What's the Word

What's the Word is the second studio album by the Austin, Texas-based Blues-rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds, released in 1980. Like its predecessor, the album initially sold poorly, but is now regarded as a successful white blues recording. The 2000 CD reissue on Benchmark Records contains three bonus tracks, two of which were recorded live at Club Koda, Austin, Texas.

What's the Word
Studio album by The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Released	August 4, 1980[1]
Studio	Sumet-Bernet Sound Studios, Dallas, Texas
Genre	Blues-rock Texas blues
Length	34:26 (Original)
Label	Chrysalis (Original) Benchmark (Reissue)
Producer	Denny Bruce
The Fabulous Thunderbirds chronology
Girls go Wild (1979) What's the Word (1980) Butt Rockin' (1981)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Billboard	(unrated)[2]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Kim Wilson; except where indicated

1. "Runnin' Shoes" (Traditional, Juke Boy Bonner) – 3:38
2. "You Ain't Nothin' But Fine" (Sidney Semien, Floyd Soileau) – 1:48
3. "Low-Down Woman" – 3:15
4. "Extra Jimmies" (Jimmie Vaughan, Keith Ferguson) – 2:35
5. "Sugar Coated Love" (Audrey Butler, J.D. Miller) – 3:00
6. "Last Call For Alcohol" (Vaughan, Kim Wilson) – 2:55
7. "The Crawl" (Raymond Victorica, Wayne Shuler) – 2:15
8. "Jumpin Bad" (Vaughan, Wilson) – 2:25
9. "Learn To Treat Me Right" – 3:07
10. "I'm A Good Man (If You Give Me A Chance)" – 2:50
11. "Dirty Work" – 3:00
12. "That's Enough of That Stuff" – 2:05

Bonus tracks on some editions

1. "Band Introduction by C-Boy" – 0:21
2. "Bad Boy" (Live) (Eddie Taylor) – 3:11
3. "Scratch My Back" (Live) (James Moore) – 5:06
4. "Los Fabulosos Thunderbirds" (Vaughan, Ferguson, Wilson) – 1:10

• "Los Fabulosos Thunderbirds" is track 13 on some earlier Chrysalis releases.

Personnel

Musicians

• Kim Wilson – vocals, harmonica, simultaneous drums and harp on "Los Fabulosos Thunderbirds"
• Jimmie Vaughan – guitar
• Keith Ferguson – bass
• Fran Christina – drums (tracks 2, 4, 6, 8-10, 12) percussion on "Los Fabulosos Thunderbirds"
• Mike Buck – drums (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 11)

Technical

• Denny Bruce – producer
• Bob Sullivan – engineer
• Frank DeLuna – mastering

References

1. McLane, Daisann (September 4, 1980). "Fabulous Thunderbirds: Playing the Austin Blues". Rolling Stone. No. 325. Straight Arrow Publishers. p. 18.
2. "Review: The Fabulous Thunderbirds – What's the Word" (PDF). Billboard. 85 (16). 19 April 1980. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 May 2020 – via American Radio History.

External links

• Official Site