{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = County Fair 2000 | type = studio | artist = [[Phil Alvin]] | cover = County Fair 2000.jpg|border=yes | alt = | released = 1994 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = | length = | label = [[Hightone Records|HighTone]] | producer = Phil Alvin | prev_title = [[Un "Sung Stories"]] | prev_year = 1986 | next_title = [[Common Ground: Dave & Phil Alvin Play and Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy]] | next_year = 2014 }} '''''County Fair 2000''''' is the second solo album by the American musician [[Phil Alvin]], released in 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Morris |first1=Chris |title=Hightone Reissue Series Stands Testament to the Blues |magazine=Billboard |date=Jul 23, 1994 |volume=106 |issue=30 |page=60}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sinclair |first1=David |title=Still believe in yesterday? |work=The Times |date=2 Dec 199 |department=Features}}</ref> It arrived eight years after his solo debut, ''[[Un "Sung Stories"]]'', and followed years Alvin devoted to mathematics work.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wolff |first1=Kurt |title=Country Music: The Rough Guide |date=2000 |publisher=Rough Guides |page=266}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Herndon |first1=David |title=Master Blaster Re-Forms Band |work=Newsday |date=12 May 1995 |page=B22}}</ref> Alvin supported the album by touring with a [[Dave Alvin]]-less version of [[the Blasters]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=McVicker |first1=Steve |title=Blasters Redux |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/blasters-redux-6572440 |work=Houston Press |date=February 9, 1995}}</ref> Alvin called the album "American minstrel music".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dickinson |first1=Chris |title=Explosive Rockabilly |work=Chicago Tribune |date=17 Mar 1995 |department=Friday |page=P}}</ref>
==Production== Alvin used the concept of a small-town midcentury county fair to tie together the album; he was primarily influenced by music from the 1920s to 1940s.<ref name=NPR>{{cite news |last1=Weinstein |first1=Ted |title=Ted Weinstein Pays a Visit to 'County Fair 2000' |work=All Things Considered |agency=NPR |date=Jan 18, 1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shuster |first1=Fred |title=Playing by the Numbers |work=Los Angeles Daily News |date=27 Jan 1995 |page=L20}}</ref> Members of his jazz side project, the Faultline Syncopators, contributed to the songs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phil Alvin Biography by Jason Ankeny |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/phil-alvin-mn0000333891/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref> [[Cesar Rosas]] played guitar on the album.<ref name=AM/> [[Billy Boy Arnold]] contributed on harmonica, the [[Dirty Dozen Brass Band]] on brass instruments.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DeLuca |first1=Dan |title=Alvin all over the map, and worth finding |work=Orange County Register |publisher=Knight Ridder |date=9 Dec 1994 |page=P54}}</ref><ref name=LA/> [[Fayard Nicholas]] tapped out the rhythm to one of the songs.<ref name=TG/> "Ankh" is a cover of the [[Sun Ra]] song.<ref name=TP/>
==Critical reception== {{music ratings |rev1 = [[AllMusic]] |rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web |title=County Fair 2000 Review by Al Campbell |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/county-fair-2000-mw0000123666 |website=AllMusic |access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref> |rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]] |rev2score = {{Rating-Christgau|neither}}<ref name="RC">{{cite web |title=Phil Alvin |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Phil+Alvin |website=Robert Christgau |access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref> |rev3 = ''[[MusicHound|MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide]]'' |rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="MH">{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1996 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=71}}</ref> }} ''[[Trouser Press]]'' wrote that "it's a marvel to hear such musty chapters from music's history books brought to robust modern life in the hands of such a well-versed scholar."<ref name="TP">{{cite web |title=Phil Alvin |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/phil-alvin/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' concluded: "Brilliant in patches; it's a pity Alvin's voice doesn't match his guitar work."<ref name="TG">{{cite news |last1=Denselow |first1=Robin |title=Phil Alvin County Fair 2000 |work=The Guardian |date=20 Jan 1995 |page=T12}}</ref> [[NPR]] stated that "there's room in his melting pot for ragtime, doo-wop, country music, the blues, and lots more."<ref name=NPR/> The ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'' determined that, "while there is an understated attempt to preserve the musical forms, these fun-loving performances extend beyond the usual archivist or traditionalist boundaries."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Proplesch |first1=Richard |title=Phil Alvin, County Fair 2000 |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=10 Feb 1995 |department=Weekend |page=12}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' noted that, "known for his high-voltage, larger-than-life delivery, Alvin shows a different dimension by playing it low-key throughout this album."<ref name="LA">{{cite news |last1=Boehm |first1=Mike |title=New Pick of the Week |work=Los Angeles Times |date=23 Mar 1995 |department=OC Live |page=5}}</ref>
[[AllMusic]] wrote that "''County Fair 2000'' leaves no doubt that Phil Alvin is a premier musicologist, preserving and staying true to what he loves."<ref name=AM/> The ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]'' labeled Alvin the "West-Coast Buster Poindexter."<ref>{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |date=1995 |publisher=Vintage Books |page=48}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | title1 = County Fair | length1 = | title2 = Wreck Your V-8 Ford | length2 = | title3 = The Blue Line | length3 = | title4 = That Thing | length4 = | title5 = Turnin' Blues into Gold | length5 = | title6 = Starlight | length6 = | title7 = Keep in Touch | length7 = | title8 = What's the Reason I'm Not Pleasin' You | length8 = | title9 = She Loves So Good | length9 = | title10 = Callin' Corrine | length10 = | title11 = The Terror | length11 = | title12 = Oh, Doctor | length12 = | title13 = Mr. Satellite Man | length13 = | title14 = Low Down Rhythm | length14 = | title15 = Danny Boy's Mourning Sunset: The Old Rugged Cross / Ankh / Didn't He Ramble | length15 = }}
==References== {{reflist}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:Phil Alvin albums]] [[Category:1994 albums]] [[Category:HighTone Records albums]]