Andrew Gold

by Andrew Gold.

ASYLUM 7E 1047

While some records are a senseless waste of vinyl and others are pure joy to listen to, the vast majority fall into a category where they may gain a limited audience but invariably end up in the reduced record boxes.

I would find it hard to believe that anyone could find this disc to approximate the two former catagories. His 'music is inoffensive and harmless - yet does not ever reach great musical heights.

Much as I dislike classifying artists, the reviewers job is to give the prospective buyer some idea as to what tastes the artist is likely to appeal to. Seems to me that Andrew Gold sounds something approaching a watered down version of Bread. His voice is practically identical of that of David Gates, but with excellent backing vocals and reasonable arranging, the producers have managed to salvage the music into sounding very much like the Eagles. The style follows very closely the lightweight country-rock thing.

Lyrically, the album is extremely tiresome as the same old country themes are regurgitated endlessly - broken hearts, gotta git back on the road again, and various other examples of debauchery, self indulgence etc.

At best, the music is pleasant and relaxing with some exceptionally nice slide guitar work and tight harmony featuring Linda Ronstadt and others. At worst, the music is tedious and predictable with very little lyrical or melodic merit which will probably mean that it will sell in large quantities.

Gold himself sings pleasantly and shows versatility as an instrumentalist - he plays drums, bass, piano, guitars and the symthetic haggis. I doubt, however, that he has any chances of hitting the big time as his first offering is so mixed quality-wise. Track 4 on the first side is a genuine rocker with a 'Tower of Power' - type horn section featuring Bobby Keyes of Harry Nilsson fame. In contrast. Track 2, entitled 'Heartaches in heartaches' is as bad as the title suggests - pure crap!

The album cover - an important part of any musical package - is unbelievably bad, resembling the well washed, white suited gent being bombarded with ping pong balls.

Although being superficial, Gold seems to get away with it by making the music unpretentious and generally following the usual lightweight country rock recipe. Worth a listen if you're into that sort of thing.

— David Murray