Top rate songwriter, backed by The Band
Elliot Knapp | Seattle, Washington United States | 10/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I think about the very best collaborations The Band did in the late 60's and 70's (aside from their collaborations with Bob Dylan, of course), a couple are tops: Jesse Winchester's debut, which featured Robbie Robertson's signature lead guitar and Levon Helm's drumming and mandolin, and this, Bobby Charles' full-length solo debut (John Simon's Album gets honorable mention). In 1972Bobby Charles, already an extremely well-established songwriter (having written, among many others, "See You Later Alligator"), with the production help of Rick Danko and John Simon, cut his own record. Throughout, there are guest appearances by not only Danko, but also Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, Levon Helm, and Dr. John. The result, as you'd probably expect with this kind of lineup, is a fantastic-sounding album with especially strong songs, which any fan of The Band, 'Americana,' roots or folky rock, will likely enjoy.
The opener, "Street People," effectively sets the tone for the whole record; laid-back, bluesy New Orleans grooves, and wry lyrics sung in Charles' understated but soulful baritone. The song is a tribute to people who don't have anything better to do than hang out on the street, and includes such tongue-in-cheek lines as "Some people would rather work...we need people like that." Danko's bass is typically full and funky, and Charles proves he can interpret his own material just as well as anybody else. "Long Face" continues the carefree mood and grove, followed by one of the album's best, "I Must Be In A Good Place Now," a jazzy ballad with great lyrics.
"Small Town Talk," also included as a single version bonus track, is a very catchy mid-tempo number, co-written by Danko and kicked off with a great whistling hook. "Grow Too Old" is an instant (or already) classic R&B number, covered pretty well on Richard Manuel's live swansong, Whispering Pines: Live at the Getaway. Here, the heavy piano riff is supplemented by some gnarly electric guitar lead and wailing sax. Horns appear elsewhere on the hypnotically groovy "He's Got All the Whiskey," and John Simon's lush but organic production also brings in steel guitar, dobro, Garth Hudson's accordian ("Tennessee Blues"), and Dr. John's crazy piano skills.
Overall, Bobby Charles sounds enough like The Band to interest fans (especially those who've warn out their Band records and are looking for something similar in sound and quality), but doesn't sound so much like The Band that its derivative or copycat. After all, Charles was a great songwriter before The Band was writing their own material, and The Band was the best backing band in North America before Charles was making his own records. Really, though, Bobby Charles writes and performs an excellent set with top-notch tunes and his own distinct style. It's a shame this album is only available as an import--it really is a classic, and one that a lot of people would enjoy if they could discover it. This version is a Japanese Mini-LP CD--a reproduction of the original album art and notes, but the size of a CD. It's likely a limited edition (the Mini-LPs usually are), so if you're interested in it, be advised that the price will probably only go up from here."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1