TIM ROSE: "Through Rose Colored Glasses"

Original released on LP 

Columbia CS 9772 (US) / CBS S 63636 (UK)

(1969)

TIM ROSE Debut Album

Original released on LP Columbia CS 9577

(US, 1967)

Tim Rose died in September 2002. And it is tragic because after years of not being involved in music – he was at various times, a stockbroker & a teacher – and battling alcoholism – his music career was very much on the up. Rose had been supported by his admirer Nick Cave – was recording & releasing albums and had gigs lined up at the time of his death of a heart attack. Tim Rose was 62. Now  back to 1967 and his solo debut album. Not his first album – he had been in a Folk Group called The Big Three with Cass Elliot & Jim Hendricks. Rose went solo and the other two formed The Mugwumps – and you can hear the rest of the story on The Mamas & Papas wonderful "Creeque Alley". This album sold shed loads and is a brilliant album in its own right. "Come Away, Melinda" a harrowing tale of a post-nuclear holocaust event was not written by Rose but is associated with him as are – and far more contentiously – two songs - "Hey Joe"  & "Morning Dew". On the latter, Tim Rose claimed a song writing credit even though the song was written by Bonnie Dobson. OK, Tim Rose’s version is the one everyone else copied (including The Grateful Dead) but I feel that Bonnie Dobson was right to be very annoyed about this. As for "Hey Joe" – well – the credit is 'arranged & adapted by Tim Rose', although I think the original album credited him as the writer. Did Billy Roberts write it – possibly - but it may as Tim Rose contended a traditional song. What annoyed Rose this time was that a certain guitarist heard Rose play it live and copied his version. Actually – Jimi Hendrix may not have done - he may have learned it from the excellent British band – The Creation – who probably had never heard Tim Rose’s version. What I do know is that Tim Rose did not have a good word to say about Hendrix!

Back to "Tim Rose" – the music is sort of Blues/Folk and Rock – before Rolling Stone Magazine called it that. The opening "I Got a Loneliness" sets the tone and Rose’s incredible voice makes its mark. Good drumming from Bernard Purdie. This is followed by a different version of "I’m Gonna Be Strong" – the Mann/Weil song that Gene Pitney had a hit with. Not sure about the string arrangement – the album was produced by David Rubinson and it is of its time. The guitar sound on "I Gotta Do Thigs My Way" is another reminder that this album comes from 1967. "Fare Thee Well" – a Tim Rose original is a blues ballad sort of – and once again Purdie who plays on most of the songs is the driving force. The backing vocals were probably a mistake, though. "Eat Drink & Be Merry (for Tomorrow You’ll Cry)" is a soul song – not sure who did it originally – but Tim Rose sings it perfectly. (With a hint of Ray Charles – Tim Rose had that sort of voice.) Side 2 opens with "Morning Dew" and it is brilliant – no matter who wrote it. (Although once again the backing vocals could have done with being removed.) And Purdie is awesome! – as to is Rose. "Where Was I?" is a pop song with a Phil Spector-type arranged by someone called Arnold Goland who actually worked with Spector – and quite different from what had gone before – I wonder if CBS had hoped for a hit single?  "You’re Slipping Away From Me" is another Rose original and is rather excellent. And now back to Nick Cave. He covered the next song – the excellent "Long Time Man" on his album “Your Funeral….My Trial”. Thing is, lyrically it sounds like a Nick Cave – presumably that is why he covered it. This is followed by the stunning "Come Away. Melinda" which is still so relevant today. I think the album should have ended on this – but that would have been probably far too bleak, so the final song is "King Lonely the Blue" which is a sixties sort of pop song – co—written by Doc Pomus. The backing singers (uncredited) should have been taken out and shot by this stage. (in RateYourMusic)