Genre: soul
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: The Cherry Album
Company: PLP-6103
Catalog: SDE-4008
Year: 1998
Country/State: Chicago, Illinois
Grade (cover/record): NM/NM
Comments: was sealed; opened to play and tape once
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4334
Price: $20.00
Cost: $66.00
I didn't have a clue as to Bobby McClure's background when I bought this album at a yard sale. What caught my attention was the fact it was written and produced by Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams). It turns out the late Bobby McClure was another one of those talented soulmen who actually had a couple of mid-1960s brushes with popular success ('Don't Mess with a Good Thing' and 'You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone) the latter' with Fonetalla Bass), but never managed to become a household name.
By
the early-1980s McClure had left music, paying his bills with a day job
working as an Illinois corrections officer. The music bug apparently
stayed with him and by the late-1980s he'd relocated to Southern California
where he resumed his recording career working with Jerry Williams (aka Swamp
Dogg). Signed to Williams SDGE Records, 1989's "The
Cherry Album" stood as McClure's first album.
Produced and largely written by Williams, the album served as a nice
showcase for McClure's gritty tenor which remained in excellent shape.
Top flight material such as 'Cherry Pie',
the bluesy 'When the Flavor's Gone' and 'I Can't Get Enough' coupled with
enthusiastic performances made the album a minor pleasure. Unfortunately the
set's old school soul feel was hopelessly out of synch with popular
tastes, making it easy to understand why the album quickly vanished without
a trace.
"The Cherry Album" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Today You Started Leaving Him (and Loving Me) (Swamp Dogg) -
2.) Cherry Pie (M. Phillips - J. Joses) -
3.) When The Flavor's Gone (Swamp Dogg) -
4.) I Can't Get Enough (Swamp Dogg) -
5.) Do Do Do Doop (Please Come Back) (Swamp Dogg) -
(side
2)
1.) I Need A Job
(Swamp Dogg) -
2.) Please Don't Put Me Out The Band (Swamp Dogg) -
3.) I Write Another Love Song (Swamp Dogg) -
4.) Brought It Back (Swamp Dogg) -
5.) Younger Man Blues (Swamp Dogg) -
Sadly, in November 1992 McClure suffered a fatal brain aneurysm. He was only 50 years old.