Mickey NEWBURY, "Sings His Own", 1972

Review by Thom Jurek  [-]

After the issue of 1968's Harlequin Melodies, an album Mickey Newbury disowned as not being at all what he was looking to get across -- despite some success with "Just Dropped In," which would later prove to be Kenny Rogers' first hit --Newbury went his way, writing for others and recording. In 1969 Newbury turned in Looks Like Rain to Elektra, whose label boss hated it. He bought the album back and sold it to Mercury. Looks Like Rain should be consideredNewbury's first proper release. Sings His Own, like its RCA predecessor, Harlequin Melodies, is nothing more than a collection of songwriting demos overbaked by Elvis Presley producer Felton Jarvis. Some of the tracks duplicated those on harlequin and others were added, most notably those recorded by others artists. As a collection of Newbury's songs, it's interesting in an historical manner. As a way of hearing Newbury's unique and beautiful singing voice, it's worthwhile, but as a testament to Newbury's vision, it doesn't fit the bill at all. Unless you are a Newbury comlpletist, this is one to leaving languishing in the bins. It doesn't mean the material isn't good -- it's excellent -- but it's only halfNewbury's and half RCA's idea of what he should have sounded like. Like its predecessor, it was the second chapter in a book full of music biz misunderstandings.

Sings His Own is the 1972 compilation album by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury, a revised edition of his debut Harlequin Melodies, released by RCA Records in 1972, after the critical notice of Newbury's highly acclaimed Looks Like Rain and Frisco Mabel Joy. Newbury's RCA debut heavily featured songs that had been made into hits by other artists, and there isn't much difference between that set and this one. Newbury largely disowned his RCA recordings, considering 1969's Looks Like Rain his true debut, and this album bears little stylistic similarity to anything else in his catalog.

Sings His Own substitutes Harlequin Melodies tracks "Here Comes The Rain, Baby," "How Many Times (Must The Piper Be Paid For His Song," "Mister Can't You See," and "Harlequin Melodies," for "The Queen," "Sunshine," and "Got Down On Saturday." As with the preceding album, many of these songs would be heavily covered by other artists, and Newbury himself would reinterpret "Sweet Memories," "Sunshine," and "Good Morning, Dear" on his 1973 album Heaven Help The Child.

There is some debate about whether the versions of the seven duplicated songs from Harlequin Melodies are different recordings from the original album. However, most CD versions add the new Sings His Own songs as bonus tracks to the complete Harlequin Melodies album.

Track listing[edit]

1. "Sweet Memories" (Mickey Newbury) -3:19
2. "Good Morning, Dear" (Mickey Newbury) - 2:52
3. "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" (Mickey Newbury) - 2:52
4. "Weeping Annaleah" (Mickey Newbury) - 2:34
5. "Time Is A Thief" (Mickey Newbury) - 3:02
6. "Funny, Familiar, Forgotten Feelings" (Mickey Newbury) - 2:58
7. "Sunshine" (Mickey Newbury) - 2:43
8. "Got Down On Saturday" (Mickey Newbury) - 2:48
9. "Are My Thoughts With You" (Mickey Newbury) - 3:06
10. "The Queen" (Mickey Newbury, Townes Van Zandt) - 3:08

via wiki