The Sleeve:
The Liner/Sleeve Notes:
“A gifted performer with a wealth of experience, Merle Fisher, is a self-taught musician who is just now realizing her full potential. She has more than paid her dues on the club circuit over the years and, with this album, she has emerged to share her songs with the world.
Merle initially made her singing debut during her early teens when she teamed up with her brother, Maurice, to form a duo, and at fifteen years of age, she made the first of many appearances on CKY-TV in Winnipeg. Then she fronted a local rock group for a time, before entering the night club circuit as a solo artist.
By the time she was eighteen, the Winnipeg native was earning rave reviews throughout Western Canada and was attracting interest from south of the border. It came as no surprise, therefore, when she got as far as Chicago and starred on WBBM-TV during an engagement in the city.
After this success and a lengthy stint in Edmonton, Merle chose to pass up a lucrative show business career in favour of marriage and raising a family. At least, that’s the way the script read until it became evident that the showbiz bug just wouldn’t leave her alone. As the youngest of two children grew older, Merle returned to music once again – this time as a writer – and, when she was ready, she approached producer Bob Burns with her material.
The end result is obvious, for with his expertise in producing hits for the Guess Who, Sugar & Spice and Joey Gregorash, he quickly recognized that Merle is a “Musical experience”.
When you listen to this album, we’re sure you’ll agree.”
Personal Review:
Merle Fischer definitely comes into my top 5 favorite female vocalists (The others being Phyllis Brown, Elizabeth Barraclough & Denise Klahn – I’ll leave the 4th as a surprise for later on in life.) Anyways, the album opens with a cover of Roger Whittaker’s “I Don’t Believe In If Anymore” – I’ve heard both Roger’s version and Merle’s (of course.) and I have to say, Merle delivers it absolutely stunningly! Everything about Merle is great. The next song is “You’re Going to Have Your Way” – it comes off as kind of a pop-ish country track. It’s delivered well, but it doesn’t really stand out to me, but the following track “One More Time” comes out amazingly! I wish I had more than one Merle Fischer record! The next song is a slower song, but still an amazing track, it’s “No Regret” – I’m having a hard time figuring out what the overall genre of this record is, to me it comes off as pop. The A-Side ends with the song “Special Hero” which starts off slow, but speeds up about half way through and ends on a good note!
The B-Side opens with the slow track, “How Do You Make Someone Happy” – which, although delivered slow, is an overall great track! The next song is my FAVORITE song on the whole album, “Like A Child” – the chorus alone makes it worth the entire album. (“Like a child, like a child upon a swing, only clouds at my feet do I see…“.) Honestly, this song could’ve sold as 7” Single. (Merle, please come back!) God damn, I love this woman. The next song is “World of Make Believe” – it starts off slow, with a familiar piano solo, but as it carries on Merle hits some high notes and the song is amazing. Hands down. The next track is titled “The Saddest Thing” – and you know what the saddest thing is? The fact I only have this ONE album by Merle Fischer and she’s disappeared off the face of the earth. Anyways, it’s another great Merle track! The chorus on this track, much like the song “Like A Child” is amazing, (“But you know I’d do it all agaaaaain, but you know I’d do it all agaaaaaaain! ‘Cause I know in my heart you love me well, and the gladdest thing in all the world!“) Anyways, the final track is a song titled “My Love” – which besides the title track, is the only other non-Merle written track on the whole album! (The song is credited to an F. Lynch – but I cannot find any information on him/her.)
In closing, Merle is a top 5 in my collection. I own two copies of this record.
If you’re Merle, contact me.
Interesting Facts:
None.
Track Listing:
A1 – I Don’t Believe In If Anymore
A2 – You’re Going to Have Your Way
A3 – One More Time
A4 – No Regret
A5 – Special Hero
B1 – How Do You Make Someone Happy
B2 – Like a Child
B3 – World of Make Believe
B4 – The Saddest Thing
B5 – My Love
Label:
Quality Records
Catalog Number:
SV 1964
Studio Musicians & Other Album Credits:
Arranged/Conducted by Bob McMullin
Engineer – Colin Bennett
Produced by Bob Burns – Emm/Cee Productions Ltd
All Tunes Emm Publishing Ltd./Quality Music Ltd. Except* Tembo Publishing
All Tunes PRO Canada Except* CAPAC
Recorded at Century 21 Winnipeg.
Other Albums I Own by Merle Fischer:
None.
Released:
1978
This is my grandmother..
Well, you have a very talented grandmother then!
What does Merle do now? Did she do more than just this album?