I'm in the Wrong Business!

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = I'm in the Wrong Business!

| type = studio

| artist = A.C. Reed

| cover = I'm in the Wrong Business!.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1987

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Chicago blues

| length =

| label = Alligator{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TURWt5WuQfEC&pg=PA823|title=Encyclopedia of the Blues: K-Z, index|first=Edward M.|last=Komara|date=September 3, 2006|publisher=Taylor & Francis US}}

| producer =

| prev_title = Take These Blues and Shove 'Em

| prev_year = 1982

| next_title = I Want You to Love Me

| next_year = 1995

}}

I'm in the Wrong Business! is an album by the American musician A.C. Reed, released in 1987.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vEvEPC9p9hUC&pg=PA185|title=The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD|first=Frank-John|last=Hadley|date=September 3, 1993|publisher=Grove Press}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/apr/12/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries|title=Obituary: AC Reed|date=April 12, 2004|work=The Guardian}} Backed by the Spark Plugs, Reed promoted the album with a North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Provencher |first1=Norman |title=Saxophonist pounds home the blues |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=3 Oct 1987 |page=C11}} It sold around 50,000 copies in its first two years of release.{{cite news |last1=MacInnis |first1=Craig |title=Bluesman dislikes Canadian customs |work=Toronto Star |date=April 21, 1989 |page=D16}}

Production

The album was recorded in four studios across the United States.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Mark |title=I'm in the Wrong Business A. C. Reed |work=The Globe and Mail |date=24 Mar 1988 |page=C4}} Reed wrote all of the album's songs; his saxophone style was influenced by J. T. Brown.{{cite news |last1=Racine |first1=Marty |title=Records |work=Houston Chronicle |date=January 10, 1988 |department=Zest |page=11}}{{cite news |last1=Hoekstra |first1=Dave |title=Saxophonist A. C. Reed finds right key for blues |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=February 5, 1988 |department=Weekend Plus |page=7}} Bonnie Raitt, Maurice John Vaughn, and Stevie Ray Vaughan played on I'm in the Wrong Business!{{cite news |last1=Van Matre |first1=Lynn |title=The Concert Line |work=Chicago Tribune |date=28 Aug 1987 |department=Tempo |page=5}} Junior Markham played harmonica on "This Little Voice".{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Ken |title=A.C. Reed gives the blues his best |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=31 Jan 1988 |page=2F}} The title track is a complaint about the music business; Reed made it a point to use humor in his songs.

Critical reception

{{music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/im-in-the-wrong-business-mw0000194400|title=A.C. Reed I'm in the Wrong Business |website=AllMusic}}

|rev2 = Chicago Tribune

|rev2score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Popson |first1=Tom |title=Also available from Alligator... |work=Chicago Tribune |date=18 Dec 1987 |department=Friday |page=L}}

|rev3 = Robert Christgau

|rev3score = B+{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist2.php?id=14|title=A.C. Reed|website=Robert Christgau}}

|rev4 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=6 |page=820}}

|rev5 = MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide

|rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide |date=1998 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=306}}

|rev6 = The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings

|rev6score = {{rating|2|4}}{{cite book |title=The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings |date=2006 |publisher=Penguin Books Ltd |page=541}}

|rev7 = The Philadelphia Inquirer

|rev7score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Ken |title=A.C. Reed I'm in the Wrong Business! |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=17 Jan 1988 |page=F8}}

}}

Robert Christgau wrote that, "title boast to the contrary, Reed has a commercial knack—he knows how to distinguish himself from competing bluesmen, more gifted ones included." The Boston Globe deemed the album a "red-hot session" by the "definitive Chicago blues sax player."{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Steve |title=Blues |work=The Boston Globe |date=6 Dec 1987 |page=A29}} USA Today stated that "Steve Diztell's careening guitar break on the irresistibly funky 'Don't Drive Drunk' is impressive."{{cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Joe |title='I'm in the Wrong Business' A.C. Reed |work=USA Today |date=December 18, 1987}}

The Washington Post noted that, "rhythmically, the album generally has the languid, loping feel of a Jimmy Reed tune."{{cite news |last1=Joyce |first1=Mike |title=Alligator's Cutting Edge |work=The Washington Post |date=16 Dec 1987 |page=D7}} The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that Reed "makes his own blues sound both accessible to the marketplace and gratifyingly raunchy." The Herald American wrote: "By not taking the blues too seriously, Reed has produced one of the genre's most contemporary works."{{cite news |last1=Bourke |first1=Brian G. |title=I'm in the Wrong Business, A.C. Reed |work=Herald American |date=December 20, 1987 |department=Stars |page=5}}

AllMusic called the album "solid, soulful blues, often with humorous, self-deprecating lyrics."

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing = A.C. Reed

| title1 = I'm in the Wrong Business

| length1 =

| title2 = I Can't Go On This Way

| length2 =

| title3 = Fast Food Annie

| length3 =

| title4 = This Little Voice

| length4 =

| title5 = My Buddy Buddy Friends

| length5 =

| title6 = She's Fine

| length6 =

| title7 = These Blues Is Killing Me

| length7 =

| title8 = Miami Strut

| length8 =

| title9 = The Things I Want You to Do

| length9 =

| title10 = Don't Drive Drunk

| length10 =

}}

References