The version of the album discussed here, features in BGO Records‘ reissue of four Bobby Bare albums spread across two discs. The original artwork is featured in the bottom left-hand square, with further images a fixture of the booklet. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Other albums in the set include The English Country Side, (Margie’s At) The Lincoln Park Inn and Cowboys And Daddys.
In a change from the usual order, Bobby Bare acts as producer on this record, first released in 1973. The list of performers/ musicians on this album includes The Jordanaires, Charlie McCoy, Buddy Sphicher and Harold Bradley et al The album begins with Bill Rice and Jerry Foster’s I Hate Goodbyes, a mid-tempo Country ballad with gentle guitar and piano mixed with soft pedal steel musicianship. Bare’s voice soars in its usual fashion, further enhanced by the backing group. The mood is set and extends into What’s Your Mama’s Name, Child, You Know Who and A Train That Never Runs.
In this writer’s opinion, much of the album verges on the Easy Listening side of Bobby Bare’s catalogue, which certainly has its fans. A (slight) change of vibe can be found in A Restless Wind, which bops along nicely with snatches of harmonica and driving guitar picking. The album ends with the title track, Ride Me Down Easy, a song written by Billy Joe Shaver, which features The Jordanaires on backing vocals; Which lifts the choruses nicely.
Conclusion:
A slow to mid-tempo mood throughout means it isn’t one of Bare’s more lively efforts. However, an excellent group of performers and Bare’s vocals make this a pleasant album containing a collection of songs which sound nice together. This writer’s picks include What’s Your Mama’s Name, Child and A Restless Wind. I Hate Goodbyes / Ride Me Down Easy is featured in a multi-album reissue from BGO Records.
Tracklisting:
- I Hate Goodbyes
- What’s Your Mama’s Name, Child
- You Know Who
- A Train That Never Runs
- An Offer She Couldn’t Refuse
- A Restless Wind
- Send Tomorrow To The Moon
- Poison Red Berries
- I’ll Love The Hurt Out Of You
- Ride Me Down Easy
This album is fantastic, I think. It’s really cool that Bare raised the bar and challanged Nashville music business by producing the album himself. Some of my favorites on this album includes I hate goodbyes, A train that never runs, A restless wind and Ride me down easy. I am curious about you calling this an easy listening album by Bare and wonder which albums you’d not call easy listening? I have a bunch of his records and I don’t really hear such a great difference in style, why I am asking. Thanks for a nice review!
Thank you for reading. Perhaps I should have used the phrase “adult contemporary” when describing it. You are right though. I would possibly put forward his late 70s album Bare, as one of his albums I wouldn’t class as the Easy Listening genre. Thanks again.