Genre: rock
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: On the Road
Company: Warner Brothers
Catalog: BS-2913
Year: 1976
Country/State: USA
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4369
Price: $5.00
Cost: $66.00
I'll be honest and admit that most of Jesse Colin Young's solo career simply doesn't resonate with me. Mind you, he has an interesting voice and he's written several songs that I like, but getting through his albums has always been a chore for me.
Recorded at dates in California, Nevada and Oregon, 1975's "On the Road" is kind of interesting in that a lot of folks call this their favorite Young solo effort. Having listened to the album dozens of times, the collection has a certain low key charm. Young's instantly recognizable voice has seldom sounded as good and it's clear that he's very comfortable with the backing band - there are some gorgeous harmony vocals on tracks such as 'Peace Song' and 'Have You Seen My Baby'. As a concert set the album offers up a pleasant mix of material from his Youngblood's catalog ('Sunlight'), solo efforts and a couple of weird, but enjoyable covers. Too my ears his medley of Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' and 'Mercy Me (The Ecology)' is probably the set's highpoint. It's kind of like listening to a James Taylor album in that there's a pleasant vibe to the collection, but little on the album makes a lasting impression. Give Young a nod for having the gall to not include 'Get Together' on the album ...
"On the Road" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Sunlight (Jesse Colin Young) - 3:49
2.) Walking Off the Blues (Jesse Colin Young) - 3:19
3.) Peace Song (Jesse Colin Young) - 4:30
4.) Miss Hesitation (Jesse Colin Young) - 6:25
5.) What's Going On / Mercy Me (The Ecology) (Benson - Cleveland - Marvin Gaye) - 5:25
(side
2)
1.) Corrina (traditional)
- 3:16
2.) Have You Seen My Baby (Randy Newman) - 3:33
3.) Ridgetop (Jesse Colin Young) - 12:31
4.) T-Bone Shuffle (T-Bone Walker) - 6:10