Blue with Lou is an album by Nils Lofgren, released on April 26, 2019, through Cattle Track Road Records. Lofgren co-wrote six of its tracks with Lou Reed in the 1970s,[2] with Reed's death in 2013 being the catalyst for Lofgren to record the material at his home studio in 2017.[1] The album received generally positive reviews from critics, who felt that the songs co-written by Reed were the strongest of the material.[3]
| Blue with Lou | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 26, 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2017[1] | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 56:15 | |||
| Label | Cattle Track Road | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Nils Lofgren chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 75/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [4] |
| American Songwriter | [5] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[1] |
Blue with Lou received a score of 75 out of 100 at review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[3] Uncut remarked that "Lofgren's voice is crackly, but plays perfectly", and Classic Rock called it "a pleasant album and one that covers a lot of bases", while Mojo felt that "the Reed/Lofgren songs muscle their way to the top of the pile".[3] Glide Magazine stated that "the 'less is more' premise remains in effect just often enough on Blue with Lou to certify the record, name associations aside, as a memorable entry in the lengthy discography of Nils Lofgren".[2]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that "Lofgren achieves a lean, sinewy sound that gives the tight group plenty of room to roam" and while "Lofgren's originals may not carry the same swagger, [...] when they're surrounded by these Reed co-writes, they're given a slight lift: the whole affair simultaneously feels like an affectionate tribute to a departed friend and a resuscitation of Lofgren's gut-level rock & roll".[4] PopMatters' staff opined that "Lofgren rises to the occasion, playing with a sense of abandon and danger that recalls his best work with Grin and blistering, if overlooked, live albums, including 1977's indispensable Night After Night".[1] Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter noted that despite the passage of time since the material was written, "little has changed with [Lofgren's] youthful sounding voice, sizzling guitar playing, melodic songwriting or overall boyish enthusiasm. That makes this comeback of sorts particularly sweet, irrespective of Reed's beyond-the-grave involvement".[5]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Attitude City" | 4:24 | |
| 2. | "Give" |
| 5:56 |
| 3. | "Talk Thru the Tears" |
| 4:08 |
| 4. | "Pretty Soon" | Lofgren | 3:49 |
| 5. | "Rock or Not" | Lofgren | 3:31 |
| 6. | "City Lights" |
| 4:15 |
| 7. | "Blue with Lou" | Lofgren | 7:12 |
| 8. | "Don't Let Your Guard Down" |
| 2:52 |
| 9. | "Too Blue to Play" | Lofgren | 4:00 |
| 10. | "Cut Him Up" |
| 6:08 |
| 11. | "Dear Heartbreaker" | Lofgren | 5:02 |
| 12. | "Remember You" | Lofgren | 4:58 |
| Total length: | 56:15 | ||
Personnel
editperformer credits adapted from the liner notes
- Nils Lofgren – vocals, keyboards guitars, arrangements
- Kevin McCormack – bass, arrangements
- Andy Newmark – drums, arrangements
Additional musician
- Branford Marsalis – tenor saxophone (6)
Additional vocals
- Cindy Mizelle (1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10–12)
- Josef Curtis (3, 6, 7, 9, 12)
- Toby Kidd (3, 6, 7, 9, 12)
- Kenny Miller (3, 6, 7, 9, 12)
- Jason Raetz (3, 6, 7, 9, 12)
- Gary Bruzzese (4, 5, 8)
- Greg Varlotta (4, 5, 8)
- John Willis (4, 5, 8)
- Amy Lofgren (5, 7)
- Elena Nikolov (5, 7)
- Lauren Wojcik (5, 7)
- Dylan Covington (7)
- Mark McDowell (7)
- Tyler Tse (7)
Production
edit- Nils Lofgren – executive producer, producer, sleeve notes
- Amy Lofgren – executive producer, producer
- Jamison Weddel – recording, mixing
- Bob Weber – studio assistant, music technician
- Ryan Billings – mastering
- Greg Lukens – mastering
- Studio L (Alexandria, Virginia) – mastering location
- Dick Bangham – package design
- Cristina Arrigoni – cover photography, black and white photography
- Dylan Covington – color photography
- Tom Goldfogle – management
Charts
edit| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[6] | 62 |
| UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[7] | 23 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] | 33 |
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 "Nils Lofgren Celebrates Love, Loss, Friendship Via Blue with Lou". PopMatters. May 23, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- 1 2 Collette, Doug (April 26, 2019). "Nils Lofgren Delivers Unreleased Lou Reed Co-Writes Via Blue with Lou (Album Review)". Glide Magazine. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 "Blue with Lou by Nils Lofgren Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Nils Lofgren – Blue with Lou Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- 1 2 Horowitz, Hal (April 22, 2019). "Nils Lofgren: Blue with Lou". American Songwriter. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 3/5/2019 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 3/5/2019 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ↑ "Nils Lofgren Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2023.