King of Hearts was the first CD album for blues, soul singer King Ernest. He had been away from the music scene for some time and the album marked his return to music. It was also a blues award nominee.
Background After retiring at 55, he recorded the album which was released on Evidence 26084 in 1997.Orlando Sentinel, September 8, 2000 - A Royal Marriage Of Blues, Soul From 'Gutsy 'King' Ernest Baker by Parry Gettleman, Sentinel Popular Music CriticBillboard March 29, 1997 - Page 17 The album includes covers of "Black Bag Blues" which is a Lester Butler song and "Better Days" which was written by Mick Jagger and Jimmy Rip, which is an Otis Redding styled ballad. Charlie Musselwhite's "Long As I Have You" and Hound Dog Taylor's "Sadie" are also covered.Jazz Times, 05/01/1997 - King Ernest Baker: King of Hearts By Bill Milkowski Other compositions are by Ernest Baker, Andy Kaulkin and Randy Chortkoff.AllMusic - King Ernest, King of Hearts Lester Butler,No Fightin - King Ernest / Lester Butler: “Black Bag Blues” Jimmy Rip,Blues Access, No 30 - King Ernest, King of Hearts and East Hampton guitarist, Zach Zunis are among the musicians that played on the album.The East Hampton Star, February 9, 2017 - A Grammy Proves Elusive for an East Hampton Guitarist By Christopher Walsh
In a review of the album, Nicky Baxter of Metroactive noted the ease that King Ernest had in going from blues to soul and back again. The only low point was some obtrusive piano pounding.metroactive - A Royal Return By Nicky Baxter
It was nominated in for a W. C. Handy Award in 1998.Past Blues - Tuesday, January 21, 1997 - January 21, 1997 -- Evidence released King There were two categories. One was in Soul/Blues Album of the Year category and the other was in the Comeback Blues Album of the Year category.Louisville Music News - 19th Annual W. C. Handy Nominations AnnouncedMemphis Flyer - Music, Local Boys Done Good by Mark Jordan
Bakers follow-up album was in 2000 with Blues Got Soul.Blues Bytes, November 2000 - WHAT'S NEW --- Steve Hinrichsen
Album details
+ Tracks # Title ComposerTime 1 "I Resign" Ernest Baker 4:48 2 "I'm Not The Only One" Andy Kaulkin 3:44 3 "In The Dark" Junior Parker 4:08 4 "Black Bag Blues" Lester Butler 4:27 5 "Better Days" Mick Jagger - Jimmy Rip 4:39 6 "Long As I Have You" Charlie Musselwhite 6:16 7 "Tell Me What's The Reason" Florence Cadrey 3:52 8 "Cryin' For My Baby" Harold Burrage 5:02 9 "Sadie" Hound Dog Taylor 5:05 10 "Forgive Me" Randy Chortkoff 4:16Discogs - King Ernest – King Of Hearts
+ Production Role Name Produced by Randy Chortkoff Executive producer Jerry Gordon Post production coordinator Alan Edwards Engineer Glen Nishida Mixing Randy Chortkoff & Glen Nishida Photography Mark Castle Art production & design Mark Castle Liner notes Scott Dirks musicmp3spb.org - King Ernest, обложки King Of Hearts (1997)AllMusic - King Ernest, King of Hearts, Credits
+ Musicians Name Role Tracks King Ernest Vocals Paul Bryant Guitar 2, 7, 10 Lester Butler harmonica 4 Lee Campbell Drums 6, 7 Randy Chortkoff Harmonica 2, 3, 10 Mitch Kashmar Harmonica 6 Andy Kaulkin Piano, Organ 1–3, 5–10 Pete Kay Drums 4, 5 Tom Leavey Bass Ronnie MacRory Drums 9, 10 Jonnie Morgan Drums 2 Jimmy Rip Guitar 5 Lee Smith Drums 1, 3, 8 Zac Zunis Guitar 1, 3, 4, 6, 8–10 The Texicali Horns 1–3, 5, 7, 8 Darrell Leonard Trumpet Joe Sublet Tenor sax musicmp3spb.org - King Ernest, обложки King Of Hearts (1997)
References