{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Rockit Fuel Only | type = studio | artist = Evan Johns | cover = Rockit Fuel Only.jpg | alt = | released = 1991 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = | length = | label = Rykodisc<ref>{{cite news |last1=Corcoran |first1=Michael |title=Record File |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=March 17, 1991 |department=Show |page=6}}</ref> | producer = Evan Johns | prev_title = Please Mr. Santa Claus | prev_year = 1990 | next_title = | next_year = }} '''''Rockit Fuel Only''''' is an album by the American musician Evan Johns, released in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/evan-johns-his-h-bombs-mn0000143535/biography|title=Evan Johns & His H-Bombs Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic|access-date=2022-03-29|archive-date=2022-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329131138/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/evan-johns-his-h-bombs-mn0000143535/biography|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Blackstock |first1=Peter |title=Best Bets |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=10 May 1991 |page=A10}}</ref> He is credited with his backing band, the H-Bombs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Evan Johns and His H-Bombs... |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=May 3, 1991 |page=D3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Esmonde |first1=Donn |title=The Twang's the Thang |work=The Buffalo News |date=July 19, 1991 |page=G3}}</ref> Johns supported the album with a North American tour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacQueen |first1=Steve |title='Energetic guitar and a voice like spinning tires on gravel' |work=Tallahassee Democrat |date=May 3, 1991 |page=10D}}</ref>
==Production== ''Rockit Fuel Only'' was produced by Johns, who also played mandolin on the album.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Album Reviews — Rockit Fuel Only by Evan Johns & His H-Bombs |magazine=Billboard |date=Jun 8, 1991 |volume=103 |issue=23 |page=74}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gettelman |first1=Parry |title=Musical Irons in the Inferno |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=12 June 1992 |department=Calendar |page=7}}</ref> It was recorded in Dallas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Booth |first1=Philip |title=Turning up the Heatwave |work=The Tampa Tribune |date=May 3, 1991 |department=Tampa Bay Times |page=18}}</ref> Drummer Jim Starboard sings lead on one track.<ref name=MH/>
"Dig That Boogie" is a cover of the Roy Hall song; "Burnin' Over What I Done" is about the televangelist Jimmy Swaggart.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Tom |title=Thanks to Johns, wild rockabilly is coming to town |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=December 28, 1991 |page=L20}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{music ratings |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rockit-fuel-only-mw0000620247|title=Rockit Fuel Only|website=AllMusic|access-date=2022-03-29|archive-date=2022-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329130624/https://www.allmusic.com/album/rockit-fuel-only-mw0000620247|url-status=live}}</ref> |rev2 = ''Chicago Tribune'' |rev2score = {{rating|1.5|4}}<ref name="CT">{{cite news |last1=Heim |first1=Chris |title=Recordings |work=Chicago Tribune |date=5 Dec 1991 |department=Tempo |page=7}}</ref> |rev3 = ''Houston Chronicle'' |rev3score = {{rating|4|4}}<ref name="HC">{{cite news |last1=Racine |first1=Marty |title=Rockit Fuel Only |work=Houston Chronicle |date=May 12, 1991 |department=Zest |page=11}}</ref> |rev4 = ''MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide'' |rev4score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="MH">{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=609}}</ref> |rev5 = ''Orlando Sentinel'' |rev5score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="OS">{{cite news |last1=Gettelman |first1=Parry |title=Evan Johns & His H-Bombs |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=21 June 1991 |department=Calendar |page=18}}</ref> }} ''Trouser Press'' wrote that "'Boogie Disease' and 'Little Scene Setter' are among the rip-it-up corkers that keep Evan Johns among rock'n'roll's guitar elite."<ref>{{cite web |title=Evan Johns and His H-Bombs |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/evan-johns-and-his-h-bombs/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=29 March 2022 |archive-date=29 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329132640/https://trouserpress.com/reviews/evan-johns-and-his-h-bombs/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The ''Orlando Sentinel'' thought that Johns "detonates his guitar with unpredictable but always spine-shaking results on everything from the monumentally grungy 'Back in the Back Seat' to the roaring 'Little Scene Setter' to the Texas-swinging-out-of-orbit 'Under the Willows in Dixie' to the wistful 'Meant for You'."<ref name=OS/>
The ''Austin American-Statesman'' noted that "Johns is more an extremist than a revivalist."<ref>{{cite news |last1=McLeese |first1=Don |title=Due any day is Rockit Fuel Only by Evan Johns... |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=23 Apr 1991 |page=B8}}</ref> The ''Chicago Tribune'' complained that "it takes nearly three-quarters of the album and a swaying little tune called 'In the Groove' before he and the band find a groove that isn't just a mindless boogie stomp (with lyrics to match)."<ref name=CT/> The ''Houston Chronicle'' concluded that "Johns is in a class by himself when it comes to imagination and fretboard exploration"; the paper later listed the album among the 40 best of 1991.<ref name=HC/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Racine |first1=Marty |last2=Mitchell |first2=Rick |title=Top 40 of '91 – Critics choose best albums of year |work=Houston Chronicle |date=December 29, 1991 |department=Zest |page=8}}</ref>
AllMusic wrote: "Johns' craggy vocals make this 100-proof roadhouse rock even when he's in a relatively mellow mood, and it's never too long before he kicks things back into overdrive on fourth-gear rockers like 'Back in the Backseat', 'Sugary Action', and the title cut."<ref name="auto"/>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | title1 = Back in the Backseat | length1 = | title2 = Little Scene Setter | length2 = | title3 = Under the Willows in Dixie | length3 = | title4 = Rockit Fuel Only | length4 = | title5 = Meant for You | length5 = | title6 = Prove It to Each Other | length6 = | title7 = Boogie Disease | length7 = | title8 = Who You Are (Where Are You?) | length8 = | title9 = In the Groove | length9 = | title10 = Dig That Boogie | length10 = | title11 = Sugary Action | length11 = | title12 = Burnin' Over What I Done | length12 = | title13 = You Always Go | length13 = | title14 = Juvenile Delinquent | length14 = }}
==References== {{reflist}}
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Category:Evan Johns albums Category:1991 albums Category:Rykodisc albums