Party Weekend
| Party Weekend | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1983 | |||
| Genre | Tex-Mex, rock | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Producer | Richard Gottehrer | |||
| Joe "King" Carrasco chronology | ||||
| ||||
Party Weekend is an album by the American musician Joe "King" Carrasco, released in 1983.[1][2] He was backed by his band, the Crowns.[3] A video was shot for the title track, which contains an appearance by the conservationist Ila Loetscher.[4] Carrasco supported the album with North American and European tours.[5]
Production
[edit]MCA Records was hoping for a hit and brought in the producer Richard Gottehrer; the band did not enjoy the recording sessions, as they felt that he had too great an influence.[6] Carrasco had asked MTV viewers to help pick the album title, and briefly considered using "Sombrero Fudge".[7] "Tears Been A-Fallin'" incorporates elements of reggae music.[8] The structure of "Lupe" was influenced by the McCoys' "Hang On Sloopy", which was also produced by Gottehrer.[9] The title track and "Buena" were among the older songs that Carrasco rerecorded for Party Weekend.[10]
Critical reception
[edit]
The Lincoln Journal Star stated that "the primary influence on Carrasco is the Mexican-influenced, punchy rock 'n' roll distinguished by a syncopated beat and a cheesy organ sound."[15] The Duluth News Tribune called the album "another irresistible slab of happiness from one of rock's genuinely delightful acts."[8] The Buffalo News labeled Carrasco "the monarch of the rinky-dink Farfisa organ sound".[19] The Kansas City Times said that Gottehrer "is able to brighten up the band's sound and emphasize its strengths without robbing it of its wacky exuberance."[9]
The Houston Chronicle noted that "for all its ingrained musicality and rich culture, it forces the party to formulaic proportions".[14] The Philadelphia Inquirer said admiringly that the songs "sound slick and tacky all at once".[17] Robert Christgau wrote that Carrasco seemed too "hyper and overextended".[13] The StarPhoenix likened "Lupe" to the Archies, "all pumped up on mescal, beer, and suntan lotion".[20]
Trouser Press called the album "murderously infectious and upbeat—attitudinally the Southwest's answer to the Ramones."[21]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let's Go" | |
| 2. | "Dance Republic" | |
| 3. | "Kantina" | |
| 4. | "Get Off" | |
| 5. | "Buena" | |
| 6. | "Tears Been A-Fallin'" | |
| 7. | "Party Weekend" | |
| 8. | "Let's Go Nutz" | |
| 9. | "Lupe" | |
| 10. | "Perfect Spot" | |
| 11. | "Burnin' It Down" | |
| 12. | "Gracias" |
References
[edit]- ^ "Joe "King" Carrasco at Bandy's". Weekend!. Corpus Christi Caller-Times. March 11, 1983. p. 3.
- ^ Missett, Bill (April 7, 1983). "Record Reviews". Blade-Tribune. No. 83. Oceanside. p. 27.
- ^ Bolton, Joe (April 17, 1983). "New Records". Fanfare. The Commercial Appeal. p. 12.
- ^ "Reporter". Texas Monthly. Vol. 11, no. 7. July 1983. p. 90.
- ^ Kelp, Larry (May 5, 1983). "Tex-mex meets rock through Carrasco". Oakland Tribune. p. D3.
- ^ Righi, Len (December 20, 1985). "Joe "King" Carrasco—Revolutionary Tex-Mex". The Morning Call. p. D3.
- ^ Ward, Ed (March 5, 1983). "Music". Time Out. Austin American-Statesman. pp. 34–35.
- ^ a b c Shefchik, Rick (April 17, 1983). "Hot wax". Accent North. Duluth News Tribune. p. 28.
- ^ a b Hack, Greg (April 16, 1983). "Exotic touches add to wacky exuberance". The Kansas City Times. p. C2.
- ^ a b Catlin, Roger (April 19, 1983). "New Sounds". Omaha World-Herald. p. 25.
- ^ "Party Weekend Joe "King" Carrasco & the Crowns". AllMusic. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ^ Schensul, Jill (April 24, 1983). "On Record". Arizona Daily Star. p. I10.
- ^ a b "Joe "King" Carrasco & the Crowns". Robert Christgau. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Racine, Marty (April 17, 1983). "Records". Houston Chronicle. Zest. p. 9.
- ^ a b Becker, Bart (April 12, 1983). "Ai-ai-ai-ai!!!". Lifestyle. Lincoln Journal Star. p. 4.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 122.
- ^ a b Rea, Steven X. (April 17, 1983). "A Tex-Mex sound captured on vinyl". Leisure. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 12.
- ^ Locey, Bill (May 15, 1983). "Rock 'n Roll Call". Vista. Ventura County Star. p. 33.
- ^ Anderson, Dale (April 15, 1983). "Pop". Gusto. The Buffalo News. p. 38.
- ^ Robertson, Bill (May 7, 1983). "Records". The StarPhoenix. p. F12.
- ^ "Joe "King" Carrasco and El Molino". Trouser Press. Retrieved June 21, 2025.