"...You Better Move
On..."
Called "New Lovers
& Old Friends" in the USA (Epic PE 33681) and "Help Me
Rhonda" in the UK (Epic S EPC 80987, released September 1975) – this
entire album of cover versions by Johnny Rivers hasn't dated at all well.
Beat Goes On has been
reissuing JR's catalogue for years now - and audio-wise July 2017’s BGOCD 1303
(Barcode 5017261213037) benefits hugely from another quality remaster from
BGO's resident Sound Engineer - ANDREW THOMPSON. This was a well-recorded album
in the first place with a large array of flashy session names - so the Audio is
top notch.
But despite Brian Wilson
adding vocals to his own "Help Me Rhonda" - Michael Omartian and
Chuck Finley on the cover of "It's The Same Old Song" (a
Holland-Dozier-Holland hit for The Four Tops in 1965) - much of these remakes
barely rise above tepid.
Rivers takes on the Tyrone
Davis Soul classic "Can I Change Your Mind", Jimmy Cliff's Reggae hit
"You Can Get It If You Really" and Arthur Alexander's R&B smash
"You Better Move On" (favoured so much by The Beatles). But most make
you want to rush back to the brilliant originals - while Ned Doheny's
"Postcards From Hollywood” isn’t anything special despite his deserved rep
amongst Yacht Rock aficionados.
Highlights however include
the Rock-Soulful ballad "Spare Me A Little" - a typically pretty
melody from the pen of Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie (it originated on their
"Bare Trees" album from 1972) and the impossibly hooky "Dancin'
In The Moonlight" first waxed by Boffalongo on their "Beyond Your
Head" LP on Liberty Records in 1970. The obscure song has had a colourful
history - Sherman Kelly's catchy tune turned up as a stand-alone single
credited to High Broom on Island Records in the UK (WIP 6088 was also 1970).
Then it went with him to his next band King Harvest who re-did it in 1972 on
Perception Records (Pye in the UK). But most will know of the song via
Toploader who had a huge hit with "Dancin' In The Moonlight" in 2000.
Here its chipper vibe is retained.
Fans should waste no time
and dive in (especially given the great audio and classy presentation) – but
I’d advise others to cop a middle-of-the-road listen before a buy...
