This album is out of step with 1967 musically. Even by Gary Lewis standards this album is regressive. That doesn't mean it's bad, at least not to my ears. It's just a little samey with none of the highs on his earlier work being hit. But, the album did have three Top 20 singles … shows you how much I know.
The summer of love was afoot but many Americans did not indulge and that is what we forget in the here and now. We tend to look at that year, 1967, through a prism created by Hollywood (or ad men), and that never existed in the mainstream. Middle America (and middle anywhere) is very large and looks like a parabolic curve, and the middle weren't all waiting for the great musical leap forward.
Having said that the album tanked out at #79 which leads me to believe either the singles were released before the album and then included with filler or Lewis was considered a "singles act" rather than an album act. Take your pick but the latter seems quite possible.
"(You Don't have to) Paint Me a Picture" did serve as a transitional album between Lewis straight 60s pop and his undervalued sunshine pop that followed.
For background on Lewis refer to any number of comments I've made on Lewis albums in the past.
Some of the tracks are arranged by Leon Russell (a Lewis regular) and Glen D. Hardin. Glen Hardin is a bit of a legend in Elvisworld as he was Elvis' piano player on the road and in the studio in the 70s in the "the T.C.B. Band". He's also played with just about everyone else also.
Tracks (best in italics)
- My Heart's Symphony – (Glen Hardin) – Big lush pop, like a square solo version of the Beach Boys … still it's pleasant.
- Barefootin' – (R.Parker) – this one comes across like an outtake to a beach movie … I like beach movies though …
- Down on the Sloop John B – (Arr & Adpt Lewis-Russell-Garrett) – the trad song which was a hit for the Beach Boys in 1966. Nothing new added
- Tina (I Held you in My Arms) – (Lewis-Curtis-Russell-Garrett) – filler but strangely memorable. A newie but one that channels Bobby Vinton circa 1962.
- String Along – (J.Duncan-B.Doyle) – Ricky Nelson had a #25 in 1963 with this and Fabian had a #39 in 1960. Nothing new here but pleasant and totally retro.
- (You Don't Have to) Paint Me a Picture – (Tillison-Russell-Garrett) – there is a carnival feel to this … but like the Brisbane Ekka you've seen it all before and it's a bit old and tired …
- Where Will the Words Come From – (S.Curtis-G.Hardin) – sunshine pop – very much in The Association style and quite 1967 contemporary. Written by Glen Hardin and his former Crickets band mate Sonny Curtis (Hardin was in the Crickets post Buddy Holly).
- You're Sixteen – (B.Sherman-D.Sherman) – A #8 for Johnny Burnette in 1960. (Ringo Starr had a #1 in 1974 with it) .
- When Summer Is Gone – (S.Curtis) – a very California theme if there ever was one … perfect for 1964.
- Linda Lu– (R.Sharpe) – Ray Sharpe had a #46 in 1959 with this great track. Probably the best cover on the album – the guitars are a little dirtier with a touch of fuzz …
- Looking for the Stars – (Price-Hardin-Lewis-Garrett-Russell) – it was the summer of love and California was awash with drugs … some of it must have ended up with Lewis. This is a spoken track with muzak backing and has Lewis in Hollywood as the narrator wanting to meet some big stars before being woken and told he has to go on stage … the ultimate filler song or the result of a freaking big night out. I don't know if Gary is doing the impersonations but I would think he is as I recall seeing him do impersonations somewhere.
- Wild Thing – ( C.Taylor) – the big #1 from The Troggs in 1966 written by Chip Taylor. Lewis' version is different. It sounds somewhere between the Wild Ones original from 1965 and the more well known Troggs version.
And …
Not the best Lewis but OK – for completeness I'm keeping it .
Chart Action
US
Singles
"My Heart's Symphony" (#13)
"(You Don't Have To) Paint Me A Picture" (#15)
Singles
"My Heart's Symphony" (#13)
"(You Don't Have To) Paint Me A Picture" (#15)
"Where Will The Words Come From" (#21)
Album
#79
#79
England
zip
zip
Sounds
My Heart's Symphony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAOLH-miVfw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAOLH-miVfw
Down on the Sloop John B
Tina (I Held you in My Arms)
String Along
(You Don't Have to) Paint Me a Picture
Where Will the Words Come From
You're Sixteen
When Summer Is Gone
Linda Lu
attached
Wild Thing
attached
Others
Review
Bio
Website
Other Comments
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(originally posted: 29/08/2010)
