Jackie DeShannon - Me About You [1968]

Release Date: Mar 1968Jackie DeShannon's Me About You album contains four originals, two co-written with producer Jack Nitzsche, and interpretations of material by such diverse songwriters as Holland-Dozier-Holland, Jimmy Webb, Carole Bayer Sager, Tim Hardin, two from the team of Gary Bonner and Alan Gordon, Van Dyke Parks, the Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian, and others. It's quite a crew, and the 13 songs make for a satisfying collection displaying both sides of DeShannon, the songwriter and the singer. As Harriet Schock was inspired by the film All About Eve for her American Romance album, DeShannon seems enamored of the 1961 Natalie Woods film which was Warren Beatty's debut. Her "Splendor in the Grass" should have been considered for the 1981 made-for-TV remake; it has a grand presentation, the originals holding up the serious side of the album. But for fans of her 1965 hit "What the World Needs Now Is Love," the songs that have that Top 40 flair are the Motown chestnut "I'll Turn to Stone" and an exquisite reading of John Sebastian's "Didn't Want to Have to Do It," which really should have made the songwriter proud. The tune would have been nice on New Arrangement, the singer's Columbia recording released in a time when adult contemporary ruled for Kenny Rogers, Olivia Newton-John, and, of course, Kim Carnes. Turtles/Helen Reddy/Earth, Wind & Fire producer Joseph Wissert must've brought the Alan Gordon/Gary Bonner material in, those two having written "Happy Together" along with other songs for Gary Lewis, Three Dog Night, and Lesley Gore. Their "I'm With You" is good sandwiched in between Jack and Jackie's (that is, Nitzsche and DeShannon, not to be confused with the president and the first lady) "I Keep Wanting You" and title track "Me About You." The originals have an edge over this particular Gary Bonner/Alan Gordon song, but what the album does display is a unique snapshot of a variety of 1960s songwriters, big production, and Jackie DeShannon's distinctive voice. Me About You comes in "...visual sound Stereo," whatever that was, and is a strong album for fans of the veteran performer Tim Hardin's "Baby Close Its Eyes," a lullaby that would have been perfect for Linda Ronstadt's 1996 collection (a duet with DeShannon would have been really nice). But the real gem here is "I'll Turn to Stone," which brings lightheartedness to an album that seems held back by serious tones, and the singer seems to be having the most fun when she's rocking out.

Track list:

01.Me About You

02.I'm With You

03.I Keep Wanting You

04.Didn't Want To Have To Do It

05.Whatever Happened To Happy

06.Baby Close Its Eyes

07.Music Man

08.The Girl Song (Slight Skip)

09.Splendor In The Grass

10.Nobody's Home To Go Home To

11.Nicole

12.High Coin

13.I'll Turn To Stone

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