"...Ya Da Ya Da..."
**
There are reasons why so many albums from the Eighties are forgotten in 2023 - they were shite. And unfortunately with this BGO twofer - that's what you get here. And given the name on the card slipcase, you rather wish it was not so. To the details...
UK released 5 May 2023 - "Playin' My Thang/Night After Night" by STEVE CROPPER on Beat Goes On Records (BGO) BGOCD1495 (Barcode 5017261214959) is a compilation that offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1 CD (75:12 minutes).
There is a card slipcase on the outside, a 20-page booklet that reproduces all the credits and lyrics and new 2023 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters that make everything sing. There are also new liner notes from noted music writer CHARLES WARING where he makes a brave attempt to justify the reissue. Audio-wise, these are highly produced albums of the day done at MCA Records - so they sound great - but that's where the good news ends.
Already a legend as the guitarist with Booker T & The MG's and a stalwart at Stax Records - Steve Cropper bagged a two-record deal with MCA Records after his appearance in 'The Blues Brothers' movie of 1980 had reminded so many of Rhythm 'n' Blues and Sixties Soul - of which Cropper, the Stax House Band and the Memphis Horns had been such a big part. He even revisited songs he'd been involved in like Wilson Pickett's "634-5789" (one of the few highlights on the second LP).
So he popped out these two turkeys in 1981 and 1982 and despite some stellar hands on board to help with the songs - both albums are such a hard-work listen. Part of the problem was his insistence on singing every song when he had a weedy voice at best - a sort of poor man's Christopher Cross attempting that new fangled highly produced slick Yacht Rock the charts of the early Eighties was so loving at the time. His vocals are doubled to hide their weakness, but little hides the cheesy lyrics and the dual combo does for the listen despite the high productions values.
David Paich and Bobby Kimball of Toto help out on the first LP, Donald 'Duck' Dunn of Booker T & The MG's is in there too, Bill Payne of Little Feat on piano, Brass provided by The Memphis Horns, Willy Hall on Drums who had been with The Bar Kays and The Isaac Hayes Movement and so on. The second album upped the count even more - Wayne Perkins of Smith Perkins Smith with Timothy B. Schmit of Poco and The Eagles on Backing Vocals, Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers on Guitar, Bonnie Bramlett of Delaney & Bonnie on Backing Vocals, Jim Horn and Chuck Findlay on Horns with Roger Hawkins on Drums. But none of these impressive names save the music which is mostly awful Pop meets Pseudo Soul - the worst offenders being "Ya Da Ya Da" and "Give 'Em What They Want" among many. "Make You Feel Love Again" on the second LP is more of the same.
If you're a fan, then purchase is mandatory - great presentation, tasteful annotation and top quality Remasters. Anyone else, I would strongly advise a listen first...
