That's What

That's What is an album by the American steel-string guitar artist Leo Kottke.[1] It is distinctive in its jazzy nature and "talking" songs ("Buzzby" and "Husbandry"). It reached No. 24 on Billboard's Top New Age Albums charts, Kottke's highest charting position on Billboard.

That's What
Studio album by
Leo Kottke
Released1990
RecordedMike Jones Film Corp., Minneapolis, MN
GenreFolk, jazz
Length37:34
LabelPrivate Music (2068-2-P)
ProducerWillard O. Peterson, Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke chronology
My Father's Face
(1989)		 That's What
(1990)		 Great Big Boy
(1991)

The song "Little Snoozer" is played on a Charvel demo model of a Danelectro 6-string bass guitar tuned one octave lower than a standard 6-string guitar. Kottke used trombones on many of the songs.[2]

Kottke has re-recorded at least two more versions of "Jesus Maria".

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Select[4]

The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "Kottke's eccentric poetics and monotone Lou Reed-style of delivery make 'Buzzby' and 'Husbandry' the strangest moments on That's What."[5] The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "a rumbling, comic, folksy sound, yet one that remains strangely comfortable and comforting."[6]

AllMusic stated: "Leo Kottke has always been a highly idiosyncratic guitar player whose music is infused with his wry sense of humor. That's What is no exception, with Kottke's guitar work drawing from jazzy, blues and folk sources... Tying it all together is Kottke's fine guitar playing, as nimble and as quirky as ever."[3]

Track listing

All songs by Leo Kottke except as noted.

  1. "Little Snoozer" – 3:53
  2. "Buzzby" – 3:57
  3. "What the Arm Said" – 2:54
  4. "Creature Feature" – 4:14
  5. "Oddball" – 2:51
  6. "Czech Bounce" – 3:38
  7. "Mid-Air" (Willard O. Peterson) – 3:23
  8. "The Great One" – 3:22
  9. "Husbandry" – 4:52
  10. "Jesus Maria" (Carla Bley) – 4:30

Personnel
  • Leo Kottke - guitar
  • Billy Peterson - string bass, 5-string electric bass, drums, piano, synth, Farfisa Professional
  • Bruce Paulson - tenor & bass trombones
  • Gordy Knudtson - percussion

Production notes

References
  1. Washburn, Jim (31 May 1990). "Guitarist Leo Kottke Still Trying Some New Things". Los Angeles Times. p. F3.
  2. Christensen, Thor (21 Sep 1990). "Should Kottke stick to guitar? Nah". The Milwaukee Journal. p. D1.
  3. "That's What > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  4. Putterford, Mark (October 1990). "Leo Kottke: That's What". Select. No. 4. p. 107.
  5. Barbieri, Susan M. (31 Aug 1990). "Leo Kottke". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 17.
  6. Heim, Chris (28 Sep 1990). "Leo Kottke, Friday at Park West". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.
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