Rock Archeologia

Bill Quateman - Bill Quateman (1973 LP Columbia)

Artist: Bill Quateman
Album: Bill Quateman
Label: Columbia
Catalog#: KC 31761
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Duration: 00:38:37

• Singer/songwriter Bill Quateman's 1972 debut is adored by a small cult of '70s pop fans. While it's a good record, Bill Quateman rarely advances beyond "good" into "excellent," which makes it primarily of interest to '70s completists and fans of artists like Harry Nilsson, Steve Forbert, Eric Carmen, and Elton John (most of John's band appears on this album), all of whom Quateman resembles at various points. Quateman is a solid singer with an unusually expressive (without slipping into histrionics) voice, and a fairly good lyricist with a knack for substantial choruses but an unfortunate tendency to overstuff his verses. The album's one real drawback is the typically '70s glossy production, where every instrument (and there are too many of them) is in its own neat little box. While this kind of production always worked for the likes of Billy Joel and Fleetwood Mac, it's hard to hear this album without imagining what the songs must have sounded like on the demos, with a small four-piece band behind Quateman's appealing vocals. Still, even with the overstuffed and sterile production, the obvious charms of songs like "Only the Bears Are the Same," and the heartfelt piano ballad "Too Many Mornings" show through. ~ Stewart Mason

 • Side One:
A1. My Music - 04:09
A2. Circles - 03:58
A3. Only Love - 03:02
A4. Keep Dreaming - 04:40
A5. Only The Bears Are The Same - 03:10
 • Side Two:
B1. Get It Right On Out There - 06:03
B2. What Are You Looking For - 04:54
B3. Your Love Can Make It Real - 04:57
B4. Too Many Mornings - 04:30

      Producer by Ken Ascher, Robin Geoffery Cable
      Music By, Lyrics By – Bill Quateman
      Photography By – Barry Lategan 

Personel:
Bill Quateman - Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Strings Arranged - Ken Ascher
Lesley Duncan, Liza Streik - Backing Vocals
Sid Sims - Bass
Clive Anstee - Cello
Jeffery Brown - Cor Anglais
Denny Seiwell, Tom Radtke - Drums
Caleb Quaye, Davey Johnstone, Paul Keogh - Guitar
Ken Ascher - Keyboards
Ray Cooper - Percussion
David Katz - Strings

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