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Meanwhile ... Back in the States

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Meanwhile ... Back in the States
Studio album by
Willie Alexander & the Boom Boom Band
Released1978
GenreRock
LabelMCA
ProducerCraig Leon
Willie Alexander & the Boom Boom Band chronology
Willie Alexander & the Boom Boom Band
(1978) 		Meanwhile ... Back in the States
(1978) 		Pass the Tabasco
(1996)

Meanwhile ... Back in the States is an album by the American band Willie Alexander & the Boom Boom Band, released in 1978.[1][2] Its title refers to Alexander's immense popularity in France.[3] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Production

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Alexander wrote the songs, some of which incorporated elements of reggae and disco, between 1971 and 1978.[5][6] He was influenced by beat writers, with many of the songs about the lives of societal outcasts and struggling musicians.[7][8] Some of the song titles were changed from the demo and original versions, in order to please MCA Records.[9] The album was produced by Craig Leon.[10] "Pass the Tabasco" quotes a musical passage from "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)".[11]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Alternative Rock6/10[3]
Duluth News Tribune8/10[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[13]
Omaha World-Herald[14]
The Rolling Stone Record Guide[15]
Shreveport JournalB[16]
Toronto Star[17]

The Lincoln Journal Star called the Boom Boom Band "the leading Boston punk rock band", noting that Alexander "comes up with some intriguing street intellectualism."[18] The Daily Illini stated that Alexander "prefers a slightly echoed deadpan delivery that was popular in the early '70s with David Bowie, Lou Reed and Mott the Hoople."[19] The Boston Globe said, "The rock is grittier and more accessible, the Boom Boom band is more dynamically involved and Alexander has tightened his vocals into a more rhythmic style without sacrificing his offbeat charm."[5]

The Shreveport Journal opined that "the band recalls the early Who"; The Buffalo News likened the sound to "pure Rolling Stones raunch".[16][20] The Spokesman-Review said that Alexander "has the perfect punk voice".[21] The Duluth News Tribune praised the "brilliant incoherence" and "flash of unique rock and roll genius."[12] The Los Angeles Times noted the "slightly perverse, oddball charm", while concluding that the band had more in common with Bad Company than with new wave music.[10] The Toronto Star called Meanwhile ... Back in the States "sleazy and definitely not chic."[17]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Mass Ave." 
2."Modern Lovers" 
3."You Looked So Pretty When" 
4."Pass the Tabasco" 
5."Melinda" 
6."Hitchhiking" 
7."R.A. Baby" 
8."Sky Queen" 
9."Bring Your Friend" 
10."For Old Times Sake" 

References

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  1. ^ Santosuosso, Ernie (August 18, 1978). "Garden's big week". The Boston Globe. p. 43.
  2. ^ Arganbright, Frank (September 3, 1978). "Listening on records". Journal and Courier. p. D6.
  3. ^ a b Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock: Third Ear – The Essential Listening Companion. Miller Freeman Books. pp. 150–151.
  4. ^ "Around Town". The Atlanta Journal. No. 189. November 17, 1978. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b Morse, Steve (September 14, 1978). "Records". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 12.
  6. ^ Sabulis, Thomas (August 24, 1978). "Latest on local rock". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 4.
  7. ^ D'Aqtil, Terry (October 21, 1978). "The Bird's Word". Weekender. The Leader-Post. p. 21.
  8. ^ Robins, Wayne (October 22, 1978). "Rock and roll sound, better than average". Sound. Newsday. p. 14.
  9. ^ a b "Meanwhile...Back in the States Review by Joe Viglione". AllMusic. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Snowden, Don (September 28, 1978). "Pop Album Reviews". Los Angeles Times. p. IV.21.
  11. ^ Duffy, Mike (December 28, 1978). "Willie's new wave is red hot". Detroit Free Press. p. 13C.
  12. ^ a b Shefchik, Rick (September 17, 1978). "Rock 'n roll eradicated?". Accent North. Duluth News Tribune. p. 6.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. Macmillan. p. 117.
  14. ^ Smith, Will (September 12, 1978). "New Sounds". Omaha World-Herald. p. 13.
  15. ^ The Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1979. p. 5.
  16. ^ a b Smith, Steve (September 15, 1978). "Willie Alexander & the Boom Boom Band – 'Meanwhile ...Back in the States'". Shreveport Journal. p. 2F.
  17. ^ a b Jones, Donna (October 26, 1978). "Records". Toronto Star. p. C12.
  18. ^ Becker, Bart (September 6, 1978). "Brief stops". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 18.
  19. ^ Cox, Ted. "Meanwhile ... Back in the States". Revue. The Daily Illini. p. 9.
  20. ^ Anderson, Dale (September 15, 1978). "Losers". Gusto. The Buffalo News. p. 28.
  21. ^ Sowa, Tom (September 17, 1978). "For the record". The Spokesman-Review. p. E17.
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