line up 1  

- Pierre DeBerry -- drums, percussion

- Jimmy Myers. -- vocals, bass

- Buddy Richter -- vocals, guitar

  supporting musicians:

- Woody Freeman -- 

- David Spinks -- 

- J/D. Walters -- 

- none known

Genre: pop

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Born Too Soon

Company: United Music World

Catalog: RSR 384
Year: 1976

Country/State: West Columbia, South Carolina

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: lots of small lines on vinyl; no skips; tape on top seam

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 905

Price: $75.00

Complete unknowns to me - apparently from South Carolina (based on the fact the album was recorded at United Music World Recording Studios in West Columbia South Carolina).   They were a mid-'70s trio featuring the talents of drummer Pierre DeBerry, singer/bassist Jimmy Myers, and singer/guitarist Buddy Richter.

A couple of short reviews I've seen have described the 1970's "Born Too Soon" as rockin' Jesus music.  The rockin' part was at least partially correct.  The tune 'Stepping Out Of The Darkness' has to be one of the heaviest things I've ever heard.   About half of the eight original tracks were quality pop ,or rockers with some real commercial potential.  The Jesus music description remains a puzzle to my ears.   If there was a religious component to the album, that Christian message was very subtle and lost to me.   In fact, other than perhaps the blazing rockers 'I Ain't Going' and 'Stepping Out Of The Darkness' I'm hard pressed to find anything remotely religious.  For the most part their lyrics seemed to focus on conventional rock themes; busted relationships, lost love, and some more busted relationships.  Myers and Richter both handled lead vocals and though I don't know which was which, the pair had interesting and conflicting singing styles.    One of the two had a wonderful "rock" voice.  Dry and craggy, his delivery was found on most of the album's rock-oriented tunes ('Up To You', 'Go Out & Get It', and the wonderful 'I Ain't Going').  In contrast, whoever handled lead vocals on tunes like 'Crazy For Crying' and 'Hold Me For The Last Time' had a lounge act-ish voice that was far less impressive and enjoyable.   And that gets you to the main problem with the album.   It literally sounded like two different bands recorded the collection with the track listing literally bouncing back and forth  between rockers and MOR-ish pop tunes.   The ever shifting sound was a source of continuing frustration to  my ears.  It as certain an album of extremes.  Produced and arranged by the band, the entire album was apparently recorded in one day and mixed over the course of a second day.   If true, you've got to marvel that the results could be so good.  Shame they didn't ditch some of the ballads for more rock oriented tunes.

"Born Too Soon" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Up To You   (Jimmy Myers - Kevin Waters)- 3:36

The bouncy country-rock tinged 'Up To You' promised great things.  With Myers and Richter both singing, the result was vaguely reminiscent of The Beatles 'You Can't Do That'. or something an angry Mike Nesmtih might have tried to shove down Don Kirshner's throat during his days with The Monkees.  The track also featured one of Richter's nicer solos.   rating: **** stars

2.) Now She's Gone   (Jimmy Myers - Buddy Richter) - 4:40

Remember those Glen Campbell albums your grandparents owned ?   Well, if you do, this sounded like something Jimmy Webb might have written for Campbell.   With the exception of some nice Richter fuzz guitar, this was a very MOR pop ballad.      rating: ** stars

3.) Go Out & Get It   (Jimmy Myers - Buddy Richter) - 3:21

Nice, almost funky rocker with an extended Richter solo. The lead singer sounded like he'd swallowed a cp full of nails.   One of the album highlights.   rating: **** stars

4.) Lady Lynn   (Jimmy Myers - Buddy Richter) - 4:27

A straightforward country ballad complete with pedal steel guitar,  'Lady Lynn' was actually the kind of country song meant for people who didn't like country music.   With a pretty melody, great guitar solo, mournful lyric and a nice hook, it may have been the album's prettiest song.   rating: *** stars

(side 2)

1.) I Ain't Going   (Jimmy Myers - Buddy Richter) - 3:14   

Southern rock with a pop edge ?  Pop with a Southern rock edge ?   Beats me, but this was one great way to open up side two.  Wicked lyrics too boot.   This one would have been a hoot to hear live.  Great little guitar riff on this one and the do-do-do harmonies were great ...   rating: ***** stars
2.) Crazy For Crying   (Jimmy Myers) - 4:12

Geez, how does a band go from the wonderful 'I Ain't Going' to the lounge act sounds of something like 'Crazy For Crying'. This one was impossibly bad - remember the character Bill Murray use to play on Saturday Night Live ?  Lounge act singer Nick Winters ?  Yup, that's what you had here.  Even worse, this helpless ballad just went on and on and on.   rating: * star

3.) Stepping Out Of The Darkness   (Jimmy Myers - Buddy Richter) - 5:25

Talk about whiplash ...   the next transition found the band shifting from lounge act to seriously acid drenched psych.   Powered by some totally meltdown Richter lead fuzz guitar, this was the kind of track so called heavy bands like Cactus, Iron Butterfly and Mountain could only dream about writing and recording.   Awesome performance; the album's creative highpoint and I'm surprised it hasn't  been included on dozens of compilation sets.  rating: ***** stars

4.) Hold Me For The Last Time   (Jimmy Myers - Kevin Waters) - 3:21

So why not trot out a '50s Roy Orbison-styled ballad ?    These guys clearly needed some advice on picking a sound and sticking with it.   rating: ** stars