Charming Snakes

The album was produced by Summers and David Hentschel. "Monk Gets Ripped" is a tribute to Thelonious Monk.{{cite news |last1=Brace |first1=Eric |title=Andy Summers |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=26 Oct 1990 |page=C8}} Herbie Hancock played on "Innocence Falls Prey" and "Big Thing". Sting played bass on the title track. Bill Evans played saxophone on many of the tracks.{{cite news |last1=Robicheau |first1=Paul |title=Recordings |work=The Boston Globe |date=25 Oct 1990 |page=A6}}

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/charming-snakes-mw0000309784|title=Andy Summers Charming Snakes|website=AllMusic}}

|rev2 = Calgary Herald

|rev2score = B−{{cite news |last1=Obee |first1=Dave |title=Recent Releases |work=Calgary Herald |date=4 Oct 1990 |page=F4}}

|rev3 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=7 |page=840}}

|rev4 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide

|rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=1106}}

|rev5 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=683}}

}}

The Calgary Herald wrote that "the shift to jazz from rock continues," and praised the "vibrant, fluid guitar." The Washington Post determined that "Summers has progressed from the mood noodlings of his earlier solo recordings to solidly structured and arranged pieces." The Dallas Morning News concluded that, "this time out, he eschews most of his synthpop inclinations and puts himself in a studio of consummate session players... This nearly traditional jazz format results in his most lyrical instrumental album so far."{{cite news |last1=Maurstad |first1=Tom |title=Arts Day |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=October 13, 1990 |page=5C}}

The Vancouver Sun noted that "the guitar is a little more frenetic, the bass faster paced, with strong jazz influences."{{cite news |last1=Strachan |first1=Alex |title=Charmed by Summers |work=Vancouver Sun |date=22 Nov 1990 |page=F21}} The Gazette lamented that "Summers couldn't write a catchy melody to save his life."{{cite news |last1=Wells |first1=Paul |title=This musical label covers a multitude of styles, sins |work=The Gazette |date=23 Feb 1991 |page=D4}}

AllMusic called the album "a strong jazz-rock statement," writing that "Summers's guitar covers the spectrum from in-your-face wailing leads to subtle background colorings, with much use of electronic effects." MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide considered it "Summers's first and best turn from ambient rock guitar noise to artful jazz fusion."

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Andy Summers

| title1 = Mexico 1920

| writer1 = Summers, David Hentschel

| length1 = 4:00

| title2 = Charming Snakes

| length2 = 5:14

| title3 = Big Thing

| writer3 = Summers, Hentschel, Dennis Smith

| length3 = 7:07

| title4 = Rainmaker

| length4 = 6:18

| title5 = Charis

| length5 = 3:19

| title6 = Mickey Goes to Africa

| length6 = 4:53

| title7 = Innocence Falls Prey

| length7 = 2:45

| title8 = Passion of the Shadow

| length8 = 5:10

| title9 = Monk Gets Ripped

| length9 = 3:57

| title10 = Easy on the Ice

| writer10 = Summers, Hentschel

| length10 = 4:34

| title11 = The Strong & the Beautiful

| writer11 = Summers, Hentschel

| length11 = 3:49

}}

• Andy Summers – guitars, slide guitar (6), banjo (6)
• Brian Auger – keyboards (1, 10, 11)
• David Hentschel – keyboards (2-4, 8-10), organ (6)
• Herbie Hancock – keyboards (2, 3, 7), acoustic piano intro solo (3)
• Doug Lunn – bass (1, 3, 4, 6-11), high bass (2)
• Sting – bass (2)
• Darryl Jones – bass (4)
• Chad Wackerman – drums (1-4, 6-11)
• Ed Mann – percussion (3, 4, 6, 8, 11)
• Bill Evans – soprano saxophone (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8), tenor saxophone (6, 7)
• Mark Isham – trumpet (4, 6, 9, 10)

• David Hentschel – producer, recording, mixing
• Andy Summers – producer, mixing
• Jan Lucas – recording assistant
• Dennis Smith – recording assistant
• Brian Gardner – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
• Norman Moore – art direction, design
• Merlyn Rosenberg – photography

{{reflist}}

{{Andy Summers}}

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Category:Andy Summers albums

Category:1990 albums

Category:Private Music albums