I'm with You (Delbert McClinton album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = I'm with You
| type = studio
| artist = Delbert McClinton
| cover = I'm with You (Delbert McClinton album).jpg
| alt =
| released = 1990
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Blues rock, country rock
| length =
| label = Curb Records{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TURWt5WuQfEC&pg=PA666|title=Encyclopedia of the Blues: K-Z, index|first=Edward M.|last=Komara|date=January 15, 2006|publisher=Taylor & Francis US|isbn=978-0-415-92701-7 |via=Google Books}}
| producer = Barry Beckett, Delbert McClinton
| prev_title = Live from Austin
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = Best of Delbert McClinton
| next_year = 1991
}}
I'm with You is an album by the American musician Delbert McClinton, released in 1990.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/delbert-mcclinton-mn0000815236/biography|title=Delbert McClinton Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q7tCDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT239|title=Delbert McClinton: One of the Fortunate Few|first=Diana Finlay|last=Hendricks|date=December 1, 2017|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|isbn=978-1-62349-589-3 |via=Google Books}} It was his first studio album in nine years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2016-02-12/the-cost-of-living/|title=The Cost of Living|website=www.austinchronicle.com}}
The album's first single was the title track, which peaked at No. 78 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Robert J. |title=Curb Records will release Delbert McClinton's... |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=January 26, 1990 |page=C2}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/delbert-mcclinton/|title=Delbert McClinton|magazine=Billboard}}
Production
Recorded live in the studio over two days in Nashville, I'm with You was produced by Barry Beckett and McClinton.{{cite magazine |last1=Santoro |first1=Gene |title=McClinton Is with Us Again on Curb Comeback Album |magazine=Billboard |date=Apr 21, 1990 |volume=102 |issue=16 |pages=31, 33}}{{cite news |last1=Butters |first1=Patrick T. |title=Delbert who? His fans fill club dates |work=The Washington Times |date=November 22, 1990 |page=M28}} It marked the first time that McClinton had helped to produce one of his albums; it was also the first time that he recorded an album while sober.{{cite news |last1=Campbel |first1=Mary |title=MCCLINTON WANTS TO MOVE PEOPLE: SHOWMAN ALSO HOPES HIS STYLE WILL MOVE HIS NEW ALBUM |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=26 May 1990 |page=A2}}{{cite news |last1=Nichols |first1=Lee |title=Defying categories: McClinton brings unique musical style to benefit |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=24 Jan 1991 |location=Onward |page=10}}
McClinton cowrote or wrote five of its songs.{{cite news |last1=DeVault |first1=Russ |title=Rejuvenated road hog settles into new niche |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=May 17, 1990 |page=D3}} "Got You on My Mind" is a cover of the Cookie and his Cupcakes song.{{cite news |last1=Whitall |first1=Susan |title=McCLINTON'S JUICES FLOW AFTER DROUGHT |work=USA Today |date=June 22, 1990}} Anson Funderburgh played guitar on the album; Jim Horn played saxophone.{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Steve |title=ROADHOUSE ROCKER MCCLINTON ROUNDS UP AN ALL-STAR BAND |work=The Boston Globe|date=17 Apr 1990 |location=ARTS & FILM |page=26}}{{cite news |last1=McCarty |first1=Patrick |title=Ironically, Horn is one of the session players on Delbert ... |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=March 27, 1990 |location=Young Virginians |page=26}}
Critical reception
{{music ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/im-with-you-mw0000203916|title=I'm with You - Delbert McClinton | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}
|rev2 = Chicago Tribune
|rev2score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Kening |first1=Dan |title=Recordings |work=Chicago Tribune |date=21 June 1990 |page=13D}}
|rev3 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
|rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=RA4-PA1963|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8 |via=Google Books}}
|rev4 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
|rev4score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=732}}
|rev5 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
|rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |pages=459–460}}
}}
The Washington Post wrote that "McClinton has always been an exciting singer, but there's a hard-won, undefeated wisdom in his voice now that allows him to sing with the knowingness of his childhood blues heroes."{{cite news |title=TEXAS ROCKERS RETURN TO ROOTS |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/04/20/texas-rockers-return-to-roots/562f1458-34b5-4f73-b614-803aee7f5c0c/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=15 January 2022}} The Los Angeles Times called the album "a fiery, up-tempo collection driven by snappy horn lines and soulful vocals."{{cite news |last1=Snowden |first1=Don |title=A Road Warrior Tries Nashville Sound |work=Los Angeles Times |date=11 Mar 1990 |location=Calendar |page=67}}
The Chicago Tribune thought that McClinton's "soulful, raspy voice is equally at home on flat-out rockers such as 'The Real Thing' and 'That's the Way I Feel' and on his own bluesy ballad, 'I Want to Love You'." Newsday concluded that the album confirms that McClinton "can still do roadhouse rock with the best of them."{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=John |title=Roadhouse Rock On a Rebound |work=Newsday |date=8 Apr 1990 |location=PART II}} The Oregonian praised the singer's "gravelly voice," and deemed the album "gutsy, brawling blues and R&B."{{cite news |last1=Tomlinson |first1=Stuart |title=WILTED FLOWER BLOOMS ANEW |work=The Oregonian |date=September 7, 1990 |page=R6}}
AllMusic wrote that "rather than trying to replicate McClinton's late-'70s sound, I'm With You has subtle touches of the newer commercial and polished country of the time mixed with the soul McClinton is known for."
Track listing
- "That's the Way I Feel"
- "My Baby's Lovin'"
- "Go On"
- "Got You on My Mind"
- "Crazy 'Bout You"
- "I'm With You"
- "I Want to Love You"
- "Who's Foolin' Who"
- "The Real Thing"
- "My Love Is Burnin'"