The album was produced by Rick Chertoff.[7] The fellow Philadelphia band the Hooters worked on the album; Jules Shear helped write two songs.[8]Rumble contains four re-recordings of songs that appeared on the band's independent debut album.[9]
The Washington Post called Conwell "a likable roots-rocker who turns out energetic bar-band music, and the attempt to turn him into something else is misguided at best."[13]The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that "Chertoff, perhaps mindful of the hit-singles potential of some of these songs, might have clipped the engaging guitarist too close to the vest in a few spots, denying Rumble's audience the chance to experience an inventive guitar voice."[9] The St. Petersburg Times deemed the album "a savage, blues-based, booze-soaked rock 'n' roll romp that proves a bar band can graduate to major-label status without letting corporate pressure douse its fiery conviction."[14]
The Boston Globe wrote that Rumble "has a few simplistic rock anthems, but comes alive in its striking ability to merge blues and rock with a near-gospel fire."[15] The Toronto Star concluded that "rootsy and real as the music is, it's just a little too contrived."[16] Comparing Conwell to Bruce Springsteen, The Gazette opined that the frontman needed to develop more "vision, if he hopes to proceed beyond Stray Cats-bar band status."[17] The Chicago Sun-Times thought that "Rumble sometimes sounds like the vinyl equivalent of a Brat Pack film, one of the better ones."[11] The Chicago Tribune listed Rumble as one of the 20 best albums of 1988.[18]
AllMusic called "I'm Not Your Man" "as great a roots rocker as the late '80s produced, and reason enough for the group to get its shot at the big time."[10]
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"I'm Not Your Man"
2.
"Half a Heart"
3.
"If We Never Meet Again"
4.
"Love's on Fire"
5.
"Workout"
6.
"I Wanna Make You Happy"
7.
"Everything They Say Is True"
8.
"Gonna Breakdown"
9.
"Tell Me What You Want Me to Be"
10.
"Walkin' on the Water"
References
^Healy, James (August 21, 1988). "Tommy Conwell & the Young Rumblers 'Rumble'". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. SD.
^Takiff, Jonathan (9 Aug 1988). "'Rumble' on the Streets: Tommy Conwell Brings Back 'Heartland' Sound". Features Tonight. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 33.
^Gallo, Phil (September 23, 1988). "Invasion of newcomers: Britny Fox, Young Rumblers, Bar-B-Q Killers". In Tune. New Haven Register.
^Ellis, John (8 Sep 1988). "A Measure of Success". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. H6.
^Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7 ed.). Record Research Inc. p. 178.
^Britt, Bruce (October 25, 1988). "Philly Stakes Its Musical Claim". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L17.
^Morris, Chris (Nov 19, 1988). "Conwell Rumbles On". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 47. p. 25.
^Willman, Chris (23 Oct 1988). "Tommy Conwell: A Regional Rumble Goes National". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 69.
^ abMoon, Tom (8 Aug 1988). "A 'Rumble' of Rock and Blues". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E1.
^ ab"Rumble". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
^ abMcLeese, Don (August 29, 1988). "New Releases". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 25.
^The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 158.