- unknown

- unknown 

Genre: pop

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  New York City Blues

Company: Baby Grand

Catalog: SE 1063
Year: 1977

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 395

Price: $90.00

1977's "New York City Blues" is one of the harder to find releases on the Baby Grand tax scam label.  It doesn't show up on the few baby Grand discographies I've seen and this is the only copy I've ever stumbled across.  Produced Duke Benson, this was clearly a throwaway collection intended to take advantage of a mid'-70s tax loophole.   Musically it was thoroughly lame - one of the worst tax scam albums I've ever come across. The band name and title gave me the expectation of hearing a collection of sophisticated pop, or perhaps blues-rock.   Naturally the music wasn't anything like that.   Most of the eight tracks had a country-rock tinge to them.   Unfortunate, of the eight uncredited tracks, five were worthless throwaway fodder - music as a product, rather than any attempt at art.  The sad thing is the anonymous singer actually had a pretty good voice, occasionally sounding like a more talented B.J. Thomas, but with the exception of the country-rockers 'Montana', 'Everybody', and 'Do It Right' his gifts were completely wasted on the album.

"New York City Blues" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) New York City Blues 

Hum, best way to describe this one ... bland B.J. Thomas-styled mid-'70s orchestrated pop.   Would have made a nice theme song for a throwaway television series theme song.    rating: ** stars

2.) American Music

Geez, after the awful opener it was hard to imagine this set getting much worse, but the country-tinged 'American Music' set a new standard for crap.   Simply hideous waste of vinyl that wasnt' even good enough for Hee Haw.   rating; * star

3.) Tomorrow

With a slight cocktail jazz flavor, 'Tomorrow' was music to fall asleep to.   THOROUGHLY BORING.   rating: * star

4.) Montana 

The album's best track (which wasn't saying a great deal), the country-rocker 'Montana' actually managed to generate a bit of energy showcasing the fact the anonymous lead singer was actually pretty good.  rating: *** stars

(side 2)
1.) Everybody - 2:35

Giving credited where due, 'Everybody' was another decent tune.  Kicked along by some tasty lead guitar, the song had a rollicking country-rock feel and a catchy melody that actually had some commercial potential.   Extra star for the lead guitar.   rating: *** stars

2.) You - 2:07

I'll readily admit to simply hating 'You'.   Imagine a really crappy Poco tune and you'll know what to expect here.   Total dreck.  rating: ** stars

3.) Do It Right - 4:06

Opening up with some nice guitars gave you hope 'Do It Right' might not be as bad as most of the album.   Another country-rocker, I'll tell you this wasn't half bad with a nice melody; some of the album's best vocals, and those great electric guitars.   rating: *** stars

4.) Satisfy - 3:11

For some reason 'Satisfy' has always reminded me of something Three Dog Night might have done - mildly country, but still quite poppish.   It'll find fans.  rating: *** stars