Hard Times in the Land of Plenty

Hard Times in the Land of Plenty is an album by the American band Omar & the Howlers, released in 1987.[1][2] It was their first album for major label.[3] The title track peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart and appeared in the film Like Father Like Son.[4][5] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[6] Hard Times in the Land of Plenty was sometimes included with "heartland rock" albums of the 1980s that addressed worsening economic conditions in the United States.[7]

Hard Times in the Land of Plenty
Studio album by
Omar & the Howlers
Released1987
GenreBlues rock, Southern rock, heartland rock
LabelColumbia
ProducerRichard Mullen
Omar & the Howlers chronology
I Told You So
(1984)		 Hard Times in the Land of Plenty
(1987)		 Wall of Pride
(1988)

Production

The album was produced by Richard Mullen.[8] It was recorded by the band as a power trio, with the Howlers adding a keyboardist prior to touring.[9] Unlike many blues rock players of the time, frontman Omar Dykes preferred power chords over one-note guitar solos.[10] His primary vocal influence was Howlin' Wolf.[11] The title track bemoans the rise of poverty in the United States during the 1980s.[12]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide[8]
The Windsor StarB−[14]

The Houston Chronicle praised Omar's "often fanciful and reverberating guitar chops and his always sly and dangerous vocals, which alternate between a smokey hoarseness and a Howlin' Wolf-styled lowdown growl."[15] The Sun-Sentinel concluded that, "despite the rather monotonous stylings of the 10 original songs, Omar's silty, root-bound rasp overcomes the flaws and makes this one of the better party albums to appear in awhile."[16] The Vancouver Sun noted that "they all look like bikers, and sound like it as well, rolling out savage roadhouse R&B and swamp boogie that'll be roarin' from car stereos for years to come."[12]

The Boston Globe opined that the band "are true songwriters, not just boogie merchants along the lines of Southern rock oldsters like Molly Hatchet or Wet Willie."[17] The Toronto Star deemed the album "non-nonsense, thoughtful, intelligent yet fiery rock 'n' roll."[18] The Windsor Star said that "Omar's voice could prepare car bodies for the primer coat, and the shuffle never quits."[14] USA Today listed Hard Times in the Land of Plenty among the best pop albums of 1987.[19]

AllMusic called the album "a rough and tumble collection that is driven as much by fine original songwriting as it is by the band's edgy sound."[13]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Hard Times in the Land of Plenty" 
2."Dancing in the Canebrake" 
3."Border Girl" 
4."Mississippi Hoo Doo Man" 
5."Don't Rock Me the Wrong Way" 
6."Same Old Grind" 
7."Don't You Know" 
8."You Ain't Foolin' Nobody" 
9."Shadow Man" 
10."Lee Anne" 

References
  1. Gregory, Hugh (2003). Roadhouse Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Texas R&B. Backbeat. p. 184.
  2. Atkinson, Brian T.; Finlay, Jenni (2016). Kent Finlay, Dreamer: The Musical Legacy Behind Cheatham Street Warehouse. Texas A&M University Press. p. 240.
  3. Boehm, Mike (31 July 1987). "Omar leads the Howlers to Lupo's". The Providence Journal. p. D3.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Record Research. p. 182.
  5. Kaplan, Renee (28 July 1987). "New York Tonight". Part II. Newsday. p. 2.
  6. Takiff, Jonathan (24 July 1987). "Troc Flockers". Features Friday. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 45.
  7. Pareles, Jon (30 Aug 1987). "Heartland Rock: Bruce's Childen". The New York Times. p. A1.
  8. MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 117.
  9. Hochman, Steve (21 Aug 1987). "Howlers Got Their Hoodoo Workin'". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
  10. Sasfy, Joe (24 July 1987). "Boogie 'n' Blues, and Polka, Too". The Washington Post. p. N15.
  11. Barr, Greg (23 Oct 1987). "Omar and the Howlers: blues-rock in southern-style". The Ottawa Citizen. p. D11.
  12. Mackie, John (13 June 1987). "Savage roadhouse and Texas swamp boogie". Vancouver Sun. p. C11.
  13. "Hard Times in the Land of Plenty Review by Thom Owens". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  14. Laycock, John (27 June 1987). "Pop". The Windsor Star. p. F2.
  15. Racine, Marty (7 June 1987). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
  16. Welin, Joel (7 June 1987). "Howlers Overcome Flaws". Sun-Sentinel. p. 3F.
  17. Morse, Steve (14 June 1987). "Southern Rock Is Rising Again". The Boston Globe. p. B1.
  18. Quills, Greg (26 June 1987). "Hard Times in the Land of Plenty Omar and the Howlers". Toronto Star. p. E9.
  19. Gundersen, Edna (17 Dec 1987). "Albums: U2 blossoms; Bowie breaks down". USA Today. p. 4D.
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