BOBBY GOLDSBORO – Summer [The First Time] – (United Artists) – 1973

If you walk into a op shop you are bound to find a Bobby Goldsboro album.

Check my other comments on Goldsboro for biographical detail and the usual observation that if you “Walk into a op shop and you are bound to find a Bobby Goldsboro album”

What Bobby is wearing is almost as interesting as what he is singing.

Actually that was nasty because Goldsboro is a good singer with a gentle country funk in his sound. The trouble, always, is that he leans towards some awfully schmaltzy MOR tunes.

It’s always assumed, because his music is so radio friendly (in its day) and so indistinct that Bobby just flowed with the times doing covers. As this album, and many others, will attest Bobby wrote quite a few tunes and had a style and sound which was his own.

Clearly, he is no slacker and quite clearly knew what he was doing. He is also quite savvy and has a fair amount of taste musically.

I think I have said all this in other comments but this music is never going to set the world on fire but this is perfectly pleasant pop, well produced and well sung which would be perfect at a coffee shop or on a lazy laid back Sunday in the summer shade. That sounds awful but it’s not. Imagine trying to relax with a coffee and Pearl Jam are pumping out of the speakers.

Barf.

And, he does wear nice threads.

Tracks (best in italics)

Summer (The First Time) – (Bobby Goldsboro) – every boys fantasy. A 17 year old shags a 31 year old. But why on the beach? All that sand. Some risible lyrics but catchy….

She through back her hair,
Like I wasn’t there,
And she sipped on a julep,
Her shoulders were bare,
And I tried not to stare,
When I looked at her two lips.

and then:

And then she smiled and we talked for a while,
And we walked for a mile to the sea,
We sat on the sand, and the boy took her hand,
But I saw the sun rise as a man.

Marlena – (Bobby Goldsboro) – a slight Latin feel (very slight) but catchy in that I’ve had too much wine and I’m gonna sing along way ….
He’s Part of Us – (Bobby Goldsboro) – a song about adoption. A pretty good pop song about adoption. How many others can you name?
The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore – (Bobby Goldsboro) – This is not the same as the Jean Ritchie written Johnny Cash song. Odd that they have the same exact name. This is another song about the passing of the days of rail. MOR but evocative ….
Sing Me a Smile- (Bobby Goldsboro) – a romantic happy, happy MOR song.
Mississippi Delta Queen – (Bobby Goldsboro) – a song about a paddle steamer
Killing Me Softly with Her Song – (Charles Fox / Norman Gimbel) – done by everyone this song was a number ! in 1973 for Roberta Flack. Bobby has done a gender shift with "his song" becoming "her song".
Spread My Wings and Fly– (Bobby Goldsboro) – whoa, so middle of the road it looks like a white line. Catchy though …..
If’n I Was God – (Richard M. Sherman / Robert B. Sherman) – a cover of a song from the "Tom Sawyer" musical film of 1973. Quite Broadway but quite good though doesn’t really fit in with the other numbers.

And …

Despite the cover where Bobby seems to be channelling 70s Elvis and some nice pop this is still an album where I’m taping a couple of songs and then selling.

It is, though, an album perfect for young love. It may end up on Ivan’s iPod.

Chart Action

US
Singles
1973 Summer (The First Time) The Billboard Hot 100 #21
1973 Summer (The First Time) Country Singles #100
1974 Marlena Country Singles #52

Album
1973 Country Albums #10
1973 The Billboard 200 #150

England
Singles
1973 Summer (The First Time) #9

Album
—

Sounds
Summer (The First Time)
clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYHEBa6Xx48
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQvGyEKO79w

Marlena
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6NHollCY2k

He’s Part of Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1yif1s8YDs

The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDM1rBpcSSU

mp3 sound:

Bobby Goldsboro – The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore

Sing me a Smile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5h7zdJJhUs

Mississippi Delta Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLKWBxKcfFM

Killing Me Softly with Her Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32J2P23pjWk