Chirpin' Explained

Chirpin' is an album by the American musical group the Persuasions, released in 1977.^{[2] [3]} It was rereleased in 1990, following the success of the PBS documentary .^[4]

Production

The album was produced by David Dashev.^[5] After two albums that contained instrumental accompaniment, Chiripin was a return to an a capella style, albeit without member Jayotis Washington.^[1]

Critical reception

The Richmond Times-Dispatch praised the "rich, gutsy and romantic harmonies," and considered Chirpin the group's best album.^[6]

Greil Marcus, in The Village Voice, wrote of "Willie and Laura Mae Jones": "'That was another place, and another time,' runs the last line of Tony Joe White’s chorus; as the Persuasions sing it, it is full of dignity, close to bitter, and empty of regret. I don’t know that I have heard new black music this strong since the days that followed Sly Stone’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On."^[7] He later listed the album as one of the ten best of the 1970s.^[8]

Track listing

Side 1

1. "Papa Oom Mow Mow" (Al Frazier, Carl White, Turner Wilson, John Harris) – 2:18
2. "Willie and Laura Mae Jones" (Tony Joe White) – 3:15
3. "Moonlight and Music" (Leroy Fann) – 3:00
4. "Johnny Porter" (Bobby Ray Appleberry, Bill Cuomo) – 4:34
5. "Looking for an Echo" (Richard Reicheg) – 4:11

Side 2

6. "Women and Drinkin'" (Jerry Lawson, David Dashev) – 6:53
7. "Sixty Minute Man" (Billy Ward) – 2:00
8. "Win Your Love (For Me)" (Sam Cooke) – 3:32
9. "It's Gonna Rain Again" (Charles Johnson) – 2:22
10. "To Be Loved" (Tyran Carlo, Gwen Gordy Fuqua, Berry Gordy)– 2:32

Details

• Produced by David Dashev.
• Recorded and mixed at The Hit Factory, New York.
• Engineered by Michael Getlin.
• Released in 1977 by Elektra.

Notes and References

1. Book: Pitilli, Lawrence. Doo-Wop Acappella: A Story of Street Corners, Echoes, and Three-Part Harmonies. August 2, 2016. Rowman & Littlefield. 9781442244306.
2. Web site: The Persuasions | Biography & History. AllMusic.
3. News: The Persuasions Are in Harmony with the Present. Jennifer. Whitlock. The Morning Call. 8 August 1993 .
4. News: Heim . Chris . Record labels turn on a shower of collections . Chicago Tribune . 5 Oct 1990 . Friday . S.
5. News: 'Sweet Joe' Russell dies at 72; singer with the Persuasions. May 13, 2012. Los Angeles Times.
6. News: Bustard . C.A. . Chirpin', the Persuasions . Richmond Times-Dispatch . Apr 20, 1977 . A12.
7. News: The Persuasions, 'Chirpin" (05/76). November 25, 2014. The Village Voice.
8. Web site: Rock in the 1970s: Journey Through the Past . The Village Voice . 11 December 2019 . 9 June 2021.