Connected (Allen Toussaint album)

Connected is an album by the American musician Allen Toussaint, released in 1996.[1][2] It was released through NYNO Records, a label cofounded by Toussaint, and was his first new album in almost 20 years.[3][4]

Connected
Studio album by
Allen Toussaint
Released1996
StudioSea-Saint Studios
GenreR&B, jazz, funk
LabelNYNO Records
ProducerAllen Toussaint, Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint
Allen Toussaint chronology
Mr. New Orleans
(1994)		 Connected
(1996)		 A New Orleans Christmas
(1997)

Production

Produced by Toussaint, the album was recorded at his Sea-Saint Studios, with his son, Reginald, contributing as Connected's engineer.[5][6] The album is a collection of original songs written by Toussaint.[7] Toussaint had been working on the album for many years; he was prodded by Reginald to finish it.[8]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Robert Christgau(choice cut)[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[11]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide[12]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[7]

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called the album "a sometimes rollicking, sometimes touching, always first-rate collection of love songs."[7] Newsday wrote that Connected "mixes laid-back New Orleans rhythms with a sweet, smooth pop sound ... In addition to several ballads and some jazz-funk tunes, there is one distinctly '90s touch: 'Computer Lady', a sly ode to online romance."[13] Robert Christgau singled out "Computer Lady" for praise.[10]

The Washington Post panned Toussaint's "dull voice that has a cramped range," but thought that "there are a few gems among the new tunes, most notably the ballads 'If I Leave' and 'Sweet Dreams'."[14] The Dallas Morning News opined that "the album's best tracks—'Do the Do', 'Funky Bars', 'All of It'—rekindle the jazzy New Orleans funk he helped invent in the mid-'60s with Art Neville and other future members of the Meters."[15] The Boston Herald listed Connected as one of the 10 best albums of 1996, deeming it "timeless piano funk."[16]

AllMusic called the album "fresh new funk and roll from the city where American music has always stretched to new levels."[9]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Pure Uncut Love" 
2."Do the Do" 
3."Computer Lady" 
4."Get Out of My Life, Woman" 
5."We're All Connected" 
6."Sweet Dreams" 
7."Funky Bars" 
8."Ahya" 
9."If I Leave" 
10."Aign Nyee" 
11."In Your Love" 
12."Oh My" 
13."All of It" 
14."Wrong Number" 
15."Rolling with the Punches" 

References
  1. "Allen Toussaint Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. Buckley, Peter (October 16, 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
  3. "Allen Toussaint". MTV News.
  4. Strauss, Neil (9 May 1996). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C17.
  5. Shuster, Fred (12 July 1996). "SOUNDS LIKE NEW ORLEANS THESE DAYS, ALLEN TOUSSAINT MORE `CONNECTED' THAN EVER". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L18.
  6. Verna, Paul (Jun 29, 1996). "Connected". Billboard. 108 (26): 79.
  7. "RECORDING REVIEW". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 8 Sep 1996. p. G8.
  8. Gundersen, Edna (1 May 1996). "At Jazzfest, age affords respect". USA Today. p. 7D.
  9. "Connected - Allen Toussaint | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  10. "Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 3938". www.robertchristgau.com.
  11. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 227.
  12. MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 570.
  13. Lipp, Marty (26 July 1996). "Spreading Around That Bayou Beat". Newsday. p. B23.
  14. Himes, Geoffrey (7 August 1996). "Bounty of Blue Notes; Toussaint Puts the Big Easy in the Spotlight". The Washington Post. p. C7.
  15. Christensen, Thor (May 23, 1996). "The patience of Toussaint - Modest artist is New Orleans' best-kept secret". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.
  16. Katz, Larry (December 20, 1996). "Larry Katz's top 10". Boston Herald. Scene.
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