Breaking the Rules is the fifth solo studio album by American blues rock musician Walter Trout, credited to the Walter Trout Band. Recorded from January 15 to February 28, 1995, at Soundcastle in Los Angeles, California, it was Trout's first album to be self-produced, and was released on June 6, 1995, by Provogue Records. The album reached number 58 on the Dutch Albums Chart and number 4 on the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart.
Contents
Background
After releasing his band's fourth studio album Tellin' Stories on Silvertone Records, Walter Trout returned to his original label Provogue Records for Breaking the Rules. In a 1999 interview, the guitarist recalled that "they [Silvertone] didn't do a very good job for me, either in Europe or America. All my record sales in Europe started to go down and I realised that Europe was my bread and butter", leading to him re-signing with Provogue. Recording for Breaking the Rules took place between January 15 and February 28, 1995, at Soundcastle in Los Angeles, California, with Trout taking on production duties for the first time in his career.
Reception
Commercial
Breaking the Rules reached number 58 on the Dutch Albums Chart and number 4 on the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart.
Critical
Breaking the Rules received positive reviews from critics. Reviewing the album for the Los Angeles Times, Mike Boehm proclaimed it to be Trout's best album since 1990's Prisoner of a Dream, writing that "Trout can handle pop and rock songwriting, as well as play within the styles and forms of traditional blues. His approach here is to strike a balance – a good choice that lets him blaze bluesily on some tracks, while demonstrating a good ear for melody on such pop-leaning highlights". Boehm also praised Trout's first effort as a producer, claiming that he "gives himself and his band mates something they lacked on Tellin' Stories and its predecessor, Transition: a broad, uncluttered sonic field on which to operate". A review in Music & Media described Breaking the Rules as "a refreshing mix of rock and blues".
Personnel
Walter Trout Band
Walter Trout – vocals, guitar, harmonica, production, art concept
Jimmy Trapp – bass
Bernard Pershey – drums, percussion
Martin Gerschwitz – keyboards, violin
Additional musicians
Teresa James – backing vocals
Danny Timms – backing vocals
Additional personnel
Charlie Watts – engineering
Tim Nitz – engineering assistance
Gabe Chiesa – engineering assistance
Mike Iacopelli – mastering
Paul Roos – design
Dora Larson – illustration
Notes