That's What is an album by the American steel-string guitar artist Leo Kottke.[1] It is distinctive in its jazzy nature and "talking" songs ("Buzzby" and "Husbandry"). It reached No. 24 on Billboard's Top New Age Albums charts, Kottke's highest charting position on Billboard.
| That's What | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Recorded | Mike Jones Film Corp., Minneapolis, MN | |||
| Genre | Folk, jazz | |||
| Length | 37:34 | |||
| Label | Private Music (2068-2-P) | |||
| Producer | Willard O. Peterson, Leo Kottke | |||
| Leo Kottke chronology | ||||
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The song "Little Snoozer" is played on a Charvel demo model of a Danelectro 6-string bass guitar tuned one octave lower than a standard 6-string guitar. Kottke used trombones on many of the songs.[2]
Kottke has re-recorded at least two more versions of "Jesus Maria".
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Select |   [4] |
The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "Kottke's eccentric poetics and monotone Lou Reed-style of delivery make 'Buzzby' and 'Husbandry' the strangest moments on That's What."[5] The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "a rumbling, comic, folksy sound, yet one that remains strangely comfortable and comforting."[6]
AllMusic stated: "Leo Kottke has always been a highly idiosyncratic guitar player whose music is infused with his wry sense of humor. That's What is no exception, with Kottke's guitar work drawing from jazzy, blues and folk sources... Tying it all together is Kottke's fine guitar playing, as nimble and as quirky as ever."[3]
Track listing
All songs by Leo Kottke except as noted.
- "Little Snoozer" – 3:53
- "Buzzby" – 3:57
- "What the Arm Said" – 2:54
- "Creature Feature" – 4:14
- "Oddball" – 2:51
- "Czech Bounce" – 3:38
- "Mid-Air" (Willard O. Peterson) – 3:23
- "The Great One" – 3:22
- "Husbandry" – 4:52
- "Jesus Maria" (Carla Bley) – 4:30
Personnel
- Leo Kottke - guitar
- Billy Peterson - string bass, 5-string electric bass, drums, piano, synth, Farfisa Professional
- Bruce Paulson - tenor & bass trombones
- Gordy Knudtson - percussion
Production notes
- Produced by Willard O. Peterson & Leo Kottke
- Engineered by Paul Martinson
- Assistant engineers: Scott Bartel & Sam Hudson
- Mastered by Doug Sax
- Arrangements by Willard O. Peterson except guitar on "Jesus Maria" arranged by Tim Sparks