Alligator (Leslie West album)

Alligator is an album by the American musician Leslie West, released in 1989 on I.R.S. Records.[1][2] West supported the album by participating in the Guitar Speak and Night of the Guitars tours.[3][4]

Alligator
Studio album by
Leslie West
Released1989
GenreHard rock, heavy metal, blues rock
Length29:52
LabelI.R.S.
ProducerLeslie West, Paul Orofino
Leslie West chronology
Theme
(1988)		 Alligator
(1989)		 Night of the Guitar – Live!
(1989)

Production

I.R.S. allowed West the freedom to make the album he wanted.[5] Stanley Clarke played bass on "Whiskey" and "All of Me".[6] Johnette Napolitano sang on the cover of Free's "The Stealer".[6] "I Put a Spell on You" is a cover of the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins song.[7] The liner notes contain a recipe for alligator chili.[8]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]

The Province deemed the album "as patchy as any of his solo LPs but it highlights his recent work with a Casio guitar synthesizer and his fluid, crying style—a style still rooted in rock and blues that is different from voguish speed merchants."[10] The Chicago Sun-Times called it "an eclectic collection of songs that highlights West's deft electric guitar-playing skills and passion for unusual material."[11]

The Daily Breeze opined that the "'Hall of the Mountain King/Theme from Exodus' medley, one of the album's most painful episodes, sounds like it was accidentally recorded during a rehearsal."[12] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that "instrumentals 'Waiting for the F Change', 'Whiskey', 'All of Me' and 'Alligator' promise much, but West seems to lose concentration, grow bored or something."[13]

AllMusic wrote that West "plays some hot guitar here, of course, but then not as much as one might like, and he sings a lot here, too, perhaps more than one might like."[9]

Track listing
  1. "Sea of Fire" (George Cintron) — 5:01
  2. "Waiting for the F Change" (West) — 4:24
  3. "Whiskey" (West) — 2:17
  4. "Alligator" (West) — 3:23
  5. "I Put a Spell on You" (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins) — 4:12
  6. "All of Me" (West) — 3:06
  7. "The Stealer" (Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers, Paul Kossoff) — 2:17
  8. "Hall of the Mountain King / Theme from Exodus" (Edvard Grieg/Ernest Gold) — 3:09
  9. "Dream Lover" (Bobby Darin) — 2:03

Personnel
  • Leslie West — guitar, bass guitar, vocals
  • Steve Luongo — drums, percussion
  • Jack Hotop — keyboards on "Alligator"
  • Stanley Clarke — bass on "Whiskey" and "All of Me”
  • Tony Miceli — keyboards on "Waiting for the F Change" and "I Put a Spell On You"
  • Johnette Napolitano — vocals on "The Stealer"

Credits
  • Producers — Leslie West and Paul Orofino
  • Executive Producer — Miles Copeland III
  • Engineers — Paul Orofino, Carl Davino and Judd Levison (Stanley Clarke overdubs at Devonshire Studios, N. Hollywood only)
  • Mastering — Ron McMaster
  • Direction — Stevo Glendinning

References
  1. MacInnis, Craig (31 Oct 1989). "250-pounder gives term heavy metal his own definition". Toronto Star. p. C3.
  2. Robins, Wayne (5 Nov 1989). "He's Been to the Mountain: Heavy-metal pioneer Leslie West is still rocking hard, watching his health...". Part II. Newsday. p. 13.
  3. Washburn, Jim (6 Feb 1990). "Leslie West Takes His Music, Not Himself, Seriously". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  4. Thompson, Bob (November 1, 1989). "Still Climbing". Entertainment. Toronto Sun. p. 77.
  5. Eichenberger, Bill (January 19, 1990). "Undaunted, West Works Way Up Another Mountain". The Columbus Dispatch. p. 9D.
  6. Bourke, Brian G. (October 15, 1989). "New Music". Stars. Syracuse Herald American. p. 28.
  7. Scott, Jane (January 19, 1990). "Old song lifts Mountain man". The Plain Dealer.
  8. "This Week in the Arts". The Columbus Dispatch. January 14, 1990. p. 3H.
  9. "Alligator Review by Steve Leggett". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  10. Harrison, Tom (11 Mar 1990). "Putting primary voice of rock in the spotlight". Entertainment. The Province. p. 87.
  11. Kim, Jae-Ha (January 26, 1990). "West's still a Mountain of a musician". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 31.
  12. Tranfa, Anthony D. (January 26, 1990). "'Alligator', Leslie West". Daily Breeze. p. E10.
  13. Hawkins, Robert J. (February 2, 1990). "Another Cream Mix?". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C2.
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