''Mugzy's Move'' is an album by the American band

Royal Crown Revue Royal Crown Revue was a band formed in 1989 in Los Angeles, California. They have been credited with starting the swing revival movement. Career The band contained Mark and Adam Stern. Other members included Daniel Glass, Scott Steen, James Ac ...

, released in 1996. The album cover art was inspired by classic pulp fiction. The album peaked at No. 11 on ''Billboard''

Jazz Albums The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, pr ...

chart. The band supported ''Mugzy's Move'' by touring with

the Pretenders Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete ...

Production

The album was produced by

Ted Templeman Edward John "Ted" Templeman (born October 24, 1942) is an American record producer. Among the acts he has a long relationship with are the rock bands Van Halen and the Doobie Brothers and the singer Van Morrison; he produced multiple criticall ...

, who had also signed Royal Crown Revue. The band recorded it as a septet. The lyrics were inspired by frontman Eddie Nichols's love of mid-20th century crime movies and novels. " Beyond the Sea" is a cover of the song made famous by

Bobby Darin Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973) was an American musician and actor. He performed jazz, pop, rock and roll, folk, swing, and country music. He started his career as a songwriter for Connie ...

. "Honey Child" is a version of the Willie Dixon song. "Hey Pachuco!", which was met with questions related to cultural appropriation, was first heard on the soundtrack to '' The Mask''. "Datin' with No Dough" is an autobiographical song.

Critical reception

The Province ''The Province'' is a daily newspaper published in tabloid format in British Columbia by Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network, alongside the '' Vancouver Sun'' broadsheet newspaper. Together, they are British Columbia's on ...

'' wrote: "A self-conscious collision (or collusion?) of film noir, pulp fiction and big band swing, Royal Crown Revue are Kansas City rhythm and blues out of sync and out of time but enormously entertaining." ''

The Florida Times-Union ''The Florida Times-Union'' is a daily newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Widely known as the oldest newspaper in the state, it began publication as the ''Florida Union'' in 1864. Its current incarnation started in 1883, when th ...

'' deemed ''Mugzy's Move'' "a great recording with a swinging big band sound that can match the energy of any act today." The '' Orange County Register'' concluded that "if there's a flaw, it's that singer Eddie Nichols' voice doesn't have the requisite range and suave soulfulness." The '' Honolulu Star-Bulletin'' called the album "a refreshingly original musical journey through the seedier side of the SoCal scene—retro but contemporary." ''

The Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries. Founded in 1837, it is currently owned by T ...

'' noted the "energetic, muscular sound, thoroughly grounded in California zoot suit culture." '' The Advocate'' opined that "for all its hep cat energy, attitude and chops, Royal Crown Revue's retro-swing-bop comes off like an imitation of an imitation."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

wrote: "Although the band is energetic and proficient, their cutesey originals and campy album art give their music an aura of being some sort of kitschy joke."

Track listing

References

{{reflist 1996 albums Warner Records albums Albums produced by Ted Templeman Royal Crown Revue albums