Genre: psych
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Color Him In
Company: Verve
Catalog: V6-5015
Year: 1967
Country/State: --
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: small bullet hole bottom left corner
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4236
Price: $75.00
Cost: $66.00
Interesting how
time has a way of changing our perspectives. In the late-'60s an artist
saying something along the lines of "My music
is where I have been, what I have seen, how I feel, and who I am."
may have been viewed as having vision and daring. Today you'd have to laugh
at anyone dumb enough to spout such crappola ... That said, this one's
steadily grown on us. The first time we listened to it we were left with the
impression Robert Parker (B.) Jameson was little more than a run-of-the-mill
singer/songwriter. A couple of spins have revealed the album's considerable
charm.
Actually, we should probably backtrack a little and cover what little is
known about this guy. Jameson (aka Chris Lucey), actually started out as a
mid-'60s folkie. Different references list as being from Arizona, Southern
California, or even a transplanted Englishman. Regardless, signed by the
small Surrey label, he released a little heard 1965 album - "Songs of
Protest and Anti-Protest".
Two years later, Lucey/Jameson reappeared sporting then-requisite long
unwashed hair, a beard and a penchant for turtle neck sweaters and chains.
Given those qualifications it probably wasn't hard to see why Verve Records
decided to sign him to a recording contract. Teaming the singer/songwriter
with producers Curt Boettcher, Jim Bell and Steve Clark, 1967's "Color
Him In" also made commercial sense for a label clearly
interested in trying to cash-in on the country's sudden interest in
counterculture voices. To be perfectly honest, Jameson wasn't exactly a
major musical talent. As a writer, original material such as "Windows
and Doors" (loved the post-production applause) and the arch
"Right By My Side" was almost funny. As a singer, typified by the
likes of "Jamie" and "Do You Believe In Yesterday" his
ragged, out-of-tune voice took a little getting use to. Luckily the
collection benefited from a wide array of psych touches (credit producer
Boettcher), including the rollicking "Window and Doors",
"Who's Putting Who On" (be sure to check out the out of control
horns) and the not-too-subtle lyrics on "Candy Colored Dragon".
Elsewhere Jameson's anti-establishment image occasionally seemed at odds
with Association-styled pop material such as "Know Yourself",
"Jenny" and "I Love You More Than You Know". A
commercial non-entity, Verve quickly dropped Jameson; effectively killing
his recording career. (Always loved the dumb album cover ...)
"Color Him In" track listing:
(side
1)1.) Jamie (Bob Jameson) -3:07
2.) Know Yourself (Bob Jameson) - 3:22
3.) Windows and Doors (Bob Jameson) - 2:30
4.) Right By My Side (Bob Jameson) - 2:33
5.) Who's Putting Who On (Bob Jameson) - 2:27
6.) The New Age (Bob Jameson) - 2:18
(side 2)
1.) Jenny
(Bob Jameson) -2:50
2.) Do You Believe In Yesterday (Bob Jameson) - 2:25
3.) I Love You More Than You Know (Bob Jameson) - 2:30
4.) See Dawn (Bob Jameson) - 3:02
5.) Candy Colored Dragon (Bob Jameson) - 2:50
6.) Places Times and the People (Bob Jameson) - 2:32