line up 1  

- David Brown (RIP) -- vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards

  supporting musicians

- Ken Ascher -- keyboards

- Russell George -- drums, percussion

- Rick Maratta -- drums, percussion

- David Spinozza -- lead guitar

- The Eighteenth Edition (David Brown)

- Jeremiah (David Brown)

- The New Mix (David Brown and Karl Jarvi)

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  I Want To Be with You

Company: Uni

Catalog:  73128
Year: 1972

Country/State: Charlotte, North Carolina

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $40.00

Although there was a clear effort to market this as a follow-on to Jeremiah's self-titled 1971 album, for all intents and purposes "I Want To Be with You" was a solo album by the late singer/multi-instrumentalist David Brown.  Ditching the rest of the original Jeremiah line-up, the album found Brown supported by a collection of all-star sessions players including drummer Rick Maratta and guitarist David Spinozza.   The album featured nine Brown originals; rounded out by a cover of Larry Williams' rock chestnut 'Dizzy Miss Lizzie.'  

Co-produced by Allen Mirchin and Joe Palmer (who had produced the previous "Jeremiah" LP), the goal seemed to be positioning Brown as a contender in the singer/songwriter balladeer category.  Exemplified by tracks like 'Don't Let It Get You Down', 'You've Got to Make It On Your Own' and the title track, over half of the album featured orchestrated ballads.  Brown had a likeable voice and injected suitable pathos into the tunes so there wasn't anything wrong with most of them.  On the other hand, by the end of the album they'd begun to sound the same and there's a limit to how much personal pain a listener can take.  Moreover, with a warm and commercial voice, Brown had a clear affection and knack for radio-friendly pop.  Upbeat tracks such as 'Someone Waits for You', the single 'Carolina Sun' and the horn-propelled blue-eyed soul-tinged 'Some Day Soon' were far superior to the ballads. Brown's bluesy cover of Larry William's 'Dizzy Miss Lizzie' was also a standout performance.

As far as I can tell, this is the end of Brown's discography.  He apparently passed on in the mid-'70s, but with such a common name, I've never been able to track down any details.  By the way, don't confuse this Dave Brown with the late Dave Brown who was briefly the bassist in Santana.

"I Want To Be with You" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Don't Let It Get You Down (David Brown) - 2:52 rating: *** stars

The album opened up with a pleasant radio-friendly, singer-songwriter ballad.  With a very mid-'70s feel, the tune could have been mistaken for something by Andy Kim, or perhaps an American Colin Blustone.  Docked a star for the harsh female backing singers.

2.) Will It Always Be that Way (David Brown) - 3:50 rating: ** stars

Showcasing Spinozza's guitar, 'Will It Always Be that Way' was a jazz-tinged ballad.  The song took forever to kick into gear and the added orchestration didn't really help. Very lounge act vibe.

3.) Someone Waits for You (David Brown) - 4:18 rating: **** stars

Finally breaking out of the ballad mode, 'Someone Waits for You' benefitted from an upbeat melody, a catchy refrain and Spinozza's melodic guitar work.  My uneducated opinion, but this was probably the song that Uni should have launched as a single.

4.) I Want to be with You (David Brown) - 2:50 rating: ** stars

Back to "big ballad' territory, 'I Want to be with You' would not have sounded out of place on a Raspberries, or Eric Carmen solo album.  

5.) Carolina Sun (David Brown) - 3:24 rating: **** stars

Bordering on bubblegum pop, 'Carolina Sun' was easily the album's most top-40 commercial performance.  Brown sounded like he was trying to channel a little Tony Joe White into the grooves.  Nice choice as a single, though nobody was paying attention.

- 1972's 'Carolina Sun' b/w 'Highway Moon' (Uni catalog number 55329)

(side 2)

1.) Some Sweet Day (David Brown) - 2:54 rating: *** stars

With a catchy melody the upbeat 'Some Sweet Day' injected horn-powered blue-eyed soul into the mix. 

2.) Highway Moon (David Brown) - 3:25 rating: **** stars

The country-rock 'Highway Moon' was one of the album's prettiest ballads and showcased Brown's voice at it's most powerful.  Once again, the song would have been even better without the brittle female backing singers..

3.) You've Got to Make It On Your Own (David Brown) - 2:55  rating: **

The ballad 'You've Got to Make It On Your Own' found Brown trying to power his way through the song.  Not a good choice.  The song was also interesting for the mix which managed to all but submerge Spinozza's solo.  You literally had to strain to hear it in the mix.

4.) I Know La Di Da (David Brown) - 3:46  rating: ***

Country-tinged ballad featuring Brown and acoustic guitar ...  Extra star for the refrain and Ken Ascher's B3 Hammond solo..

5.) Dizzy Miss Lizzie (Larry Williams) - 4:06  rating: ***

Rock chestnuts are typical rote efforts including on an album to pad the running times.  That may have been the intention here, but Brown's cover of the Larry Williams classic was unexpectedly entertaining.  Dropping the usual hyper-speed arrangement, this take slowed the tune down, giving it a bluesy feel and spotlighting his best Tony Joe White swamp-rocker vocals and Spinozza's superb guitar work.