Jerry Williams
Band members Related acts
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line up 1: (1970) as The Jerry Williams Group - Rex Ludwick -- drums, percussion - Jerry McDonald -- bass - Jerry Lynn Williams (RIP 2005) -- vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion
line up 2 (1972) - Jerry Williams (aka Jerry Lynn Williams) (RIP 2005) -- vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion
supporting musicians: (1972) - Bob Baberich -- drums, percussion - Cornell Dupree -- lead guita - Gordon Edwards -- bass - Bob Gordon -- bass - Bobbie Hall -- percussion - Nicky Hopkins (RIP) -- keyboards - Nils Lofgren -- lead guitar - Bernard Purdie -- drums, percussion - Chuck Rainey -- bass
supporting musicians: (1979) - Mayunto Correa -- percussion - Steve Cropper -- guitar - Donald Duck Dunn -- bass - Rick Jaeger -- drums, percussion - James Jamerson. -- bass - Jeff Porcaro -- drums, percussion - Lee Price -- sax, flute, horns - Robert the Root -- harmonica - Denny Seiwell -- drums, percussion - Grey Smith -- sax, flute - Julia Tillman -- backing vocals - Lee Thornberg -- trumpet, flugelhorn - Luther Waters -- backing vocals - Oren Waters -- backing vocals - Ed Watkins -- bass - Maxine Willard -- backing vocals - Red Young -- keyboards
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- High Mountain
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Genre: rock Rating: 4 stars **** Title: Down Home Boy Company: Columbia Catalog: C
30279 Country/State: Oklahoma Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: sealed Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2568 Price: $40.00
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Even though it was credited to The Jerry Williams Group, the majority of 1970's "Down Home Boy" was actually a repackaging of High Mountain Hoedown's second album - 1970's "Canyon". With production split between Tim O'Brien and namesake Williams, the two album's shared nine songs. The only difference in track listings was the instrumental 'Rachmaninoff Piano' was replaced by the Williams-penned ballad 'She was My Lady'.
Columbia catalog number CS 1010
From a marketing perspective you had to wonder why Columbia went through all the effort ... It wasn't like Jerry Lynn Williams had suddenly become a recognized name.
"Down Home
Boy" track listing: 1.) Down Home Boy (Jerry Williams) - 3:08 2.) Illusion (Jerry Williams) - 2:50 3.) May the Circle Be Unbroken (Jerry Williams) - 3:23 4.) More To You (Jerry Williams) - 3:15 5.) Sailboat (Jerry Williams) - 4:05
(side 2) 1.) Don't Ever Leave Me Again (Jerry Williams) - 3:13 2.) I've Got a Lot of Time (Jerry McDonald) - M. Rabon) - 2:29 3.) I'll Get Back To You (Jerry Williams) - 2:50 4.) She was My Lady (Jerry Williams) - 3:20 5.) Cid (Jerry Williams) - 3:12
Down Home Boy/Don't Ever Leave Me Again7-inch (Item 758372) Columbia, 1970I really enjoy this album, a nice mix of rock and soul, it reminds me of Delaney and Bonnie. No musicians are listed on my vinyl, but there's some fine playing going on. definitely recomended This is the second High Mountain Hoedown record, with Hoedown dropped. Canyon is actually the title of the LP, not the name of the group. It's the same Jerry Williams and crew. Nice record
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Genre: rock Rating: 4 stars **** Title: Jerry Williams Company: Spindizzy Catalog: KZ
31404 Country/State: Oklahoma Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2546 Price: $40.00
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Having recorded two albums with the largely anonymous High Mountain Hoedown, the early 1970s found Jerry Williams taking a stab at a solo career.
Signed by Epic's Spindizzy subsidiary, 1971's "Jerry Williams" teamed the singer/songwriter with producer David Briggs (best know for his work with Neil Young and Crazy Horse). The album also found Williams working with an impressive cast of musicians including keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, guitarist Nils Lofgren, and drummer Bernard Purdie. Offering up a mixture of Williams originals and covers, I won't try to convince you this was a lost classic. It wasn't. Williams was clearly a gift writer, at his best on up-tempo rockers like 'Cast Your Spell' and the enigmatically titled 'Maggie was a Spider'. With a tendency to get shrieky, he was less impressive on the ballads like his cover of Procol Harum's 'Whiter Shade of Pale'. That said, Williams performances were uniformly enthusiastic and impressive, making for an album that was far above what you would have expected.
"Jerry
Williams" track listing: 1.) On Broadway (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil -- J. Leiver - Mike Stoller) - 4:11 rating; **** stars Opening up with some nice Nicky Hopkins keyboard work, I was surprised by how enjoyable WIlliams' slowed down, stretched out cover of 'On Broadway' was. Not quite a dirge, but close and Williams pained vocal was divine. 2.) Cast Your Spell (Jerry Williams) - 4:06 rating: **** stars It was interesting to hear Williams toughening up his sound on the slinky 'Cast Your Spell'. He may have been trying to channel some Robert Plant, but it didn't quite work. Still, rounded out by Hopkins keyboards and some tasty Lofgren guitar, it was an excellent slice of FM rock. It would have been even better had Williams ditched the shrill, irritating vocal mannerisms. 3.) Words (Jerry Williams) - 4:37 rating: ** stars Just Williams accompanied by keyboard, 'Words' was a stark ballad that recalled something off a Stevie Wonder album. Seriously, Williams seemed to trying to channel Wonder on this one. A bit too pained for my tastes, 4.) Just Like a Woman (Bob Dylan) - 4:44 rating: *** stars I've noted it before, but it seems as if ever early-'70s album included a must-record-a-Bob-Dylan-song-clause. Here's Williams contractual obligation Dylan cover. Redone with kind of a looping, Southern blues tune, his version of 'Just Like a Woman' wasn't anything great. 5.) Rock 'n Roll (Is Here to Stay) (Jerry Williams) - 3:27 rating: **** stars Thankfully back to original, rocking material. Worth the price just for the down and dirty lead guitar.
(side 2) 1.) A Whiter Shade of Pale (Gary Brooker - Keif Reid) - 4:42 rating: *** stars I've certainly have heard worse covers of this Procol Harum classic, but you had to wonder why Williams bothered. Imagine a cover that was 90% true to the original with the other 10% reflecting Williams' southern roots showing though. 2.) On the Move (Jerry Williams) - 4:03 rating: *** stars Strange, blues-tinged rocker ... Originally 'On the Move' left me cold, but after a couple of spins I have to admit the hyber-speeded track was an interesting performance. Nice platform for Hopkins barrelhouse piano. 3.) Love Letters (E. Heyman - V. Young) - 3:28 rating: ** stars Well, he did a nice dog impression ... otherwise, his cover of 'Love Letters' was pedestrian. 4.) Maggie was a Spider (Jerry Williams) - 3:38 rating: **** stars Damn - if you had any doubts the man could rock out, then check out the sizzling 'Maggie was a Spider'. With backing from Nils Lofgren and his drummer Bob Berberich, this tune was simply kicka**. How was it overlooked as a single? 5.) Gangster of Love (Johnny "Guitar" Watson)) - 7:44 rating: **** stars And you thought Steve Miller was the gangster of love ... Nah, it was actually Johnny "Guitar" Watson. Williams bluesy cover of Watson's 'Gangster of Love' was easily the albums best cover tune.
Williams' Spindizzy catalog includes a non-LP single (penned by Nils Lofgren):
- 1970's 'Sing for Happiness' b/w 'Crazy 'Bout You Baby' (Spindizzy catalog number ZS7 4003)
The album vanished without a trace leaving Williams to focus his attention on songwriting; his first client being Dave Mason.
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Genre: rock Rating: 4 stars **** Title: Gone Company: Warner Brothers Catalog: BSK
3291 Country/State: Oklahoma Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: promo copy; custom inner sleeve; $3.98 written in black magic marker on cover (not shown in photo) Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2285 Price: $30.00
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Having listened to "Gone" dozens of times over the years, you have to wonder how a talented guy like Jerry Williams never managed to make it out of the rock and roll shadows.
Signed by Warner Brothers with a $500K advance, 1979's "Gone" should have been Williams shot at the big time. Produced by Chris Kemsey (hot on the heels of his work on The Stones' "Some Girls"), the album featured a stellar cast of friends and associates ranging from Stax heroes like Steve Cropper and Donald Dunn, to Jeff Porcaro and the cream of L.A. sessions players. Featuring a largely original collection of material, the album aptly demonstrated Williams knack for writing material that covered the area between country-blues, soul, and swamp rock genres. Interesting in hindsight there's a good chance tracks like 'Getting Stronger' and 'Philosophizer' would have sounded a little dated in 1979. On the other hand the title track, 'Easy On Yourself' and 'Call To Arms' upped the AOR content and would have sounded at home on late-'70s FM radio. Williams was also blessed with a nice rugged voice that was well suited to those genres. I've struggled to come up with a comparison - maybe a more commercial version of Delbert McClinton, Don Nix, or maybe Tony Joe White ... Certainly not the most original album of the year, but it was consistently enjoyable and deserved a far better fate.
Speaking of fate, I've never been able to figure out the details, but just as the album was being released Williams and Warner Brothers had a major falling out. The relationship became so tense Warner Brothers management slapped Williams with a restraining order that barred him from stepping foot on company property. The label followed that up by effectively pulling the album from circulation after a handful of promo copies had been distributed. The Williams designed cover art certainly wouldn't have helped sales ...
"Gone" track listing: 1.) Gone (Jerry Williams) - 4:50 rating: **** stars The title track offered up a surprisingly enjoyable slice of blue-eyed soul. Williams had a slinky voice that was well suited to the genre and the song had a 24 carot hook in terms of the title chorus. Apparently intended as the single, Warner Brothers briefly released the song on a three track, 7" promotional EP: - 1979's 'Gone' b/w 'This Song' and 'Philosophizer' (Warner Brothers catalog number PRO-S-793) 2.) Easy On Yourself (Jerry Williams) - 4:21 rating: **** stars Built on Ed Watkins' reggae-tinged bass line, the breezy, yet funky 'Easy On Yourself' was one of those tracks that just seem ready made for top-40 airplay. Williams turned in one of his most engaging vocals on this one. Should have been another single. Easy to picture Eric Clapton covering this one. 3.) I've Got Dreams To Remember (Otis Redding - Zelma Redding - Joe Rock) - 3:42 rating: *** stars There wasn't anything wrong with his cover of this soul classic. In fact, with support from Steve Cropper and Donald "Duck" Dunn, he turned in a more than decent take, but the fact of the matter is there simply wasn't any way to compete with the Redding original. 4.) Call To Arms (Jerry Williams) - 3:44 rating: *** stars 'Call To Arms' was apparently intended to show Williams could work in a more commercial AOR environment. It may not have been the most original tune you've ever heard, but was certainly better than anything coming out of the Whitesnake catalog. 5.) Talk To Me (Jerry Williams) - 3:16 rating: **** stars Toughening up his sound, 'Talk You Me' sounded like Delbert McClinton taking a stab at a full-out rock and roll tune. Awesome track and nice example of Williams guitar prowess.
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2) The album's second cover, Williams version of 'Song for My Father' all but abandoned the original's instantly recognizable melody for an unexpected bossa nova flavored arrangement. Give it an extra star for the unique interpretation, but I'd still go with the original. 2.) Givin' It Up for Your Love (Jerry Williams - Michael Braunstein) - 3:20 rating: **** stars Yeah, most folks know this one via Delbert McClinton's top-40 cover. Shame since Williams version was even better. To be honest, McClinton basically copped Williams arrangement. This is the one that should have been the hit. 3.) Gettin' Stronger (Jerry Williams) - 3:16 rating: **** stars Powered by some tasty fuzz guitar and some pounding horn charts, the rock-meets-funk 'Gettin' Stronger' was another tune that would have suited McClinton well. Hard to sit still through this one. 4.) Philosophizer (Jerry Williams) - 5:05 rating: **** stars My favorite performance on the album, the breezy, soulful 'Philosophizer' had everything going for it - great melody, killer vocals (Delbert should have covered this one), James Jamerson's thundering bass, and a fantastic harmonica throughout. 5.) This Song (Jerry Williams) - 4:00 rating: **** stars A dark, brooding ballad built on a series of extended synthesizer washes, 'This Song' was the album's oddest performance and was the one tune where comparison's to Stevie Wonder made sense to me. Like some of Wonder's best material, 'This Song' shared the same blend of beautiful melody and experimental touches. The combination of Williams lead vocal and the haunting backing voices only underscored the comparison. Probably the album's least commercial offering, but also one of the highlights.
Ironically for a brief a period of time in the mid-'80s Williams became one of the go-to songwriters for rock artists. He enjoyed massive sales via covers of his work by the likes of Eric Clapton ('Forever Man', 'See What Love Can Do', and 'Pretending'), B.B. King (Standing on the Edge of Love'), Delbert McClinton ('Givin' It Up For Your Love'), Bonnie Raitt ('I Will Not Be Denied' and 'Real Man'), and Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan ('Tick Tock').
Those successes didn't last forever and by the early 2000s Williams embroiled in a nasty divorce that left him broke and largely out of music. Only 57, broke and living in isolation on his sailboat in St. Maarten, Williams died of kidney and liver failure in December 2005.
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