Title:Â Â My Head, My Bead and My Red Guitar
Company:Â Roulette
Catalog:Â SR 3007
Year:Â 1972
Country/State:Â Dayton, Ohio
Grade (cover/record):Â VG+ / VG+
Comments:Â still in shrink wrap (opened)
For his third solo album Tommy James decided to shake things up a bit. Co-produced by James, long standing partner Bob King and guitarist Pete Drake,1972's "My Head, My Bead and My Red Guitar" was recorded in Nashville with the cream of the city's sessions players including Elvis sidemen D.J. Fontana and Scotty Moore. On the surface that background might have led to the conclusion this was going to be a country album a-la Dylan's "Nashville Skyline". Not to worry, while James was more than willing to soak up the city's atmosphere and while tracks like 'Tell ‘Em Willie Boy's A-Comin'', 'White Horses' , and 'Walk A Country Mile' reflected distinctive country touches, the overall sound remained firmly rooted in James patented brand of top-40 pop. True, with the possible exception of ''Rosalee' and 'Forty Days and Forty Nights' there was nothing as instantly memorable as 'Draggin' the Line', but on a song-for-song basis the result was one of James most consistent and enjoyable collections. James actually seemed to enjoy the opportunity to work with the all-star cast of Nashville players, taking the opportunity to turn in some of his best work - which bounced all over the musical spectrum ranging from true country ('Walk a Country Mile') to light psych-pop ('Paper Flowers').
- Opening with 'Nothing To Hide' the song started with a distinctive Gospel lilt, but quickly morphed into a nice pop song that would not have been out of place on one of the earlier solo releases. Typically catchy James chorus which probably explains why it was tapped as the leadoff single ... rating: *** stars
- In spite of country touches such as Pete Drakes 'pedal steel and Buddy Spichler's fiddle, 'Tell ‘Em Willie Boy's A-Comin'' was very much a pop song. rating: *** stars
- The breezy mid-tempo 'White Horses' was one of those songs that originally didn't do a great deal for me - one of the few tracks that had a real country feel to it, but I have to admit that after a couple of spins this one became a surprising favorite. Great give and take between James and the backing chorus and Charley McCoy turned in a fantastic harmonica solo (and I'm not a big harmonica fan). rating: **** stars
- The first disappointment, 'The Last One to Know' was one of those faceless, overblown and bland ballads that were crafted for radio airplay. Slapping pedal steel guitar and a heavenly chorus on the arrangement really didn't do much to make it more palatable. Yech. rating: ** stars
- I'm a sucker for strumming 12 strings so his cover of Linda Hargrove's 'Rosalee' nailed me from the opening. Even the pedal string and Dave Kirby's blistering guitar couldn't detract from the fact this was one of the most commercial songs on the album. rating: **** stars
- There's little doubt that James had the best 'la la las' in the business and that talent was seldom displayed as on 'Paper Flowers'. Totally unlike the rest of the album, this one sounded like something from his Shondells catalog. In fact the waivery vocal delivery bore a distinctive resemblance to the 'Crimson and Clover material. Nice voice-box guitar in the background ... My favorite performance on the album. rating: **** stars
- Side two started with the song that was probably the 'truest' country song (and I using that description in a broad fashion) - 'Walk a Country Mile'. Pretty forgettable. rating: ** stars
- 'Who's Gonna Cry' was another Shondells-styled mid-tempo pop number with another 'la la la' chorus. Quite commercial with one of those then popular 'uplifting' lyrics. rating: *** stars
- Even though it featured a Buddy Spichler fiddle solo, the rocker 'Forty Days and Forty Nights' gets my nod as the standout track. Fantastic tune that was tailor made for top-40 airplay. rating: **** stars
- 'Kingston Highway' was a pretty ballad that again sounded more like a Shondells effort than anything off his solo work. The treated effect on the backing vocals was kind of cool. Interestingly, with the exception of Pete Drake's pedal steel solo, this one really didn't have much of a country feel. rating: *** stars
- A rollicking blues-flavored number, this was actually one of the bigger surprises. You've heard dozens of tunes that sounded like this and the 'I'm a lovin' man' lyric was about as original as a Xerox machine, but James turned in one of his most energetic performances on this one. Very nice ... rating: **** stars
- As much as I wanted to like 'Fortunada', ultimately it just never kicked into high gear. When it actually started rolling it sounded like it had been pieced together from a myriad out other tunes and the kazoo, country hoe-down ending was mega cheesy. rating: ** stars
- One of the better pop tracks the upbeat pop number 'Dark Is the Night' actually would have made a better single than 'Tell ‘Em Willie Boy's A-Comin''. rating: *** stars
Roulette also tapped the album for a pair of singles:
- 1972's 'Nothing To Hide' b/w 'Walk a Country Mile' (Roulette catalog number R-7115)
- 1972's 'Tell ‘Em Willie Boy's A-Comin'' b/w '' (Roulette catalog number )
Certainly one of his best solo efforts and an added bonus comes in the fact you can still find this one on the cheap.
"My Head, My Bed and My Red Guitar" track listing:
(side 1)
1.)Â Nothing to Hide (Tommy James) - 2:43
2.) Tell ‘Em Willie Boy's A-Comin' (Tommy James - Bob King) - 2:47
3.) White Horses (Tommy James - Bob King) - 3:41
4.) The Last One to Know (Tommy James - Bob King) - 4:29
5.) Rosalee (Linda Hargrove)- 2:49
6.) Paper Flowers (Tommy James - Joey Dee - Ritchie Cordell) - 4:37
(side 2)
1.)Â Walk a Country Mile (Tommy James - Bob King) - 2:10
2.) Who's Gonna Cry (Tommy James - Bob King) - 4:253.) Forty Days and Forty Nights (Tommy James - Bob King) - 2:574.) Kingston Highway (Tommy James - Bob King - Morris Levy)- 3:095.) I Live to Love a Woman (Tommy James - Bob King) - 2:526.) Fortunada (Tommy James - Bob King - Arnie Silver) - 3:41
7.) Dark Is the Night (Tommy James - Bob King) - 3:08
