Genre: pop
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: The Graham Gouldman Thing
Company: RCA Victor
Catalog: LSP-3954
Year: 1967
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4626
Price: $80.00
Having been a professional musician for some
four decades, singer/guitarist/writer Graham Gouldman is an interesting case
story. Even though he's enjoyed considerable success as a musician (notably
through his work with 10cc), most people would probably be surprised to see
his extensive resume as a writer. Gouldman's been recording since 1964,
working with a string of little known bands, including The Whirlwinds and
The Mockingbirds (see separate entries). 1966 found him stepping into a
little noticed and short-lived solo career. A brief stint with The
Manchester Mob proved equally unsuccessful.
By the mid-1960s Gouldman had carved out a name for himself as a writer,
placing hit material with a wide range of outside acts including 'Listen People'
for Herman's Hermits, 'Bus Stop' for The Hollies, 'Pamela
Pamela' for Wayne Fontana and the Mindbreakers, and 'For Your
Love' for The Yardbirds. With that track record behind him, 1968 found Gouldman relocating to the
States where RCA Victor quickly
signing
him as a solo act. Co-produced with Herman Hermit's Peter Noone (John Paul
Jones of future Led Zeppelin fame credited with orchestral arrangements),
1968's "The Graham Gouldman Thing"
featured an interesting mixture of hits he'd penned for others and newer
material. Up tempo and commercial pop, Gouldman had a likeable if
occasionally anonymous voice, displaying a nifty knack for penning irritatingly catchy
melodies. Nothing here was as cutesy as his forthcoming Hotlegs or the
10cc catalog, though 'Pawnbroker' served as a precursor of that future
direction. Highlights included the English single 'Upstairs,
Downstairs', his version of 'For Your Love' and 'No Milk Today'.
It's also an album that I've become increasingly fond of; witness I gave it
an extra star the last time I played it (it's also on my iPod).
- Complete with Baroque orchestration, 'The Impossible Years' made it clear Gouldman had been listening to 'Yesterday'. The thing is that whereas most 'Yesterday'-styled songs such, Gouldman was smart enough to make sure the song had a killer hook. Fantastic effort.
- It's ironic that folks associate The Hollies with 'Bus Stop'. True they had a massive hit with the song, but judging by the Gouldman original they seem to have done a straight rip off his version. Surprised The Hollies didn't simply wipe off Gouldman's vocal tracks and slap their vocals on ...
- A pretty, but pompous and forgettable ballad, two thirds of 'Behind the Door' didn't do much for me. The exception was the two thirds of the way into the track where there was an abrupt tempo change with the song ending as a rocker.
- As briefly mentioned, 'Pawnbroker' highlighted Gouldman's knack for clever lyrics. The also sounded like a near-perfect Al Stewart knockoff. Great acoustic guitar made it one of my favorite performances.
- 'Who Are They' was a nice atmospheric rocker and one of the few tracks where Gouldman made no attempt to embedded a pop feel on the results. Great song with a lyrical turn that's always made me smile - "drip-dry dressed unshrinkable ...' My choice for the standout performance.
- Another pretty ballad, but 'My Father' was just to sensitive singer/songwriter for me. Yech!
- 'No Milk Today' was clearly written with an ear for top-40 success. Anyone who enjoyed The Hollies mid-1960s catalog (including 'Bus Stop') was bound to fall in love with this one.
- Like the previous track 'Upstairs, Downstairs' was also written to ensure commercial acceptance, but this time around it seemed to have been penned with a Mersybeat flavor - killer guitar hook makes it impossible to shake out of your head.
- 'For Your Love' was probably the biggest surprise to my ears. The Yardbirds version remains the classic take, but it's surprising to hear how much of Gouldman's original arrangement and vocal delivery they kept.
- 'Pamela, Pamela' was one of those English pop-psych-meets-vaudeville efforts that you either love, or hate with a passion. I'm in the former category, so think the track's great. How many other rock songs can you thing of that name check Laurel and Hardy?
- The album ended with the unexpected soul-influenced instrumental 'Chestnut'. Technically I guess it wasn't a true instrumental since Gouldman blurted out some English garden narrative nonsense halfway through. Surprisingly funky and would have made Steve Cropper proud ...
Unfortunately, like his earlier efforts, the set was greeted with commercial indifference. RCA also tapped 'For Your Love' b/w 'Pamela, Pamela' (RCA victor catalog number 47-9584 as a single. For some reason RCA tapped the album for a different single in Canada - 'No Milk Today' b/w 'The Impossible Years' (RCA victor catalog number 47-9453).
"The Graham Gouldman Thing" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) The Impossible Years (Graham Gouldman) - 2:35
2.) Bus Stop (Graham Gouldman) - 2:21
3.) Behind the Door (Graham Gouldman) - 3:34
4.) Pawnbroker (Graham Gouldman) - 2:59
5.) Who Are They (Graham Gouldman) - 2:00
6.) My Father (Graham Gouldman) - 2:42
(side 2)
1.) No Milk Today (Graham Gouldman) - 2:12
2.) Upstairs, Downstairs (Graham Gouldman) - 2:15
3.) For Your Love (Graham Gouldman) - 2:31
4.) Pamela, Pamela (Graham Gouldman) - 2:09
5.) Chestnut (instrumental) (Graham Gouldman) - 3:21
Gouldman subsequently signed with Kasenatz-Katz Productions, serving as a
staff writer and studio musician (he provided the lead vocals for a number
of Kasenatz-Katz acts - Ohio Express's 'Sausalito (Is the Place To
Go)'). The early-1970s found him collaborating with Kevin Godley and
Eric Stewart in Hotlegs and 10cc.
