line up 1: (1971-2022)

- Rick Price (RIP 2022) -- vocals, bass, guitar, pedal steel guitar

- The Cimmarons

- Electric Light Orchestra

- Light Fantastic

- Mongrel 

- The Move

- The Rockin' Berries

- Sheridan / Price

- Sight and Sound

- Wizard

- Wizzo Band

- Roy Wood

Genre: pop

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title: Talking To the Flowers

Company: Gemini

Catalog: GME 1017
Year: 1971

Country/State: Birmingham, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $50.00

The late Rick Price is one of those musicians who deserves far greater recognition.  Today he's probably best known for his tenure with Jeff Lynne, Carl Wayne and Roy Wood in the criminally overlooked The Move, but his recording career spans work with a wide array of groups including Mongrel and various Roy Wood projects..  

Coming on the heels of a 1970 collaboration with Mike Sheridan ("This Is to Certify That...."), Price made his solo debut with 1971's self-produced "Talking To the Flowers".  Released on Carl Denker's short-lived Gemini label, the album was split between Price originals, a pair of tracks co-written with former musical partner Mike Sheridan (under the alias Michael Tyler) and an array of cover tunes.  Price originals like "Butterfly" and "Daisy Farm Park" clearly underscored the pop and "Toytown" lessons he'd picked up with The Move. Certainly not as strong as Lynne, Wayne, or Wood, but throughout the set Price demonstrated he had a nice and surprisingly commercial voice.  While it never took the spotlight, his bass laying was economical and melodic.  I'm a big fan of The Move's catalog, but material like the title track and his cover of The Idle Race's :"Please, No More Sad Songs" sounded a bit dated - more 1967-ish versus the album's 1971 issue. The album's biggest flaw took the form of the reliance on too many over-the-top ballads.  Tracks like "Misty Morning", "Who Am I", a cover of Neil Diamond's "And the Singer Sings His Songs" and "It's Over" repeatedly framed Price with heavily orchestrated, overly sentimental ballads that sapped much of the set's energy.  Released on a small UK label with little in the way of promotional resources and the fact the album never saw a US release didn't do much for sales. 

"Talking To the Flowers" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Butterfly (Rick Price) - 2:52 rating: **** stars

"Butterfly" opened the album with a catchy, radio-friendly slice of pop.  The biggest surprise came in hearing what a great voice Price had.  Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood grabbed most of the spotlight in The Move, but this tune made it clear price was just as strong a singer.  Yes, it sounded a touch dated (more 1967 than 1971), but it was hard to believe it wasn't tapped as a single.

2.) April Is Here (Rick Price) - 3:48 rating: **** stars

Another sweet, if slightly fey ballad, "April is Here" boasted some nice un-credited Hammond B3 fills and a great refrain.

3.) Daisy Farm Park (Rick Price) - 2:33 rating: **** stars

The bouncy "Daisy Farm Park" added a touch of lysergic influence to the mix with the quirky lyrics recalling something out if the Roy Wood catalog.

4.) Misty Morning  (Rick Price) - 4:08 rating: ** stars

The first disappointment, the keyboard powered ballad "Misty Morning" reminds me of a Glenn Campbell cover of a Jimmy Webb tune.  The pedal steel guitar only underscored the comparison.

5.) Talking To The Flowers (Terry Slater) - 2:26 rating: **** stars

The title track found Price returning to his catchy "Toytown" sound.  I'm a sucker for this musical niche so keep that in mind.

6.) Who Am I (Rick Price - Michael Tyler) - 2:32

Another country-tinged ballad, "Who Am I" sported one of the album's prettiest melodies showcasing Price's sweet voice and some nice pedal steel guitar.

(side 2)
1.)  It's Over (J Rogers) - 2:07 rating: ** stars

The heavily orchestrated ballad "It's Over" was simply to precious for its own good.  

2.) Reason To Believe (Tim Hardin) - 2:12 rating: *** stars

Price's cover of Tim Hardin's "Reason To Believe" was true to the original melody, but gave the song a much more conventional pop sound.  Hardin fans were probably appalled by the cover, but I kind of dug it.

3.) And the Singer Sings His Songs (Neil Diamond) - 4:51 rating: * stars

Powered by heavy strings, "And the Singer Sings His Songs" was simply an over-the-top slice of sentimentality.  

4.)  Love Her (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil) - 3:31 rating: ** stars

The Everly Brothers did the original cover back in 1963; Scott Engles and The Walker Brothers enjoyed the hit with their 1965 cover.  Price's version wasn't quite as bombastic as those earlier versions, but didn't do much for me.

5.) Please, No More Sad Songs (Jeff Lynne) - 3:37 rating: **** stars

I've always loved The Idle Race original (off their 1969 self-titled LP), but Price turned in a nice Baroque-pop styled cover.  Price's voice did a nice job of capturing the anguish of a lost love and you even got to hear a little of his awesome bass skills.

6.) And Now (Rick Price - Michael Tyler) - rating: *** stars

The second track co-written with former collaborator Mike Sheridan (under the alias Michael Tyner), I've always wondered it  the Baroque-pop ballad "And Now" was a leftover tune from the pair's earlier "This Is to Certify That..." album.  It was certainly a pretty tune, but just underscored the album's ballad heavy track listing.  C'mon how about a couple of rockers?

A rarity in the rock and roll world, the seventy seven year old Price died of natural cause  in May 2022.

 © Scott R. Blackerby March 2026