Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Way Out West
Company: Tower
Catalog: ST 5028
Year: 1966
Grade (cover/record): VG-/VG
Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear; neat tape along bottom seam; stereo pressing
Available: 1
Price: $15.00
By the mid-'60s Mae was well past her career and physical prime (though judging by the cover photo, she didn't look too bad for someone already past 70). Reduced to occasional television appearances and clubs, gawd only knows why, but Capital's Tower subsidiary decided Mae's career could be revived by having her take on a series of popular rock and soul covers. Produced by Stephen Papich, one can only wish they'd been privy to the recording sessions for this bizarre endeavor. Backed by the band Somebody's Chyldren (that's what the liner notes said), "Way Out West" was simply too strange to adequate describe. Given her advanced age, West managed to make the most of her limited voice, croaking most of the selections out in a sing/song fashion. In spite of a slew of suggestive groans and moans, West simply didn't sound all that comfortable with much of the material (check out the way her warble was covered up by a large chorus on her cover of The Beatles' "Day Tripper"). So was there anything worth hearing? From a novelty standpoint it was worth a small investment and the anonymous studio musicians actually turned in a couple of nice segments (check out the guitar solos on "Lover, Please Don't Fight" and Dylan's "If You Gotta Go). In terms of marketing, the set was stillborn - West's longtime fans weren't going to shell out $4.00 to hear her sing rock and roll, while rock fans weren't going to spend their allowances to hear a 1930s era movie star sing. (Original copies included a four page insert - Rory Guy contributing what amounted to little more than a fawning review of West's career.)
"Way Out West" track listing:
1.) Treat Him Right (Head - Simille - Rivers) - 2:11
2.) When A Man Loves A Woman (Lewis - Wright) - 2:30
3.) You Turn Me On (Ian Whitcomb) - 2:56
4.) Shakin' All Over (Johnny Kidd) - 3:00
5.) If You Gotta Go (Bob Dylan) - 2:50
6.) Lover, Please Don't Fight (Allen Terry) - 2:10
7.) Day Tripper (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 2:39
8.) Nervous (Ian Whitcomb) - 2:25
9.) Twist And Shout (Bert Russell - Phil Medley) - 2:35
10.) Boom Boom (John Hooker) - 3:20
11.) Mae Day (Quinn) - 1:36
Credited as Mae's backing back, Somebody's Chyldren reappeared providing support on an Ian Whitcomb LP. Later in the year they released a one-shot single under their own name ("Shadows" b/w "I'm Going Back To New York City" Uptown Records catalog 727).