Genre: pop
Rating: 2 stars **
Title: Tommy James
Company: Roulette
Catalog: SR
42051
Year: 1970
Country/State: Dayton, Ohio
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: minor tear along back cover
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5799
Price: $15.00
Tommy James & the Shondells are one of those 1960s bands that hasn't gotten half the credit or attention they deserve. That said, namesake Tommy James solo career has been even more overlooked.
James started his solo career with 1970's cleverly titled "Tommy James", though technically I guess you could argue this wasn't a true solo album since 'Come to Me' and 'Lady Jane' were actually Tommy James & the Shondells efforts. Co-produced by James and Bill King (the pair also co-wrote all eight tracks), the album offered up an interesting mix of Shondells-styled pop and more experimental efforts, including a healthy dose of psychedelia.
- 'Ball and Chain' started the album out with one of the set's most commercial offerings which probably explained why it was tapped as a single. Nice melody and catchy chorus made it ideal for top-40 radio, though it actually wasn't one I my favorites. That said, the stand out facet was a nice fuzz guitar solo from Frank Scaltrito. rating: **** stars
- 'Meet the Comer' has always reminded me of a weird hybrid of early Neil Young and the echoic 'underwater' sound that made 'Crimson and Clover' so cool. So if you loved Young's early solo work, or that earlier Shondells hit, this one should appeal to you. Actually would have made a decent single, though it may have been a little too reminiscent of 'Crimson and Clover'. rating: **** stars
- 'Midnight Train' was the first song that didn't have a distinctive Shondells feel. Kicked along by some nice fuzz guitar and a surprisingly gruff mid-song guitar solo, the song had a dark, harder edge than most of the set, yet held on to James blue-eyed soul voice. It was actually one of my favorite performances on the LP. rating: **** stars
- 'Midnight Train' seamlessly merged into the acoustic ballad backed 'Light of Day'. Backed by some tasteful synthesizer the song had an interesting, pseudo-religious feel to it. Nice multi-tracked vocals. which gave it kind of a Crosby, Stills, and Nash feel. rating: **** stars
- Side two opened with a mid-tempo ballad 'Come To Me'. The original single from the album, the track was commercial, but hardly memorable. One of the more disappointing numbers on the album. rating: ** stars
- 'I Lost My Baby' was a strange number. Musically the song had kind of a bubblegum feel, but the appeal was largely wiped out by James weird, Frankie Valli-styled vocal. No idea why he tried to sing it in a raw falsetto, but the result was irritating. rating: ** stars
- 'Lady Jane' w as a fragile ballad showcasing that weird 'Crimson and Clover' catch in James' voice. Nice fuzz guitar solo was really the only thing worthwhile on this one. rating: ** stars
- 'Quick Silver' ended the album with a fuzz-propelled rocker. The problem with this one was that James sounded like he was trying to hard. The song was okay, but James effects laden vocals (it sounded like he was singing in a showed) and the heavy production made it sound like a corporate product that had been designed to appeal to a set audience. Wonder what the closing piano string was about ... rating: ** stars
The album was also tapped for a pair of singles:
- 1970's 'Come To Me' b/w 'Talkin' And Signifyin'' (Roulette catalog number R-7067)
- 1970's 'Ball and Chain' b/w 'Candy Maker' (Roulette catalog number R-7084)
A decent solo debut, that may have been a little to 'different' for James' legions of top-40 fans, which may explain how it simply got lost. Shame the second side was as good as the first. Worth looking for since you can still find it reasonably priced.
"Tommy
James" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Ball and Chain (Tommy James - Bill King) - 3:30
2.) Meet the Comer (Tommy James - Bill King) - 3:35
3.) Midnight Train (Tommy James - Bill King) - 3:29
4.) Light of Day (Tommy James - Bill King) - 3:46
(side
2)
1.) Come To Me (Tommy James - Bill King) - 2:56
2.) I Lost My Baby (Tommy James - Bill King) - 3:07
3.) Lady Jane (Tommy James - Bill King) - 3:40
4.) Quick Silver (Tommy James - Bill King) - 3:21