''Spend Some Time with Me'' is an album by the American musician

Mem Shannon Mem Shannon (born December 21, 1959, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States) is an American blues musician. He is currently signed to Toronto's NorthernBlues Music. Shannon is a former taxi-cab driver turned bluesman.Scott Jordan"Mem Shannon' ...

, released in 1999. It was his first album for

Shanachie Records Shanachie Records is an American, New Jersey–based record label, founded in 1975 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. The label is named for the Gaelic word '' seanchaí'' (anglicised as shanachie), an Irish storyteller. It was previously distr ...

. Shannon supported the album with a North American tour.

Production

The album was produced by Dennis Walker and Shannon; it was mixed by

John Hampton John Stephen Hampton (c. 1806 – 1 December 1869) was Governor of Western Australia from 1862 to 1868. Early life Little is known of John Hampton's early life. His death certificate states that he was born in 1810, but other evidence sugge ...

. Shannon was backed by his band, the Membership. He decided to explore other styles of music, including funk, in an effort to avoid being labeled strictly a blues musician. "The Last Time I Was Here (Millennium Blues)" is about slavery and Black reincarnation. "Born in This Time" is a cover of the

Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913April 30, 1983), better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who was an important figure in the post-World War II blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of moder ...

song. "Paying My Dues" is about the problems encountered by musicians on the lower rungs of the music business. "Pray for the Children" addresses adolescent violence. "Who Are They" casts a skeptical eye at media pundits.

Critical reception

'' OffBeat'' wrote that Shannon's "solos are jazzy, stream-of-consciousness explorations that can quote a Latin figure one minute and head into lyrical George Benson territory the next... But most of all, Shannon is funky." ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...

'' said that "Shannon further expands the definition of blues by carving funk grooves, jazzy flourishes and even country ... into 11 originals stamped by his usual sassy lead guitar and crack rhythm section." The '' Daily Herald'' determined that, "more a rich soul album bedded with horns that lead the songs rather than react to them, ''Spend Some Time with Me'' is utterly unique for its humor and structure." The ''

Orlando Sentinel The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is the primary newspaper of Orlando, Florida, and the Central Florida region, in the United States. It was founded in 1876 and is currently owned by Tribune Publishing Company. The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is owned by pare ...

'' concluded: "Shannon has a real knack for melody—something often wanting in both blues and R&B nowadays. Even more rare is his attention to lyrics. Shannon's songs always tell a story and are often humorous and pointed." The ''

Star Tribune ''The Minnesota Star Tribune'', formerly the ''Minneapolis Star Tribune'', is an American daily newspaper based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As of 2023, it is Minnesota's largest newspaper and the List of newspapers in the United States, seventh- ...

'' stated that "his gruff baritone stylishly tackles tear-stained blues, snappy funk and countrified ballads; his pointed guitar work ranges from funky-chicken chording to terse, fiery solos and fluid jazz passages." ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

'' opined that Shannon fashions "a clever blend of Snooks Eaglin's Louisiana blues and Bill Withers's soul-music monologues."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

wrote that "Shannon finds new ways to define and transcend the blues."

Track listing

References

{{authority control 1999 albums Shanachie Records albums Mem Shannon albums