Rock Archeologia

Carol Grimes - Carol Grimes (1977) 2003 La Cooka Ratcha Uk

Artist: Carol Grimes
Album: Selftitled
Label: La Cooka Ratcha Uk
Catalog#: LCVP 123CD
Released: January 1, 2003
Country: UK
Genre: Pop/Rock, Contemporary
Duration: 00:39:01

• Carol Grimes' powerful, soulful vocals feel lost on her self-titled solo album from 1976. Grimes' first album on a major label, Carol Grimes falls victim to the "everything has to sound big and perfect" recording mentality that prevailed in mainstream rock & roll in those pre-punk days. Well over a dozen session pros populate the musician and vocalist credits, including big names like guitarist Hugh McCracken and bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, who all play a kind of competent but forgettable '70s-rock boogie on most of the tracks, with none of the intriguing sonic textures of Grimes' debut with the art-rock Delivery (which starred future Canterbury stalwarts Lol Coxhill, Pip Pyle, and Phil Miller) or even the bluesy focus of her sole album with the short-lived Uncle Dog. The single, "I Betcha Didn't Know That," is a delight, mixing a swaying groove powered by mellow electric piano with the album's most memorable chorus and a powerful call-and-response vocal. Unfortunately, nothing else on the album comes quite up to that level, except for the piano-based ballad "That's the Time I Feel Like Going Home," which melodically sounds quite a bit like some of the Christine McVie showcases on early-'70s Fleetwood Mac albums but is musically stripped-down enough that Grimes and her remarkable voice finally are front and center with little else to distract the listener.
                                                                                                           - Review by Stewart Mason

• Tracklist:

01. I've Been Used 3:36
02. Number One (In My Heart) 3:11
03. You Make My Life 3:06
04. Up Hill Peace of Mind 5:51
05. I Betcha Didn't Know That 3:35
06. Brand New Tomorrow 2:46
07. My Baby Specializes 3:14
08. That's the Time I Feel Like Going Home 4:21
09. Private Number 2:34
10. Dynamite 3:04
11. No More Tears 3:43

Personnel:
Carol Grimes - Vocals
Mary Holladay, Westettes, Ginger Holladay - Back vocals
Hugh McCracken, Buddy Davies, Neil Hubbard - Guitar
Ron Cornelius, Bobby Manuel - Guitar
Michael Brecker, The Memphis Horns - Horns
Bob Claire - Horns, Piano
Jay Spell, Bobby Emmons - Piano
Lloyd Perrata, Willie Hall - Drums

-----  ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ----- 

---