RATO RECORDS: ronnie aldrich

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domingo, 17 de novembro de 2019

RON ALDRICH: "Come To Where The Love Is"

Original released on LP Decca PFS 4264

(UK, 1972)

RONNIE ALDRICH - "Soft & Wicked"

Original Released as LP DECCA PFS 4268
(UK, 1972)

Anyone who ever has personal experience will testify to the fact that choosing an album title is not always easy; and “Soft & Wicked” must have intrigued record-buyers in 1973! You can decide which titles deserve one or other of the two very different descriptions: Ronnie Aldrich is simply offering another pleasing selection of melodies that appealed in the early 1970s, and he is joined by a wordless girlie chorus popping up for an occasional dash of ‘vocalese’. Gato Barbieri’s pleasant score for "Last Tango in Paris" was somewhat overshadowed by the notoriety that accompainied some of Marlon Brando’s scenes which were considered risqué at the time, and probably few people could recall the main theme after they left the cinema. Riz Ortolani was more successful with his music for "The Valachi Papers", a Franco-Italian production starring Charles Bronson. The other titles were songs that achieved fleeting popularity, although listening again to Ronnie’s catchy interpretations may trigger some distant memories. Easier to remember will be Gilbert O’Sullivan’s "Clair" and that homespun American ditty "Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree" (definitely soft, rather than wicked!). Also Hurricane Smith’s "Oh Babe, What Would You Say" perhaps deserves to be revisited by one of the new century’s pop idols. Carly Simon made "You’re So Vain" all her very own, and Aubrey was one of a string of superior hits enjoyed by David Gates and Bread. As for the others, "Killing Me Softly With His Song" was a nº 1 for Roberta Flack, and won a Grammy, but it is hardly the kind of song that makes you feel better – maybe it suited the early 1970s. "Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues" made it for Danny O’Keefe, and Edward Bear offered a "Last Song" by one Lawrence Wayne Evoy who isn’t listed for having composed anything else. "Call Me (Come Back Home)" was recorded and co-written by Al Green, which just leaves "It Never Rains in Southern California" written (and perfomed) by Albert Hammond, who also gave the world the highly forgettable "Gimme Dat Ding". Ronnie Aldrich’s many admirers will be delighted at having the opportunity to hear this superior album again, sounding better than ever before. The sound technology may have improved, but thankfully the high standards achieved by Ronnie and his musicians have certainly stood the test of time, and could hardly be bettered. (David Ades)