I Be Trying

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I Be Trying
Studio album by
Cedric Burnside
ReleasedJune 25, 2021 (2021-06-25)
Studio
GenreBlues
Length47:07
LabelSingle Lock
ProducerLawrence "Boo" Mitchell
Cedric Burnside chronology
Benton County Relic
(2018)		 I Be Trying
(2021)		 Hill Country Love
(2024)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
American SongwriterStarStarStarStar[1]
Classic RockStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[2]
MojoStarStarStarStar[3]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStar[4]
Spectrum Culture3.5/5[5]
Uncut8/10[6]

I Be Trying is the second solo studio album by American musician Cedric Burnside. It was released on June 25, 2021, via Single Lock Records, making it his second and final studio album for the label. It was recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis with additional recording took place at Single Lock Studios in Florence. Produced by Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, it features contributions from Portrika Burnside, Luther Dickinson, Zac Cockrell, Reed Watson and Caleb Elliott.

The album was announced as the winner of the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards held on April 3, 2022.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Cedric Burnside, except track 10 is written by R. L. Burnside and track 11 is written by David Kimbrough.

No.TitleLength
1."The World Can Be So Cold"3:26
2."Step In"2:35
3."I Be Trying"3:32
4."You Really Love Me"4:15
5."Love Is the Key"3:10
6."Keep on Pushing"3:06
7."Gotta Look Out"3:28
8."Pretty Flowers"2:51
9."What Makes Me Think"4:29
10."Bird Without a Feather"3:31
11."Hands Off That Girl"5:35
12."Get Down"3:27
13."Love You Forever"3:42
Total length:47:07

Personnel

  • Cedric Burnside — songwriting (tracks: 1–9, 12, 13), vocals, guitar, drums (tracks: 2, 4–7, 12)
  • R.L. Burnside — songwriting (track 10)
  • David "Junior" Kimbrough — songwriting (track 10)
  • Portrika Burnside — vocals (track 3)
  • Luther Dickinson — guitar (tracks: 2, 6)
  • Zac Cockrell — bass (track 8)
  • Reed Watson — drums & percussion (tracks: 3, 5, 7–9, 11, 13)
  • Caleb Elliott — cello (tracks: 3, 13)
  • Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell — producer, engineering, mixing
  • Ben Tanner — associate producer, engineering assistant
  • Dale Gunnoe — photography
  • Abraham Rowe — additional photography
  • Joshua Hardman — design

Charts

Chart (2021) Peak
position
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[7]22
UK Jazz & Blues Albums (OCC)[8]13
US Top Blues Albums (Billboard)[9]2

References

  1. Horowitz, Hal (June 22, 2021). "Cedric Burnside Expands His Rugged Deep Blues Heritage On The Frisky 'I Be Trying'". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  2. Yates, Henry (Summer 2021). "Reviews". Classic Rock. No. 290. Future plc. p. 83. ISSN 1464-7834.
  3. Perry, Andrew (August 2021). "Filter Albums". MOJO. No. 333. Bauer Media Group. p. 86. ISSN 1351-0193.
  4. Bernstein, Jonathan (July 2021). "Reviews | Music". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. p. 133. ISSN 0035-791X.
  5. Cober-Lake, Justin (August 18, 2021). "Cedric Burnside: I Be Trying". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  6. Scoppa, Bud (August 2021). "New Albums". UNCUT. No. 291. BandLab Technologies. p. 25.
  7. "Official Americana Albums Chart on 2/7/2021 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  8. "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart on 2/7/2021 – Top 30". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  9. "Cedric Burnside Chart History (Top Blues Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2025.