Upchurch, Phil - Upchurch

Name: Phil Upchurch
Album: Upchurch
Year: 1969
Style: Jazz Guitar, Funk
Similar Bands: Ramsey Lewis, Curtis Mayfield, Al Hirt, Jimmy Smith, George Benson
"One-Word" Review: Meditative Guitar Noodling in various settings.
Based Out Of: Chicago, IL
Label: Cadet, Chess

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Upchurch (1969)

1. Black Gold  4:31
2. America 3:30 (Paul Simon Cover)
3. As You Said 2:31 (Cream Cover)
4. You Wouldn't. You Couldn't Be True 3:02
5. Cross Town Traffic 4:00 (Hendrix Cover) /
6. Adam and Charlene 4:19
7. Spinning Wheel 3:28 (Blood Sweat & Tears Cover)
8. Voodoo Chile 2:52 (Hendrix Cover)
9. More and More 2:43 (Blood Sweat & Tears cover)
10. Midnight Chile 4:09 

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Phil Upchurch- Guitar (Kool Gents, Dells, Spaniels, Curtis Mayfield, Otis Rush, Jimmy Reed, Dee Clark, Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Groove Holmes, BB King, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Brown, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Gene Chandler, John Lee Hooker, Grover Washington Jr, Cannonball Adderley, Soulful String, Rotary Connection, Donny Hathaway, Harvey Mason, Ramsay Lewis, Quincy Jones, Tennyson Stephens, George Benson, Mose Allison, Gary Burton, Lenny Breau, Joe Williams, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Carmen McRae, Cat Stevens, David Sanborn, Michael Jackson, Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Bob Dylan, Peabo Bryson, Anita Baker, Minnie Riperton, Red Holloway, Sheena Easton, Hubert Laws, Ben Sidran, Maurice White, The Crusaders, Palladin, Ichiban, Ridgetop, Bo Diddley, Marlena Shaw, Whitney Houston, Julio Iglesias, Moonglows, The Co-Ops, more)
• Louis Satterfield - Bass (Phenix Choir/Horns, Philip Cohran & Artistic Heritage Ensemble, Sky, Intentions, Pharaohs, Salty Peppers, Phil Collins, Fontella Bass, James Cotton, BB King, Jack McDuff, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Okie Duke, The Dells, Shel Silverstein, Mighty Joe Young, Earth Wind & Fire, Emotions, ChiLites, Staples, Denise Williams, Ronnie Laws, Gap Band, Tavares, Invisible Mans Band, more)
• Morris Jennings - Drums (Electronic Concept Orch, Operation Breadbasket Orch & Choir, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Soulful Strings, Jack McDuff, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Zeet Band, Odell Brown, Jerry Butler, Dells, Peabo Bryson, Terry Callier, Charles Jackson, Chi-Lites, Manhattans, Curtis Mayfield, Jesus Wayne, Superior Movement, Roy Buchanan  more)
• Donny Hathaway - Piano (Mayfield Singers, Salty Peppers, Woody Herman, Roberta Flack, Young-Holt Unlimited, Margie Joseph, Fascinations, Zeet Band, Billy Prewitt, Operation Breadbasket Orch & Choir, Little Milton, Barry Melton, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler, Cold Blood, Joe Cocker, King Curtis, Dr Dre, Nate Dogg, Sam Moore, Lo-Fi Allstars, Missy Elliott, Danny O'Keefe, Lou Vega, Rick Ro$$, more)
• Bobby Christian - Percussion (Carl Stevens, Harry Lookofsky, Soulful Strings, Louis Panico, Louise Massey, David Carroll, Dick Schory, Sid Cooper, Melody Four, Jack McDuff, Zager & Evans, Guy Lombardo, Okie Duke, Joe Venuti, Hollins & Starr, Gene Chandler, Bonnie Koloc, McLuhan, Dells, Terry Callier, Jerry Butler, Charles Bevel, Bonnie Koloc, Chi-Lites, Heaven & Earth, Honeytree, Morello, Cleveland Eaton, Ron Steele, Tyrone Davis, Walter Jackson, Teresa Wiater, Peabo Bryson, Little Milton, Marti McCartney, LeRoy Hutson, Eugene Record, Manhattans, Rotary Connection, Gus Gioradano, Russ Morgan)
• Dave Chausow - Strings & Horns (Ramsey Lewis, David Carroll, Joe Morello, Electric Concept Orch, Okie Duke, Jerry Sandifer, Mason Profit)
• Stu Black - Engineer
• Charles Stepney - Arrangement, Conducting, Producer
• Jim Taylor - Cover Photo
• Victor Skrebneski - Liner Photo
• Randy Harter - Album Design
• James Mack Singers - Vocals

Unknown-ness: This is one cool looking album...love the simple yellow and black art direction, the kaleidoscope image of Phil Upchurch, and most enjoyable, the Upchurch font. Since the cover shows just Upchurch and his guitar, I'm going to assume this is something bluesy, but along the lines of Clapton with more soul. However, the back of the record lists him as a Jazz-Rock guitarist, as well as the accompaniment of drums and piano (and 36 pieces on one track), so I assume it will be much more jazzy than that.

Album Review: The album spans the range of jazz from full orchestral support to three piece night club performances. The result is mood setting and relaxing for half the tracks, and bright, bombastic, yet gritty for a handful of others.  

Upchurch was a very talented guitarist, starting professionally at 16 years old. He had one big single in 1961 called You Can't Sit Down (US top 30), which President Clinton performed at his inauguration. In the mid 60's became the house guitarist for Chess Records, so he has performed on many records. 27 solo albums later, he is still performing today (2021), playing Jazz, Soul, Funk, RnB and Blues, not to mention an advertisement or a cameo role here and there.

Stand Out Track: As You Said

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