Terry Melcher – “Terry Melcher”

The Sleeve:

The Liner/Sleeve Notes:
None.

Personal Review:
 Terry Melcher was one of the big shots in music, he produced such acts as the Byrds, The Beach Boys and Paul Revere and the Raiders – he was the son of Doris Day, a singer himself – with his musical partner Bruce Johnston – and also, the original intended victim in the 1969 Tate / LaBianca murders. This is his album.

“Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms” opens the album, and it’s a great song to open the album, Terry is definitely a very talented singer, and clearly knew what he was doing when he released this album. The musicianship is absolutely terrific, and of course it is, considering it was most likely all picked by Terry. “Just gonna lay in that shack, ’til that mail train comes back and roll in my sweet baby’s arms” – such a sweet ending line. After that comes “These Days” – which has amazing musicianship, and Terry’s vocals are superb, and the lyrics are wonderful. It’s kind of neat knowing that his mother Doris Day did the female backing vocals on this album. “Don’t confuse with all of my, my problems! Don’t confront me with all of my, all of my failures… I have not forgot them.” – a lot of Terry’s vocals and lyrics are so powerful, and I feel I’m gonna be giving lots of examples as this review rolls on. Then it’s followed by “Dr. Horowitz” which is more of a fun song, which has a pretty nice groove to it, at about 1:40 in, it really kicks in and gets super amazing. I definitely love when Terry hits those little high notes. After that comes “Beverly Hills” it’s a slower song, with the steel guitar which gives it that country-ish feel to it. But it’s basically Terry describing Beverly Hills, and it’s pretty cool. The A-Side closes with the song “These Bars Have Made a Prisoner Out of Me” and well, it’s another great track on a great album. Terry is an amazing vocalist, and his songs are so deep and beautiful, this song is another song with a country feel to it. It makes for a great ending track to the A-Side.

 The B-Side opens with “Arkansas” – which has some nice piano playing at the beginning, and Terry begins to sing, and it’s like we’re brought on another magical adventure. Then the chorus hits, and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve heard, all the vocals, and the rhythm. This is just a 100% great album. Then comes Terry’s version of “Stagger Lee” and well, besides Bobby Rydell’s version, Terry’s version is the most amazing version I’ve ever heard. The vocals are superb, and when he hits the point in the song with Lee shoots Billy, and Terry gets into that, it’s like you’re brought into a whole other world. It’s so amazing. Oh, do I need to mention how amazing the guitar solo is? Cause it is. “4th Time Around” comes next, and it’s another good song with some pretty nice musicianship and the strings are pretty great too. “Just a Season” follows next, and well, it too, like the rest of this album is a good song sung by a very talented musician. After that follows the “Bob Dylan Medley” – which opens with Terry’s version of “Halls of Justice” – and it’s a bit slower, but it’s pretty nice. Though, very few people can and should cover Bob Dylan. The musicianship is superb though! Then “Positively 4th Street” comes and it’s pretty great, and the medley ends with “Like a Rolling Stone” (which is my favorite Bob Dylan song) – and Terry does it wonderfully. The whole medley is wonderful, both musically and vocally, and it flows perfectly. The album ends with the song “Old Hand Jive” – it’s a slower song, but it makes for a nice ending track, though I do wish it ended with a more faster paced song. But hey, Terry was the professional here, he knew what he was doing.

 Personally, this would’ve been a better ending track.

Interesting Facts:
None.

Track Listing:
A1 – Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms
A2 – These Days
A3 – Dr. Horowitz
A4 – Beverly Hills
A5 – These Bars Have Made a Prisoner Out of Me

B1 – Arkansas
B2 – Stagger Lee
B3 – 4th Time Around
B4 – Just a Season
B5 – Bob Dylan Medley
 – Halls of Justice
 – Positively 4th Street
 – Like a Rolling Stone
B6 – The Old Hand Jive

Label:
Reprise Records

Catalog Number:
MS 2185

Studio Musicians & Other Album Credits:
Produced by Terry Melcher & Bruce Johnston
Drums – Jim Keltner, Hal Blaine & Michael Clark
Bass – Joe Osborne & Chris Hillman
Guitars – Clarence White, Ry Cooder, Mike Deasy & Tony Martin, Jr.
Steel Guitar – Sneaky Pete & J.D. Maness
Piano – Larry Knetchel, Spooner Oldham & Terry Melcher
Horns – Jim Horn, Slyde Hyde, Chuck Kindley & Jackie Kelso
Strings – Jimmie Haskell
Voices – Bruce Johnston, Spanky MacFarlane & Doris Day
Associate Producer & Engineering – Raghu Gadhoke
Photography – Joel Nussbaum
Design – Dean O. Torrence
Model – Melissa

Other Albums I Own by Terry Melcher:
None.

Released:
1974

Related Vinyls:

James Taylor – “Sweet Baby James” John Phillips – “John Phillips (John the Wolfking of L.A.)” America – “History: America’s Greatest Hits” Jonathan Edwards – “Jonathan Edwards”