Song of the Day - Charlie Rich / Party Girl

Charlie Rich was considered by some to be one of the great country singers of the 60's and 70's. His style however, crossed over into many other genres such as soul, pop, and rockabilly. I found this one on The Complete Smash Sessions album. I know this post is kinda off the mark for this blog but I just had to put it up as the lyrics are just spot on. It does have soulful elements to it though. It's about a "Party Girl" who as many party girls do, step on a guys heart. Lord knows I've met a few party girls in my day. They're like bubble gum, they're good for about a half hour of flavor and then they turn real bland. Anyway I hope you like this one like I do, if not I'll try to get you back with a good post next time. You can download it here.

Comments

[Ronald Brackney]

Charlie Rich was a jazz pianist and soul singer who
became a country superstar. Even some of his most ardent
"country" fans don't know he has been compared to Ray Charles and called probably the "bluesiest of the white
rockabillies." He sings with great emotion on ballads but can rock with the best - the genre doesn't matter, Charlie does it. Charlie gained many Frank Sinatra fans in the 1970s with his renditions of standards like "Nice and Easy," "Like Someone in Love," and "I've Got You Under My Skin." Done in the mid-60s, Charlie considered the "Complete Smash Sessions" some his best studio recordings. Just listen to "The Best Years" and "I Can't Go On" for vocals you won't forget. Pick up 1992's "Pictures and Paintings" for Charlie's last studio album with a small group of Memphis jazz and blues players including among others late saxman Fred Ford, guitarists Michael Toles and Calivn Newborn and drummer Johnny Vidacovich. The title tune is by Doc Pomus/Dr. John in a jazz vein, also a great version of "You Don't Know Me," and blues tunes such as "Don't Put No Headstone On My Grave" and "Juice Head Baby." Also a beautiful song titled "Anywhere You Are" - all piano/vocal on the CD is by Charlie. Delve into Charlie Rich and, as critic Dave Marsh says in the "Smash Sessions" liner notes, "enter a new world." Marsh relates he has owned the original two Smash albums for 20 years and "the music they contain remains a permanent fascination." If you are a music fan, you will likely
come to be a Charlie Rich fan.

[Dan Phillips]

Yeah, Charlie Rich had some soulful moments. An often overlooked early Sun artist from the Memphis/Eastern Arkansas area, he definitely had blues and r&b influences in a lot of his stuff. I used to live in those parts and dug Charly on the radio when I was a kid in the 50's. Thanks for going off track for this one. Now, back to da funk....