Blak and Blu

Blak and Blu is the major-label debut studio album by American musician Gary Clark, Jr., released on October 22, 2012.[1] The album touches on a wide variety of traditionally black music genres, including soul ("Please Come Home"), hip-hop/R&B ("The Life"), Chuck Berry-esque rock and roll ("Travis County"), and Clark's trademark, blues ("When My Train Pulls In", "Numb", "Next Door Neighbor Blues"). Blak and Blu netted Clark his first two Grammy Award nominations, one for Best Rock Song ("Ain't Messin Round") and the other for Best Traditional R&B Performance ("Please Come Home") which won. This marked the first time that an artist was nominated in both categories in the same year.[2] It peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 album chart, and number one on the Blues Albums chart.

Blak and Blu
Studio album by Gary Clark, Jr.
Released	October 22, 2012
Recorded	2011–2012
Genre	Blues rock neo-soul R&B hard rock
Length	66:55
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Gary Clark Jr. Mike Elizondo Rob Cavallo Tim Kelley
Gary Clark, Jr. chronology
Blak and Blu (2012) The Story of Sonny Boy Slim (2015)
Singles from Blak and Blu
"Ain't Messin 'Round" Released: September 18, 2012 "Numb" Released: October 2, 2012

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
Chicago Tribune	[4]
Antiquiet	[5]
Ventvox	[6]
Rolling Stone	[7]
Sputnikmusic	[8]

The album was awarded a 3.5 star rating by Rolling Stone and was listed at #27 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, in which the author said "Clark's brain-frying guitar solos are more about noise nuance and phrasing than speed-trial note-spitting."[9][10] Not all reviews were entirely positive, however. The Chicago Tribune gave the album a 2.5 out of 4 review, stating that the album lacked cohesiveness and consistency due to the wide variety of genres featured.[11]

In 2013, Blak and Blu was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Contemporary Blues Album' category.[12]

Track listing

• All songs written by Gary Clark, Jr., except as noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ain't Messin 'Round"	4:09
2.	"When My Train Pulls In"	7:45
3.	"Blak and Blu" (Gary Clark, Jr., Gil Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson, Don Robey)	4:06
4.	"Bright Lights"	5:24
5.	"Travis County"	3:38
6.	"The Life"	5:05
7.	"Glitter Ain't Gold (Jumpin' for Nothin')" (Gary Clark, Jr., Doyle Bramhall II, Justin Stanley, Ali Tamposi, Mike Elizondo)	4:18
8.	"Numb"	5:26
9.	"Please Come Home"	4:16
10.	"Things Are Changin'"	3:59
11.	"Third Stone from the Sun/If You Love Me Like You Say" (Jimi Hendrix, Little Johnny Taylor)	9:37
12.	"You Saved Me"	6:11
13.	"Next Door Neighbor Blues"	3:01
Total length:		66:55

Deluxe version bonus tracks[13]

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Breakdown"	4:11
15.	"Soul"	6:15

Blak and Blu The Mixtape

Blak and Blu The Mixtape
Mixtape by Gary Clark, Jr. presented by D-Nice
Released	April 30, 2014 (April 30, 2014)
Recorded	2013–2014
Genre	Hip hop, R&B, pop, indie pop
Producer	D-Nice

On 30 April 2014, Gary Clark, Jr. also released a mixtape of the songs under the title Blak and Blu The Mixtape presented by D-Nice.

Track list

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Blak and Blu" (feat. Big K.R.I.T.)	3:27
2.	"The Life (Gary Clark Jr EP Version)"	1:34
3.	"The Life (Robert Glasper Remix)"	1:57
4.	"Bright Lights" (feat. Talib Kweli)	3:37
5.	"Soul (Bonus Track from Blak and Blu)"	3:49
6.	"When My Train Pulls In (Big K.R.I.T. Remix)"	4:28
7.	"Things Are Changin (Bright Lights EP Version)"	3:25
8.	"Numb" (feat. Bilal)	2:37
9.	"Please Come Home" (feat. Alice Smith)	4:19

Personnel

• Gary Clark, Jr. – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, bass, drums, programming, trumpet, percussion, congas
• Eric Zapata – rhythm guitars
• Mike Elizondo – bass, fuzz guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming
• Zac Rae – Keyboards, hammond organ, wurlitzer, piano, vibraphone
• J.J. Johnson – drums, percussion
• Scott Nelson – bass
• Satnam Ramgotra – tabla, percussion
• Danny T. Levin – trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn
• David Moyer – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
• Stevie Black – strings
• Recording engineers: Adam Hawkins, Doug McKean
• Mixing: Adam Hawkins, Doug McKean
• Assistant engineers: Brent Arrowood, Chris Sporleder, Russ Waugh
• Mastering: Ted Jensen
• A&R: Lenny Waronker
• Creative design, direction and photography: Frank Maddocks

Charts

Chart (2012–13)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[14]	34
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15]	38
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[16]	30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[17]	69
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[18]	23
French Albums (SNEP)[19]	93
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[20]	6
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21]	52

References

1. "Listen To New Music & See Gary On Tour". Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
2. "Gary Clark Jr. Receives Two 2013 Grammy Nominations – BWWMusicWorld". Broadwayworld.com. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
3. Deming, Mark (2012-10-22). "Blak and Blu – Gary Clark, Jr. : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
4. "Gary Clark Jr. album review; Blak and Blu reviewed – Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
5. "Gary Clark Jr. Claims His Blues Crown With 'Blak and Blu' @ Antiquiet Reviews". Antiquiet.com. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
6. greg (2012-10-19). "Gary Clark Jr.: Blak and Blu:: Review". Ventvox.com. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
7. "Blak and Blu | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
8. "Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu User Opinions". sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
9. Jon Pareles (2012-10-23). "Blak and Blu | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
10. "50 Best Albums of 2012: Gary Clark Jr., 'Blak and Blu'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
11. "Album review: Gary Clark Jr., 'Blak and Blu'". Chicago Tribune. 2012-10-22.
12. "Blues Music Awards Nominees – 2013 – 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
13. "iTunes – Music – Blak and Blu (Deluxe Version) by Gary Clark Jr". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
14. "Australiancharts.com – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
15. "Austriancharts.at – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
16. "Ultratop.be – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
17. "Ultratop.be – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
18. "Gary Clark Jr.: Blak and Blu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
19. "Lescharts.com – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
20. "Charts.nz – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
21. "Swisscharts.com – Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2013.