Not heard the album, just the singles -- I tend to prefer "The Most Beautiful Girl" because I actually remember that one from the radio, never actually heard "Behind Closed Doors" to my knowledge (and when I did hear it recently I had no sudden rush or realization of it being some song of my youth or anything).
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 14:52 (twenty years ago) link
I think of "Behind Closed Doors" as the start of a downturn in quality: the material CR had been issuing in the five or six years up to that point was so insanely great (search: the "Boss Man" LP, anything on Smash) and this stuff didn't quite measure up.
― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:00 (twenty years ago) link
I think I'll head over to the record store and see if I can't find some earlier albums.
― Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:19 (twenty years ago) link
― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:25 (twenty years ago) link
It's weird! That's about the only example of what Sherrill was doing I can stand (well, that and George Jones -- I think he's one of those producers that works better when there's a voice that either cuts through the arrangement [Jones] or is clearly the lead instrument straight up [Rich]). Most of the other Sherrill stuff that I've dealt with just doesn't work that way and settles into metaglop.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:37 (twenty years ago) link
― David Gates of Delirium, Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:39 (twenty years ago) link
"For me, probably the all-time greatest CMA Awards moment came at the 1975 awards show as a result of that 1974 split. An obviously well-lubricated Charlie Rich ended his reign as 1974’s entertainer of the year by announcing the new recipient of the CMA’s top prize. Charlie, who had been drinking a little backstage, pulled out his Zippo lighter and set fire to the card holding the announcement of sugary country-pop singer John Denver's win as 1975’s entertainer of the year. Rich held the burning card up for the cameras on the nationally-televised live show and he smiled a big smile of triumph. It's the sort of unscripted moment you will probably never again see on a CMA Awards show."
― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:47 (twenty years ago) link
I'd agree that he made better records (I'd particularly recommend The Complete Smash Sessions, The Complete Charlie Rich on Hi Records, and Pictures and Paintings - his final album) but Behind Closed Doors has still got some great songs.
I Take It On Home is a classic country song about the responsibilities and difficulties of being in a marriage, of a type that he seemed to make his own (Life's Little Ups & Downs etc). And You Never Really Wanted Me is heartbreaking.
(xp)
― James Ball (James Ball), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:49 (twenty years ago) link
― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:49 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:50 (twenty years ago) link
(And his "big smile of triumph" was probably a big smile of inebriation.)
― James Ball (James Ball), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:57 (twenty years ago) link
― Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 15:57 (twenty years ago) link
― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 16:05 (twenty years ago) link
I mean, rerecording 'I Feel Like Goin' Home'???? Sick. The demo version of that is as good as it gets.
Everybody dumps on Billy Sherrill but he made great records with Rich, Tammy Wynette and Jones. GREAT. Ever heard 'Right Now I'd Come Back And Melt In Your Arms' 'I'm Not Ready Yet' 'On the Back Row' 'I'm All She's Got'?? The singing on the remakes on the Jones greatest hits vol I haunts in a manner like 'Slim Slo Slider.'Tammy Wynette RIP
― rumple., Tuesday, 23 September 2003 16:56 (twenty years ago) link
― chris herrington (chris herrington), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 17:10 (twenty years ago) link
― rumple., Tuesday, 23 September 2003 17:11 (twenty years ago) link
― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 17:24 (twenty years ago) link
if you're looking for a place to start with charlie rich, i wouldn't suggest any album. i'd start instead with peter guralnick's amazing essay about him in the book "feels like going home."
and then once you start buying his albums, take rumple's advice to heart and avoid the final dud, "pictures and paintings," a horribly misguided attempt at respectability.
― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 23 September 2003 17:38 (twenty years ago) link
The fires of the night, they can burn an Unloved Woman, y'know.
And what a great piano player this motherfucker was. He and Skip James have a certain element of sad insanity to their playing.
― rumple., Tuesday, 23 September 2003 17:51 (twenty years ago) link
― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 19:05 (twenty years ago) link
― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 19:52 (twenty years ago) link
Have to disagree there. I don't think it was an attempt at respectability, I think it was an attempt to make a much more jazz-inflected record. He'd described himself in the past as more of a jazz musician than country, and I think he felt he was making music that was closer to the 'true' Charlie Rich than what he had been doing before.
Whether it was better is a moot point. I love the record, but if push comes to shove I'd take the Smash compilation first.
I heard the full gospel choir version of 'Feel like going home' before the demo and it sounds perfect to me. The failure is still there in his voice, but by the end, when the choir comes in, it's almost like he's being borne aloft. Like he's been forgiven for all the failure and he's on his way to the Lord despite it all. It's a song that never fails to move me, and it moves me all the more because it stirs contradictory emotions.
I agree with fact checking cuz's comments about Margaret Ann Rich. The fact that she wrote some great songs for him about their marriage makes them resonate all the more.
― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 08:22 (twenty years ago) link
A jazz record by Rich would've been a natural thing. He should've gotten some real producers instead of "sympathetic" scribes. It sounds like a Rounder Records effort to me, which to these ears is one step above CMC International. As in the boneyard.
And how about that 'Set Me Free'...
― rumple., Wednesday, 24 September 2003 20:19 (twenty years ago) link
'Set Me Free' is definitely one of his finest though.
― James Ball (James Ball), Thursday, 25 September 2003 07:19 (twenty years ago) link
arrogance? on this list? be still my cold, cold heart. actually, I think it was arrogant for anybody to think they could top the two versions of 'Home' captured by Sherrill.
― rumple., Thursday, 25 September 2003 15:12 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 25 September 2003 15:33 (twenty years ago) link
― Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose), Thursday, 25 September 2003 16:44 (twenty years ago) link
― Colin Beckett (Colin Beckett), Thursday, 25 September 2003 17:26 (twenty years ago) link
everyone should read guralnick's profile of charlie.... actually there are two profiles. one is in the book "feel like going home" and the other is in...i forget. they are incredibly poignant.
under his high school yearbook photo it read "charlie 'stan kenton' rich"!
― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 25 September 2003 18:12 (twenty years ago) link
― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 25 September 2003 18:13 (twenty years ago) link
― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 25 September 2003 18:14 (twenty years ago) link
And sorry if 'arrogance' sounded a bit harsh. I didn't think it was arrogance that you didn't like it, more that you thought it wasn't even worthy of comment (good or bad). I still think it's a remarkable record.
Amateurist, the other profile is in Lost Highway.
This thread makes me want to play a lot of Charlie Rich this weekend.
― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:34 (twenty years ago) link
(doomy piano note)(slight charlie growl)Lord I feel like goin' home(bee deedle deedle deedle dee piano begins)I tried and I failed(more)And I'm tired and wearyAn' everything I done was wrong(beedle deedle deedle dee, particularly sad)And I feel like goin' home(slightly bright beedle deedle)Lord I tried to see it through(darkness, hard beedle deedle)but it was too MUCH(again, slightly ironic, perhaps)for meAnd now I'm comin' home to you(sad sad beedle deedle)I feel like goin' home(88s restate the case)Cloudly skies are closin' in(beedle deedle)And not a friend aroundtohelp meFrom all the places I have been(beedle deedle)Now I feel like goin' home(heavenly-bound beedle deedle dee)Lord, I feel like goin' homeI tried and I failedAnd I'm tired and wearyEverything I done was wrong(regret beedle deedle)And I feel like goin' home(almost jaunty beedle deedle dee-dee)And that's it.
And that IS it.
― rumple., Friday, 26 September 2003 17:36 (twenty years ago) link
apologies.
― rumple., Friday, 26 September 2003 17:41 (twenty years ago) link
― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Thursday, 12 January 2006 06:34 (eighteen years ago) link
― reacher, Thursday, 12 January 2006 16:08 (eighteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 12 January 2006 16:29 (eighteen years ago) link
― stew!, Thursday, 12 January 2006 17:21 (eighteen years ago) link
― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Thursday, 12 January 2006 17:37 (eighteen years ago) link
Guralnick's chapter on him in Feel Like Going Home (for which, Charlie wrote the song) still amazes me every time I read it.
― Roy Kasten (Roy Kasten), Thursday, 12 January 2006 19:04 (eighteen years ago) link
http://s63.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=20WIJGMRBOG0R32FZQ8V5NW6JC
― Roy Kasten (Roy Kasten), Thursday, 12 January 2006 19:18 (eighteen years ago) link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002AB1/qid=1137093681/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/103-0227664-5327031?s=music&v=glance&n=5174
― Roy Kasten (Roy Kasten), Thursday, 12 January 2006 19:25 (eighteen years ago) link
― Roy Kasten (Roy Kasten), Thursday, 12 January 2006 19:45 (eighteen years ago) link
The lyrics alone to that song are like, wow. Charlie Rich has pummeled me into even greater inarticulateness than usual.
― Dell (Dell), Thursday, 12 January 2006 23:34 (eighteen years ago) link
― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Friday, 13 January 2006 00:24 (eighteen years ago) link
― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 13 January 2006 00:40 (eighteen years ago) link
― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Friday, 13 January 2006 01:06 (eighteen years ago) link
― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 13 January 2006 01:11 (eighteen years ago) link
Whatever. sub-lime'ness, n. the state or quality of being sublime. -- Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Deluxe Second Edition. (My favorite.)
I have "Memphis & Arkansas Bridge" but on vinyl. Maybe I'll kill some more time and transfer.
― Roy Kasten (Roy Kasten), Friday, 13 January 2006 02:04 (eighteen years ago) link
― Beta (abeta), Friday, 13 January 2006 02:28 (eighteen years ago) link
Silver Linings is awesome.
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 8 May 2009 20:22 (fourteen years ago) link
There's also some great stuff on that older Bear Family comp of his Sun Records recordings. A lot of it is just plain nuts, especially stuff like "Popcorn Polly." It seems like whenever Rich tries to write a straight forward teen hit, he can't help but take it some oddball directions. One of those guys who sound nice and conventional on the surface, but when you peel it back is profoundly weird.
― leavethecapital, Saturday, 9 May 2009 18:46 (fourteen years ago) link
at the end of the day, it's really all about that slow walkin', fast talkin', good lookin' Mohair Sam...
― henry s, Sunday, 10 May 2009 16:52 (fourteen years ago) link
Nice 'N' Easy, damn, that's a sexy tune.
― that's not my post, Monday, 6 July 2009 03:48 (fourteen years ago) link
That CMA clip is on youtube now...Charlie was Fuuuuuuuuuuuucccckkkked Up...the cut to Glen Campbell after it's over is priceless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krZmHCQ3l9o
The whole show is up as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDyPmBlon0Y
― Mr. Mojo Readin' (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 19 June 2013 04:06 (ten years ago) link
that clip is awesome. but poor dude who had to keep that timpani roll going for 25 seconds.
― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 19 June 2013 04:54 (ten years ago) link
thnaks for posting is all i can type thru tears of laughter
― screen scraper (m coleman), Wednesday, 19 June 2013 09:52 (ten years ago) link
kanye rich
― screen scraper (m coleman), Wednesday, 19 June 2013 11:16 (ten years ago) link
The man is so desperate, he's casual: Music Sounds Better With Two talks about Charlie Rich (and musical isolation) - http://musicsoundsbetterwithtwo.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/endless-quest-charlie-rich-most.html
― agincourtgirl, Tuesday, 26 August 2014 11:30 (nine years ago) link
It Ain't Gonna Be That Way the Complete Smash sessions is pretty essential methinks.Some of his early 70s stuff had me wondering if he was a conscious influence on Nick Cave, Tindersticks and a few others.
― Stevolende, Tuesday, 26 August 2014 11:55 (nine years ago) link
The most recent Oxford American music issuue has a great Rich piece:
http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2014/jan/07/issue-83-dear-charlie/
― Okay, there's lil' Zipper again (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 26 August 2014 13:50 (nine years ago) link
That Oxford American article is fantastic. Mind-blowing to think he didn't start singing until he was 22. Would be on my short list for favorite singers.
― that's not my post, Wednesday, 27 August 2014 05:56 (nine years ago) link
In 1966, when Charlie Rich was at a nadir in his career, Sy moved him to Hi Records, a small-time local studio, and Natalie brought Isaac Hayes in so Charlie could take a shot at one of his songs, “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby.” As Natalie recalls, the backing band was composed of legendary session players from Stax and Hi—the Memphis Horns, Andrew Love and Wayne Jackson, along with Tommy Cogbill on bass and Willie Hall on drums. Hayes sat next to Charlie at the piano and taught him the song before they recorded it in one take. For “Pass on By,” Sy Rosenberg himself blew a meandering trumpet solo in the background.The Hayes track was never released
The Hayes track was never released
― Visions of Mojo Hannah (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 27 August 2014 12:55 (nine years ago) link
As I said way up thread, one of the most versatile pop musicians ever. Him and Ray Charles, anyway. Going to hunt down that Oxford American issue today.
― Jazzbo, Wednesday, 27 August 2014 13:18 (nine years ago) link
I need to see that too
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 30 August 2014 15:20 (nine years ago) link
You can read online, I think.
― The Jody Valgrind (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 30 August 2014 15:29 (nine years ago) link
Yup, that link right above. Maybe Jazzbo just wanted the hard copy of the magazine
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 30 August 2014 15:41 (nine years ago) link
Is it in the latest print issue or it in the Music issue from end of last year? I have a physical copy of that but keep misplacing it.
― The Jody Valgrind (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 30 August 2014 16:00 (nine years ago) link
Dan says its the music issue above, and I have also misplaced mine...
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 30 August 2014 16:27 (nine years ago) link
Found it
― The Jody Valgrind (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 30 August 2014 18:51 (nine years ago) link
Charlie Rich, country & western singer ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xXFqEjcuXg
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Monday, 3 December 2018 10:18 (five years ago) link
Is the RCA & Groove stuff as good as the Smash recordings? There was a 2cd put out by Ace at the start of the year which was called Too Many Teardrops: The Complete Groove & RCA Recordings. So I wonder if i need that as much as the Smash stuff.
― Stevolende, Monday, 3 December 2018 10:31 (five years ago) link
I don't see a big difference in terms of quality between the two; if you like the Smash stud even half as much as I do then I strongly recommend that new CD (apparently there are a few bits on the new edition that I haven't heard so there may be a few duffers on it but I know most of it and it's gold IMO.)
― Tim, Monday, 3 December 2018 11:25 (five years ago) link
Thanks for mentioning Too Many Teardrops! Hadn't heard of it. After a couple of listens, I've found it surprisingly easy to get used to the strings and choirs, although some Disc 2 incidents are still annoying, and maybe scale-tipping on the more dubious material---that's okay though; that's what he and/or the suits get for turdpolishing .like Elvis, Sinatra, Willie etc. he's found that he can effectively apply his signature sound to inferior imitations of his top-shelf line of goods, and so he does, and I admit there are at least partially redeeming moments in most(?) of the worse, though not worst, tracks. Not many of this last category though!A good number of the rolling piano jazz-blues-rock tracks I always favor, starting right off with "Big Boss Man," soon followed by "River Stay Away From My Door," later a very sassy "Ol' Man River," such as Jerry Lee might approve, then a more respectful vocal on "The Twelth of Never," though that beloved tearjerker now goes thunkin' along. Mercy!Also a couple of intriguing ballads written by Freddie Hart:"Too Many Teardrops" starts out feeling for a fella who lost his love to the narrator, yet"I did what any man would do"---emphasis on "man" because the cry guy wasn't "strong enough to play the losing hand"--crying and drinking yourself to death doesn't count as a well-played losing hand, so what does? Revenge, mebbe? Doesn't say.The other Hart-written track, "There Won't Be Any More, " has a terse lilt that somehow reminds me of some British Invasion tracks, like uhhh covers like "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"? But with more attitude.The Riches-written (lots of originals here) "The Grass Is Always Greener" advises that, "You may think you're rollin' in clover/But you better think it over." Shaddup with that, I must not think bad thoughts! The Complete Smash Sessions is the one to start with, but this is def worth checking out.
― dow, Friday, 14 December 2018 20:22 (five years ago) link
40 tracks, and I like at least---28? Love at least an LP's-worth.
― dow, Friday, 14 December 2018 20:23 (five years ago) link
Was just listening to "Behind Closed Doors" today, the first half of this album is glorious, tails off a bit though.
― It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christ (Tom D.), Friday, 14 December 2018 22:02 (five years ago) link
Silver Linings is awesome.― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, May 8, 2009 3:22 PM (ten years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, May 8, 2009 3:22 PM (ten years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Just got another vinyl of this, and 10 years ago me OTM.
― a large tuna called “Justice” (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 25 May 2019 23:07 (four years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/ai9WUg6.jpg
― tandoor vittles (unregistered), Monday, 27 May 2019 17:41 (four years ago) link
ILX shall now be split into three warring factions.
― pomenitul, Monday, 27 May 2019 17:42 (four years ago) link
Never forget that one time a decade or so ago when the only working thread was for a Canadian Zeppelin clone.
― TS The Students vs. The Regents (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 27 May 2019 17:43 (four years ago) link
I don't remember that
― tandoor vittles (unregistered), Monday, 27 May 2019 17:47 (four years ago) link
but lol
Can't open it now but wonder if it will link? https://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=20850
― TS The Students vs. The Regents (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 27 May 2019 17:51 (four years ago) link
Nope.
― pomenitul, Monday, 27 May 2019 17:51 (four years ago) link
In any case found cached version and no evidence therein. Believe we lost seventeen days of history at the time.
― TS The Students vs. The Regents (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 27 May 2019 17:53 (four years ago) link
Well at least a few people might discover Charlie Rich, that's a plus.
― Ned Caligari (Tom D.), Monday, 27 May 2019 18:08 (four years ago) link
Well I make it alright.
― TS The Students vs. The Regents (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 27 May 2019 18:12 (four years ago) link
Who Will The Next Poxy Fule Be?
― a large tuna called “Justice” (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 27 May 2019 18:33 (four years ago) link
Behind Closed Threads
― Ned Caligari (Tom D.), Monday, 27 May 2019 18:35 (four years ago) link
I'm listening to The Essential Charlie Rich as we speak :O
― Number None, Monday, 27 May 2019 18:36 (four years ago) link
the titular song of this album was used in an advert by the scottish executive raising awareness regarding domestic abuse and has been forever ruined for me due to the association
― findom haddie (jim in vancouver), Monday, 27 May 2019 18:38 (four years ago) link
Wait they used “behind closed doors” rather than “have a heart” for an abused dog campaign?
― Heez, Monday, 27 May 2019 21:31 (four years ago) link
Ugh sorry not abused dog. I think I did I mistaken that for a US commercial
― Heez, Monday, 27 May 2019 21:33 (four years ago) link
Ugh sorry not abused dog. I think I did I mistaken that for a US commercial.
avoid the final dud, "pictures and paintings," a horribly misguided attempt at respectability.
― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, September 23, 2003 1:38 PM (eighteen years ago) bookmarkflaglink
holy shit was i wrong about this album 19 years ago. it's a stone cold masterpiece.
― fact checking cuz, Thursday, 31 March 2022 21:21 (one year ago) link
this on the p&p version of "feel like going home" is dead on:
The failure is still there in his voice, but by the end, when the choir comes in, it's almost like he's being borne aloft. Like he's been forgiven for all the failure and he's on his way to the Lord despite it all. It's a song that never fails to move me, and it moves me all the more because it stirs contradictory emotions.
his last song on his last album, damn.
― fact checking cuz, Thursday, 31 March 2022 21:23 (one year ago) link
"Life's Little Ups and Downs" is one of the best vocals ever.
― OG Bob Sacamano (will), Thursday, 31 March 2022 23:42 (one year ago) link
Just to say his piano playing on P&P is gorgeous. I'm still partial to his earlier material but happy to have a reason to pull out P&P for first time in years.
― that's not my post, Wednesday, 6 April 2022 04:53 (one year ago) link