (5 Dec 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ a b Racine, Marty (May 12, 1991). "Rockit Fuel Only". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
- ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (21 June 1991). "Evan Johns & His H-Bombs". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 18.
- ^ "Evan Johns and His H-Bombs". Trouser Press. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ McLeese, Don (23 Apr 1991). "Due any day is Rockit Fuel Only by Evan Johns...". Austin American-Statesman. p. B8.
- ^ Racine, Marty; Mitchell, Rick (December 29, 1991). "Top 40 of '91 – Critics choose best albums of year". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 8.
