| The Tel-Star Sessions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Demo album by | ||||
| Released | August 5, 2016 | |||
| Recorded | 1994 | |||
| Studio | Tel-Star, Bradenton, Florida | |||
| Genre | Blues rock[1] | |||
| Length | 61:20 | |||
| Label | Evil Teen | |||
| Gov't Mule chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Tel-Star Sessions is a demo album by American band Gov't Mule, released on August 5, 2016, through Evil Teen Records. It includes their 1994 demos recorded at Tel-Star Studios in Bradenton, Florida, with Bud Snyder serving as engineer. Seven of the 10 tracks were re-recorded for the band's debut album, 1995's Gov't Mule.[1]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| PopMatters | 7/10[2] |
Thom Jurek of AllMusic wrote that the recordings "represent what [Gov't Mule] single-handedly pulled off in grand style from the very beginning: Reinvigorating the classic blues-rock power trio à la Cream, Mountain, Hot Tuna, ZZ Top, and Taste". Jurek also called it a "stunning tribute to [Allen] Woody's genius" and "among Gov't Mule's most essential recorded documents. The power and musicality on display here rival anything they've released."[1] A staff reviewer at PopMatters called the album a demonstration that Gov't Mule "arrived with the passion and fire that would characterize the group's style and sound for 20 years to come" and superior to the recordings on the band's 1995 debut as well as "many subsequent Mule releases" as they have "neither the innocence nor energy heard here".[2]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blind Man in the Dark" | 6:49 |
| 2. | "Rocking Horse" | 4:31 |
| 3. | "Monkey Hill" | 4:31 |
| 4. | "Mr. Big" (cover of Free) | 6:17 |
| 5. | "The Same Thing" (cover of Willie Dixon) | 7:13 |
| 6. | "Mother Earth" (cover of Memphis Slim) | 7:00 |
| 7. | "Just Got Paid" (cover of ZZ Top) | 4:22 |
| 8. | "Left Coast Groovies" | 6:39 |
| 9. | "World of Difference" | 7:17 |
| 10. | "World of Difference" (alternative version/original mix) | 6:41 |
| Total length: | 61:20 | |
Charts
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[3] | 28 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[4] | 91 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[5] | 93 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[6] | 145 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7] | 24 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[8] | 35 |
| US Billboard 200[9] | 104 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[10] | 6 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[11] | 11 |
| US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[12] | 3 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Jurek, Thom. "Gov't Mule – The Tel-Star Sessions Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- 1 2 "Gov't Mule: The Tel-Star Sessions". PopMatters. August 2, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Gov't Mule – The Tel-Star Sessions" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Gov't Mule – The Tel-Star Sessions" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Gov't Mule – The Tel-Star Sessions" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Gov't Mule – The Tel-Star Sessions". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Gov't Mule – The Tel-Star Sessions" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Gov't Mule – The Tel-Star Sessions". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Gov't Mule Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Gov't Mule Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Gov't Mule Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Gov't Mule Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2023.