Sax Maniac is a 1982 album by the New York jazz band James White and the Blacks.[2] The album was released on Chris Stein's Animal Records label and dedicated to Anya Phillips.[3]

Sax Maniac
Studio album by
Released1982
RecordedBlank Tapes, New York
LabelAnimal[1]
ProducerJames White
James White and the Blacks chronology
Off White
(1979)
Sax Maniac
(1982)
Melt Yourself Down
(1986)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
Sounds     [5]

The Globe and Mail wrote that, "although there are no great departures here, the music has lost some of its wise-guy stance and is beginning to move into more emotional territory."[6] The New York Times opined that, "while the music on Sax Maniac is as deliberately tacky and mordantly funny as ever, it also evidences considerable growth... Mr. White's horn arrangements are much more sophisticated and inventive, especially on his demolition derby deconstruction of Arlen and Mercer's 'That Old Black Magic' and the woefully perverse 'Disco Jaded'."[7]

Track listing

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All tracks composed by James White, except where indicated

  1. "Disco Jaded"
  2. "Irresistible Impulse"
  3. "Money to Burn"
  4. "Sax Machine"
  5. "Sax Maniac"
  6. "That Old Black Magic" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer)[8]
  7. "The Twitch"

Personnel

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Jame White and the Blacks
  • James White - lead vocals, alto saxophone, piano on "Irresistible Impulse" and "Disco Jaded"
  • Chris Cunningham, Jerry Antonius - guitar
  • The Discolitas (Bemshi Jones and Cherie Donovan) - backing and lead vocals
  • Colin Wade - bass
  • Ralph Rolle - drums, percussion
Guests
  • Luther Thomas - saxophone
  • Robert Aaron - tenor saxophone, piano on "That Old Black Magic"
  • Joseph Bowie - trombone on "Irresistible Impulse", "Sax Machine" and "Sax Maniac"
  • John Mulkerin - trumpet on "Irresistible Impulse", "Sax Machine" and "Sax Maniac"
  • Jack Walrath - trumpet on "That Old Black Magic"
  • Ray Maldonado - trumpet on "Money to Burn" and "The Twitch"

References

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  1. ^ WUELFING, HOWARD (February 11, 1983). "James White, Sax Maniac" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  2. ^ "James White And The Blacks - Sax Maniac". Light In The Attic Records.
  3. ^ "James White and the Blacks - Sax Maniac (Futurismo)". The Big Takeover.
  4. ^ AllMusic review
  5. ^ Burkham, Chris (25 September 1982). "White and torch-songs". Sounds. p. 32.
  6. ^ Lacey, Liam (16 Oct 1982). "Sax Maniac James White and the Blacks". The Globe and Mail. p. F8.
  7. ^ Palmer, Robert (31 Oct 1982). "They Stake Out the Frontiers of Pop". The New York Times. p. A21.
  8. ^ "TrouserPress.com :: James Chance". www.trouserpress.com.
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