There's Room for Us All
{{Infobox album
| name = There's Room for Us All
| type = studio
| artist = Terrance Simien
| cover = There's Room for Us All.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1993
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = Sound Services
| genre =
| length =
| label = Black Top{{cite news |last1=Ullman |first1=Corey |title=Simien Jumps Up as One of Zydeco's Young Turks |work=Sun-Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |date=12 May 1995 |department=Showtime |page=39}}
| producer = Daryl Johnson
| prev_title = Zydeco on the Bayou
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = Jam the Jazzfest
| next_year = 1998
}}
There's Room for Us All is the second album by the American musician Terrance Simien, released in 1993.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/terrance-simien-mn0000026161/biography|title=Terrance Simien Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JOw0i0TNP7wC&pg=PA159|title=Zydeco!|first=Ben|last=Sandmel|date=June 18, 1999|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi}} It was recorded with Simien's band, the Mallet Playboys.{{cite news |last1=McLennan |first1=Scott |title=Terrance Simien cooks up a new zydeco stew |work=Telegram & Gazette |date=22 June 1995 |page=C1}} Simien supported the album with a North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Hoekstra |first1=Dave |title=Album Conjures Ghost of Sam Cooke |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=December 3, 1993 |department=Weekend Plus |page=20}}
Production
Recorded at Sound Services, in New Orleans, the album was produced by Daryl Johnson.{{cite news |last1=Wirt |first1=John |title=Simien garnishes globe with zydeco |work=The Advocate |date=November 5, 1993 |department=Fun |page=8}} The recording sessions were casual, with Simien jamming with his band and not worrying about making a traditional zydeco album.{{cite news |last1=Roos |first1=John |title=Playing the Field |work=Los Angeles Times |date=27 May 1998 |page=F2}} "The Maker" was written by Daniel Lanois.{{cite news |last1=Lehman |first1=June |title=Simien's latest disc a cure for blahs |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |date=26 Nov 1993 |page=20D}} The Meters backed Simien on a cover of Floyd King's "Groove Me".
"Dog Hill" is a cover of the Boozoo Chavis song; "Love Land" is a cover of the Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band song.{{cite news |last1=Kinsman |first1=Michael |title='There's Room' for more than Creole in spicy music |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=September 9, 1993 |department=Entertainment |page=26}} "I Shall Be Released" is a rendition of the Bob Dylan song.{{cite news |last1=Beal Jr. |first1=Jim |title=Eclectic |work=San Antonio Express-News |date=November 12, 1993 |page=21E}} The title track was inspired in part by the alarming rise of David Duke.{{cite news |last1=Aiges |first1=Scott |title=Beyond Zydeco – Variety Spices Hot Cajun Mix |work=The Times-Picayune |date=November 5, 1993 |page=L8}}
Critical reception
{{album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/theres-room-for-us-all-mw0000621510|title=Terrance Simien There's Room for Us All|website=AllMusic}}
|rev2 = Los Angeles Times
|rev2score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Snowden |first1=Don |title=Young Zydeco Artists Reignite Chenier's Flame |work=Los Angeles Times |date=8 Jan 1995 |department=Calendar |page=63}}
|rev3 = MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide
|rev3score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide |date=2000 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |pages=713–714}}
|rev4 = The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings
|rev4score = {{rating|2|4}}{{cite book |title=The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings |date=2006 |publisher=Penguin Books |pages=580–581}}
}}
The Washington Post noted that Simien "doesn't help matters by including rap, gospel-soul, reggae, a Bob Dylan song and two collaborations with the Meters on this album ... Simien is competent at them all and superb at none."{{cite news |title=New Releases |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1994/06/19/new-releases/feae7af1-52e8-40d4-b5ca-79facdd287b0/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=18 June 2022}} Rolling Stone called the album "delectable," writing that Simien "makes aural confetti of straight zydeco."{{cite magazine |last1=Evans |first1=Paul |title=Rollin' & tumblin' — There's Room for Us All by Terrance Simien |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=Apr 21, 1994 |issue=680 |page=88}}
The Chicago Tribune stated that the album "pushes the boundaries of zydeco a bit with some reggae, soul and funk flavorings."{{cite news |last1=Heim |first1=Chris |title=All right bayou |work=Chicago Tribune |date=3 Dec 1993 |department=Friday |page=Q}} The Los Angeles Times concluded that "the pace on this promising return sometimes drags when the mid-tempo R&B tunes aren't balanced with enough straight, up-tempo zydeco."
AllMusic wrote that "Simien is one of zydeco's Young Turks, but on this spectacular album he's more like Mr. Versatile."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = Uncle Bud
| length1 =
| title2 = Tout Quelqu'un
| length2 =
| title3 = Come Back Home
| length3 =
| title4 = Will I Ever Learn?
| length4 =
| title5 = The Maker
| length5 =
| title6 = À Ma Maison
| length6 =
| title7 = Groove Me
| length7 =
| title8 = Love Land
| length8 =
| title9 = There's Room for Us All
| length9 =
| title10 = Since It's Over
| length10 =
| title11 = Dog Hill
| length11 =
| title12 = Zydeco Boogaloo
| length12 =
| title13 = I Shall Be Released
| length13 =
}}