Delta Hurricane
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Delta Hurricane
| type = Album
| artist = Larry McCray
| cover = Delta Hurricane.jpg|border=yes
| alt =
| released = 1993
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Blues
| length =
| label = Pointblank{{cite book |last1=Dicaire |first1=David |title=More Blues Singers: Biographies of 50 Artists from the Later 20th Century |date=2015 |publisher=McFarland |page=145}}
| producer = Mike Vernon
| prev_title = Ambition
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = Meet Me at the Lake
| next_year = 1996
}}
Delta Hurricane is the second album by the American musician Larry McCray, released in 1993.{{cite web |title=Larry McCray Biography by Bill Dahl |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/larry-mccray-mn0000131711/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=22 February 2023}}{{cite news |last1=DeLuca |first1=Dan |title=Eek-A-Mouse, Larry McCray |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=25 Nov 1994 |department=Features Weekend |page=17}} McCray supported the album with a North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Surkamp |first1=David |title=Larry McCray Performs Gritty Blues, Soulful Ballads |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=9 Apr 1994 |page=8D}}
Production
Recorded in Memphis, the album was produced by Mike Vernon.{{cite magazine |title=Delta Hurricane by Larry McCray |magazine=Billboard |date=July 31, 1993 |volume=105 |issue=31 |page=47}} Unlike McCray's debut, Delta Hurricane was recorded as a band album, rather than a demo on which other players contributed.{{cite news |last1=Mohr |first1=Lisa |title=Larry McCray |work=The Dispatch–Argus |date=September 12, 1993 |department=Entertainment}} McCray's guitar style was mostly influenced by his father and older sister.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jeff |title=Singer/Guitarist Hits Career Crossroads |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=April 1, 1994 |department=Weekend Plus |page=12}}
"Soul Shine" is a cover of the Warren Haynes song.{{cite news |last1=Hornblow |first1=Deborah |title=Blues Guitarist Delights with High Octane Sound |work=Hartford Courant |date=12 Dec 1994 |page=A4}} "Blue River" is an instrumental.{{cite news |last1=Stancavage |first1=John |title=Bluesman Larry McCray Learned Best Licks from Sister |work=Tulsa World |date=September 17, 1995 |page=E2}} A horn section played on many of the songs.{{cite news |last1=Rosen |first1=Steve |title='King of the Boogie Sax' gives new life to old familiar sound |work=The Denver Post |date=June 11, 1993 |department=Arts |page=26}} Tony Zamagni played keyboards on the album.{{cite magazine |last1=Rideout |first1=Ernie |title=Escape from the combat zone |magazine=Keyboard |date=Dec 1998 |volume=24 |issue=12 |pages=50–58}} McCray's brother Steve played drums.{{cite news |last1=Cowle |first1=Tracy |title=Small Caravan crowd gets caught up in a blues storm |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=October 9, 1994 |page=14}}
Critical reception
{{music ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |title=Delta Hurricane Review by Ron Wynn |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/delta-hurricane-mw0000619633 |website=AllMusic |access-date=22 February 2023}}
|rev2 = Chicago Tribune
|rev2score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Kening |first1=Dan |title=Larry McCray Delta Hurricane |work=Chicago Tribune |date=25 Nov 1993 |page=13E}}
|rev3 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
|rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=5 |page=622}}
}}
Stereo Review wrote that "McCray is, above all, a superb blues-guitar player, combining the lyricism of an Eric Clapton with the power of a Son Seals."{{cite magazine |title=Delta Hurricane by Larry McCray |magazine=Stereo Review |date=Nov 1993 |volume=58 |issue=11 |page=124}} The Chicago Tribune noted that "McCray is very much a '90s bluesman, unafraid of mixing in rock, soul and even the occasional heavy-metal touch in his music." The State concluded that "McCray's paint-peeling guitar solos are simply awesome, packed with the kind of electric fire that Muddy Waters dreamed about on his first trip to Chicago."{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Michael |title=New Releases |work=The State |date=July 23, 1993 |page=12D}}
The Toronto Star determined that "the great combo of tenderness and toughness in Larry McCray highlights Delta Hurricane.{{cite news |last1=Chapman |first1=Geoff |title=Jeannie, Jimmy give the blues big-band bounce |work=Toronto Star |date=24 Dec 1993 |page=F18}} The Austin American-Statesman deemed Delta Hurricane the eighth best blues album of 1993, writing that "McCray forcefully makes his case for inclusion in the upper echelon of contemporary blues artists."{{cite news |last1=Point |first1=Michael |title='93: A Look Back |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=30 Dec 1993 |department=Onward |page=15}} The Boston Herald called it "the best contemporary blues release of the year—and maybe last year, too."{{cite news |last1=Convey |first1=Kevin R. |title=Discs |work=Boston Herald |date=August 13, 1993 |page=S21}}
AllMusic wrote that McCray's "guitar work is ... authentic; there aren't any flashy phrases or flamboyant riffs, just pile-driving lines, barreling statements and energetic support for his vocals."
Track listing
{{track listing
| all_writing =
| headline =
| title1 = Delta Hurricane
| length1 =
| title2 = Adding Up
| length2 =
| title3 = Last Four Nickels
| length3 =
| title4 = Soul Shine
| length4 =
| title5 = Not That Much
| length5 =
| title6 = Last Hand of the Night
| length6 =
| title7 = Witchin' Moon
| length7 =
| title8 = Blue River
| length8 =
| title9 = Hole in My Heart
| length9 =
| title10 = Three Straight Days of Rain
| length10 =
| title11 = Blues in the City
| length11 =
| total_length =
}}
References
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