Fish Ain't Bitin'
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Fish Ain't Bitin'
| type = studio
| artist = Corey Harris
| cover = Fish Ain't Bitin'.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1997
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Blues, country blues
| length =
| label = Alligator
| producer = Larry Hoffman, Corey Harris
| prev_title = Between Midnight and Day
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title = Greens from the Garden
| next_year = 1999
}}
Fish Ain't Bitin is the second album by the American musician Corey Harris, released in 1997 through Alligator Records.{{cite magazine |last1=Reece |first1=Doug |title=Critical Mass |magazine=Billboard |date=Mar 22, 1997 |volume=109 |issue=12 |page=21}}{{cite magazine |last1=Marsh |first1=Dave |title=Fish Ain't Bitin' |magazine=Playboy |date=Jul 1997 |volume=44 |issue=7 |page=29}}{{cite book |last1=Iglauer |first1=Bruce |last2=Roberts |first2=Patrick A. |title=Bitten by the Blues: The Alligator Records Story |date=2018 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |page=319}} Harris supported the album with a North American tour that included shows opening for B.B. King.{{cite news |last1=Reger |first1=Rick |title=Corey Harris, Friday at Buddy Guy's Legends |work=Chicago Tribune |date=11 July 1997 |department=Friday |page=25}}{{cite news |last1=Kassulke |first1=Natasha |title=Touring with King Lets Harris Learn from a Legend of the Blues |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=13 Nov 1997 |department=Rhythm |page=4}} Fish Ain't Bitin won a W. C. Handy Award for the best acoustic blues album of 1997.{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Bill |title=Allison sweeps W.C. Handy Blues Awards |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=2 May 1998 |page=8}}
Production
The album was co-produced by Larry Hoffman, who also arranged the horns. Harris was inspired by the music of New Orleans, where he had lived for several years.{{cite news |last1=Wirt |first1=John |title=Harris is young blues man with an old soul |work=The Advocate |date=April 25, 1997 |location=Baton Rouge |department=Fun |page=10}} He used a National steel guitar.{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Joe |title=Fine examples of a down-home style |work=Times Colonist |date=8 July 1997 |page=1}} Harris used a tuba and two trombones on some of the tracks. "God Don't Ever Change" is a cover of the Blind Willie Johnson song.{{cite news |last1=Reger |first1=Rick |title=Blues Does Delta Proud |work=Chicago Tribune |date=14 July 1997 |department=Tempo |page=5}} "Bumble Bee Blues" is a cover of the Memphis Minnie song. "Jack O'Diamonds" is a version of the song popularized by Blind Lemon Jefferson.{{cite news |title=He's Still So Young to Know the Blues |work=Daily Hampshire Gazette |date=March 27, 1997}} "Worried Life Blues" was written by Big Maceo.{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Clive |title=On Record |work=The Sunday Times |date=May 4, 1997 |department=Culture |page=18}} "5-0 Blues" is about police brutality.{{cite news |last1=McGuinness |first1=Jim |title=In the Blues Tradition |work=The Record |date=24 Oct 1997 |location=Bergen County |department=Previews |page=5}} The title track was influenced by Harris's childhood catfishing excursions.{{cite news |last1=Spera |first1=Keith |title=Blues Traveler |work=The Times-Picayune |date=April 25, 1997 |page=A1}}
Critical reception
{{music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |title=Fish Ain't Bitin' Review by Cub Koda |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fish-aint-bitin-mw0000098322 |website=AllMusic |access-date=11 August 2023}}
| rev2 = Robert Christgau
| rev3 = DownBeat
| rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last1=Hadley |first1=Frank-John |title=Fish Ain't Biting |magazine=DownBeat |date=Jul 1997 |volume=64 |issue=7 |page=63}}
| rev4 = Orlando Sentinel
| rev4score = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite news |last1=Gettelman |first1=Parry |title=Corey Harris |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=23 May 1997 |department=Calendar |page=7}}
| rev5 = The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings
| rev5score = {{rating|4|4}}{{cite book |title=The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings |date=2006 |publisher=Penguin Books |page=242}}
| rev6 = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
| rev6score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Jim |title=Recording Review |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=27 Apr 1997 |page=G8}}
| rev7 = (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |title=(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=2004 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |page=365}}
| rev8 = Seattle Post-Intelligencer
| rev9 = Uncut
| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Slaven |first=Neil |date=September 1997 |title=Corey Harris: Fish Ain't Bitin' / Eric Bibb: Good Stuff |magazine=Uncut |page=82 |issue=4}}
}}
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called Harris "more than an imitator," writing that "like many of his musical ancestors, Harris has turned the stuff of his life into a musical anthology." The Orlando Sentinel noted that, "in addition to a distinctive, gravelly baritone with wonderful sustain, he has an exceptionally strong sense of rhythm and knows how to write a good tune." The Calgary Herald deemed the album "a delicious acoustic blues disc that captures that back porch blues feel of old and yet remains completely contemporary."{{cite news |last1=Muretich |first1=James |title=And as far as blues newcomers go... |work=Calgary Herald |date=13 May 1997 |page=B10}}
The Times Colonist determined that "Harris throws everything from New Orleans brass bands to rap into his unique, and it all comes out majestic and inspired country blues." The Michigan Chronicle concluded that the album "demonstrates the same haunting majesty that powered the [blues] during its pre-World War II, pre-electric phase."{{cite news |last1=Seedorff |first1=George |title=A blues king has left us, a new generation must carry on |work=Michigan Chronicle |date=20 Aug 1997 |page=3D}} Robert Christgau opined that "as much as Harris's cross-rhythms and vocal panoply honor his readings of the classics, his virtuosity springs to life on originals."
The Chicago Tribune listed Fish Ain't Bitin' as the best blues album of 1997.{{cite news |last1=Knopper |first1=Steve |title=Best of the Year |work=Chicago Tribune |date=14 Dec 1997 |department=Arts and Entertainment |page=8}} OC Weekly included the album on its list of the best of the 1990s.{{cite news |last1=Seigal |first1=Buddy |title=The '90s Didn't Suck |work=OC Weekly |date=December 23, 1999 |department=Music}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = High Fever Blues
| length1 =
| title2 = Frankie and Johnnie
| length2 =
| title3 = Berry Owens Blues
| length3 =
| title4 = Take Me Back
| length4 =
| title5 = Fish Ain't Bitin'
| length5 =
| title6 = Preaching Blues
| length6 =
| title7 = Bumble Bee Blues
| length7 =
| title8 = God Don't Ever Change
| length8 =
| title9 = 5-0 Blues
| length9 =
| title10 = Mama Got Worried
| length10 =
| title11 = Worried Life Blues
| length11 =
| title12 = High Fever Blues (Solo Version)
| length12 =
| title13 = Jack o'Diamonds
| length13 =
| title14 = If You Leave Me
| length14 =
| title15 = Moosemilk Blues
| length15 =
| title16 = You've Got to Move
| length16 =
| title17 = Clean Rag
| length17 =
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}