Sax Maniac
{{Infobox album
| name = Sax Maniac
| type = studio
| artist = James White and the Blacks
| cover = Sax_Maniac_album_cover.jpeg
| alt =
| released = 1982
| recorded = Blank Tapes, New York
| venue =
| studio =
| genre =
| length =
| producer = James White
| prev_title = Off White
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = Melt Yourself Down
| next_year = 1986
}}
Sax Maniac is a 1982 album by the New York jazz band James White and the Blacks.{{Cite web|url=https://lightintheattic.net/releases/4269-sax-maniac|title=James White And The Blacks - Sax Maniac|website=Light In The Attic Records}} The album was released on Chris Stein's Animal Records label and dedicated to Anya Phillips.{{Cite web|url=https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/james-white-and-the-blacks-sax-maniac-futurismo|title=James White and the Blacks - Sax Maniac (Futurismo)|website=The Big Takeover}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r52560|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]
| rev2 = Sounds
| rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Burkham |first=Chris |date=25 September 1982 |title=White and torch-songs |magazine=Sounds |page=32}}
}}
The Globe and Mail wrote that, "although there are no great departures here, the music has lost some of its wise-guy stance and is beginning to move into more emotional territory."{{cite news |last1=Lacey |first1=Liam |title=Sax Maniac James White and the Blacks |work=The Globe and Mail |date=16 Oct 1982 |page=F8}} The New York Times opined that, "while the music on Sax Maniac is as deliberately tacky and mordantly funny as ever, it also evidences considerable growth... Mr. White's horn arrangements are much more sophisticated and inventive, especially on his demolition derby deconstruction of Arlen and Mercer's 'That Old Black Magic' and the woefully perverse 'Disco Jaded'."{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Robert |title=They Stake Out the Frontiers of Pop |work=The New York Times |date=31 Oct 1982 |page=A21}}
Track listing
All tracks composed by James White, except where indicated
- "Disco Jaded"
- "Irresistible Impulse"
- "Money to Burn"
- "Sax Machine"
- "Sax Maniac"
- "That Old Black Magic" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer){{Cite web|url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=james_chance|title=TrouserPress.com :: James Chance|website=www.trouserpress.com}}
- "The Twitch"
Personnel
;Jame White and the Blacks
- James White - lead vocals, alto saxophone, piano on "Irresistible Impulse" and "Disco Jaded"
- Chris Cunningham, Jerry Antonius - guitar
- The Discolitas (Bemshi Jones and Cherie Donovan) - backing and lead vocals
- Colin Wade - bass
- Ralph Rolle - drums, percussion
;Guests
- Luther Thomas - saxophone
- Robert Aaron - tenor saxophone, piano on "That Old Black Magic"
- Joseph Bowie - trombone on "Irresistible Impulse", "Sax Machine" and "Sax Maniac"
- John Mulkerin - trumpet on "Irresistible Impulse", "Sax Machine" and "Sax Maniac"
- Jack Walrath - trumpet on "That Old Black Magic"
- Ray Maldonado - trumpet on "Money to Burn" and "The Twitch"
References
{{Reflist}}