Rock Bands & Pop Stars
Charlie Rich Pictures
Artist:
Charlie Rich
Origin:
United States, Colt - ArkansasUnited States
Born date:
December 14, 1932
Death date:
July 25, 1995
Charlie Rich Album: «Big Boss Man: The Groove Sessions»
Charlie Rich Album: «Big Boss Man: The Groove Sessions» (Front side)
    Album information
  • Title:Big Boss Man: The Groove Sessions
  • Release date:
  • Type:Audio CD
  • Label:
  • UPC:
Track listing
Review - Amazon.com
In many ways, Charlie Rich is country's answer to Ray Charles: Both blended elements of country, blues, jazz, and gospel to marvelous effect. In addition, both retained their intense emotional surge even as strings and background vocals tooled around them. Recorded between 1963 and 1965, these 17 mostly superb tracks were waxed for Groove Records, RCA's short-lived R&B imprint, but were produced by Chet Atkins in the Nashville Sound studio--the country-soul mix is therefore more than implied. Rich was simply a master of passionate precision, whether through a brilliant understatement on piano or a soulful inflection in his ripe voice. In addition to staples such as the title track, "River Stay Away from My Door," and a hip "Ol' Man River," Rich contributes some terrific originals, especially the ballad "Mountain Dew," the down-home "Let Me Go My Merry Way," and a funky reworking of the Johnny Cash-covered "Ways of a Woman in Love." --Marc Greilsamer
Customer review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
- A fine but incomplete CD.

I agree with all of the "editorial" comments.

My only problem with this CD is the number of

missing songs. As best I can tell, Charlie Rich

recorded at least "thirty seven" tracks for the

"Groove(RCA)" label. Some of the best songs that

are missing here are "I've Got You Under My Skin,"

"No Room to Dance," "Lady Love" and "Nice and Easy."

Charlie was still playing the piano on the Groove

recordings and this material is what gained Charlie

many of Frank Sinatra's fans at one point. There

are those who think Charlie surpassed Mr. Sinatra on

tunes like "Nice and Easy" and "I've Got You Under

My Skin." In my opinion, Charlie was more versatile

and eclectic than Sinatra in style and genre. Two

of my favorite tracks on this CD are the superb

"Let Me Go My Merry Way" and "Why, Oh Why."

There are two other CDs that have been issued for

those looking for additional "Groove" tracks: "The Masters:

Charlie Rich," 20 tracks incl. "I've Got You Under My Skin,"

1997, Eagle Records, import from UK; also "Charlie

Rich: Groove Recordings," 1999, 26 tracks, BMG/CAMDEN,

import from UK. I would rate both of these as 5 Stars.