Ace in the Hole (album)

Ace in the Hole is an album by the American musician Elvin Bishop, released in 1995.^[1][2] It was his third album for Alligator Records.^[3] Bishop promoted the album by touring with B. B. King.^[4] Ace in the Hole was nominated for a Bammie Award.^[5]

Ace in the Hole
Studio album by Elvin Bishop
Released	1995
Genre	Blues, blues rock
Label	Alligator
Producer	Bill Thompson, Elvin Bishop
Elvin Bishop chronology
The Best of Elvin Bishop: Tulsa Shuffle (1994) Ace in the Hole (1995) The Skin I'm In (1998)

Production

Ace in the Hole was produced by Bill Thompson and Bishop. Charlie Musselwhite played harmonica on the album.^[6] "Home of the Blues" is about Bishop's time playing in Chicago blues clubs.^[7] "Driving Wheel" is a cover of the Roosevelt Sykes song.^[8] Bishop was excited to include several instrumentals.^[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[10]
Robert Christgau	^[11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[12]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	^[13]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	^[7]

The Christian Science Monitor wrote that Bishop's "tongue-in-cheek lyrics and country stylings are enlivened by his blistering guitar work."^[14] Robert Christgau praised "Another Mule Kickin' in Your Stall".^[11] The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "typically irreverent, distinctive blues-rock."^[15] The Columbus Dispatch stated that it "features hilarious talkin' tales in the jump blues tradition, especially the New Orleans jazz-flavored 'Fishin''."^[16]

The Vancouver Sun determined that "Ace in the Hole is a reminder the blues aren't just for melancholics."^[6] The Washington Post wrote: "When Bishop gives a sermon on the distribution of wealth in his own 'Give Me Some of That Money' or on the faithfulness of the married in Dave Bartholomew's 'Another Mule Kickin' in Your Stall', his droll delivery provides the perfect counterpoint to the sparkling playing by the guitarist and his top-notch road band."^[8] The Press of Atlantic City called the album "a blues masterwork."^[17]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Another Mule Kickin' in Your Stall"
2.	"Driving Wheel (Inst.)"
3.	"Give Me Some of That Money"
4.	"Ace in the Hole"
5.	"Party 'Til the Cows Come Home"
6.	"Think"
7.	"Home of the Blues"
8.	"Pigmeat on the Line (Inst.)"
9.	"Ain't That Love"
10.	"Fishin'"
11.	"Blue Flame (Inst.)"
12.	"Talkin' Mood"
13.	"Fooled Around and Fell in Love (Inst.)"

References

1. DeVault, Russ (25 July 1995). "Sound Shopping". The Atlanta Constitution. p. C8.
2. Iglauer, Bruce; Roberts, Patrick A. (2018). Bitten by the Blues: The Alligator Records Story. University of Chicago Press. p. 318.
3. Komara, Edward M. (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues: A-J. Routledge. p. 83.
4. "Elvin Bishop Biography by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
5. Elwood, Philip (22 Nov 1996). "Bammie nominees named". San Francisco Examiner. p. C15.
6. Todd, Douglas (31 Aug 1995). "Bounce along with Bishop or tuck into Tanya but The Master reveals a particular genius". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
7. The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 43.
8. Himes, Geoffrey (18 Aug 1995). "Etta's strong vocals; Elvin's sassy blues". The Washington Post. p. WW15.
9. Melton, Wayne R. (12 Aug 1995). "Bishop Sings the Blues for Garcia". Reno Gazette-Journal. p. 6E.
10. "Ace in the Hole Review by Thom Owens". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
11. "Elvin Bishop". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
12. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
13. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 64.
14. Sheck, Frank (17 Aug 1995). "Record Labels Rediscover the Blues". Music. The Christian Science Monitor. p. 12.
15. Dahl, Bill (18 Aug 1995). "Blues Notes". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.
16. Eichenberger, Bill (31 Aug 1995). "'Ace in the Hole' Has Humor, Heart". Entertainment. The Columbus Dispatch. p. 5.
17. Allen, Greg (13 Aug 1995). "CDs of the Week". The Press of Atlantic City. p. C5.