CHIP TAYLOR – Gasoline – (Buddah) – 1971

After many years writing songs for others and releasing various singles under different names this was Taylor’s first solo album.

Taylor recorded and released material throughout the 70s and then disappeared.

Over the last 10 years he has made something of a musical comeback having been picked up by Americana and alt country aficionados, which is what Taylor’s solo work was.

If you don’t know anything about Taylor then read up on him. His career in music and outside of music is entertaining and with enough plot for a mini-series. The only non music background I will give away is that he was brought up in Yonkers, New York and is related to some well known film stars and a well respected vulcanologist. Hmmm, only in America.

By name you may not have heard of him but he wrote many, many songs including Wild Thing (The Troggs), Angel Of The Morning (Merilee Rush), Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) (Janis Joplin) and I Can’t Let Go (The Hollies). His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix and many others.

Taylor went into music as a teen in the 1950s and by the 60s had released a number of singles in a variety of styles but he was having more success as a songwriter and producer in the Brill Building system. Eventually, much like his fellow Brill writers Carole King, Neil Diamond and others he went into singer songwriter music in the 70s.

The difference was he was into country music.

OK there are some strings and smooth sounds here and Nashville itself isn’t adverse to the same but the twist is going to be, and it was relatively novel at the time, that Chip is a boy from New York. Lyrically his songs touch on themes not all that common in country music. He could be lumped in with Mickey Newbury and other alt country stylists of the time though his music is less country. Sure there are country overtones, but there is also pop, folk and country rock in there. This is singer songwriter with one foot in Americana.

Tracks (best in italics)

Londonderry Company – quite a bouncy little love song though lyrically it has something to do with Northern Irelands second biggest city and the “troubles” and perhaps the infamous atrocity “Bloody Sunday” of January 1971 . Though it could be also about Londonderry, New Hampshire. Buggered if I know. Chip was raised a Catholic so who knows. The melody overwhelms the lyrics anyway making for a pretty song but also, potentially, quite a subversive one. And by the way it’s “Derry” not “Londonderry”.

I heard the news today

Soon I may take my chances on the street again

Am I a fool you say

Put down the gun, don’t run, you’re one unto the light, oh the light, oh the light

Well, there’s fire from the lighthouse

And it’s burnin’ through my eyes

An I surely feel you here with me

So I’m not changin’ sides, Londonderry company, Londonderry company

Angel of the Morning – the big hit for Merilee Rush. Taylor’s original version is not as angelic (sic) as the Rush version which was all strings and drama as produced by Chips Moman. It went to #7 in the US and #1 in other places around the world. This is Taylor’s original albeit done after the cover version. Still it’s a well crafted song though it’s hard not to associate it with the big, saccharine, and catchy hit.
Home Again – the only non Taylor written song. A cover of the Carole King song from her “Tapestry” (1971) album. King came from a similar musical background as Taylor so it’s not surprising that this song fits in perfectly with Taylor’s originals. No doubt he knew King from his Brill Building days in NYC.
Lady Lisa – very catchy.
Oh My Marie – Gentle, quiet
Gasoline – a gentle country rock number with some nice left of centre touches.
Lightning (Don’t Stay Mad With Me) – very low key, almost like a private thought about nothing in particular.
Dirty Matthew – Not sure what’s up with Matthew but this is another very quiet song.
You Didn’t Get Here Last Night – a little more up-tempo – with a saxophone making an appearance to join the finger snaps. More of a “street wise” city song which you could hear Jim Croce or Harry Chapin doing.
Swear to God, Your Honor – a humorous country lament much in the vein of Kristofferson which is both respectful and takes the piss out of country music.