Delbert McClinton: Nothing Personal : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Someone forgot to tell Delbert McClinton that rhythm & blues veterans seldom make great records four decades into their career. Typically, the most you can expect from even a gifted journeyman this far down the line is punch-the-clock competence and occasional flashes of fire. But this Texan comes roaring out of the gate on Nothing Personal. The album unfolds like a road map of Americana from one of its most-traveled lights, encompassing roadhouse rockers about being wronged ("Livin' It Down"), an old-school country lament for an unforgotten flame ("Birmingham Tonight"), a salty kiss-and-tell with a New Orleans groove ("All Night Long") and a rootsy slab of pure, uncut Jimmy Reed-style blues ("Nothing Lasts Forever"). McClinton's stonewashed voice turns tender on "Don't Leave Home Without It" and droll on "Watchin' the Rain," a Zen-like skiffle tune whose protagonist chucks the rat race: "Now I'm where I wanna be/Sittin' here watchin' the rain." In his own way, McClinton is like that character, having made Nothing Personal to suit himself and not the market-minded music biz. How sweet it is. (RS 870 - June 7, 2001)

PARKE PUTERBAUGH