[.ca] It Never Rains in Southern California

THE ALL-TIME BEST SINGER/SONGWRITER:
This album brings together the songs from Albert Hammond's first 2 albums, in the original order of their first release plus 2 from his 3rd. The voice is excellent, the songs are mostly first rate and what it lacks in production value is more than made up with Hammond's emotional interpretations of his own songs, never more poignant than on "Rebecca". His collaborator on all the songs is Mike Hazlewood who has provided Hammond with his best lyrics to date. In the late 80s his lyricists were more into writing a "hit" lyric than a truly inspirational one. Songs like "One moment in time" are a notable exception though. This album omits later songs like 99 miles from LA and When I need you because they are from his 5th album. Check out also if you are a big fan, his Spanish albums of which there are at least 7. Even if like me you can't speak the language, again, the music and the delivery blast through even if the early stuff, like the English recordings, sound a little dated. One major gripe about this compilation being reviewed. Instead of the 2 tracks from Albert's 1974 self-titled album at the end, they could have put 3 non album B-sides on. These are "The last one to know" (Down by the river), "That old American dream" (If you gotta break another heart) and "You taught me to sing the blues" (The free electric band)

Only 2 Songs Included!!:
In response to the info supplied by Mr. Peter Davis, the CD is not "in the original order of their first release plus 2 from his 3rd..."I've got Albert's original LP(CBS SONY ECPM-53)of the same name, none of the titles are included in this CD except the first song of side one - Half a Million Miles from Home, and the first song of sdie two - I'm a Train

Could easily be a "best of" compilation:
This CD contains all the songs from Albert Hammond's first two solo albums (It never rains in Southern California, 1972/The free electric band, 1973) - which are among his best ones - in their original order, as well as two songs from his third LP, Albert Hammond (1974). This sounds very unspectacular and could make you think that this CD is just a more or less ordinary re-release of some ordinary albums - but because of the over-average lyrics and the outstanding production, it could easily be a "best of" compilation (by far not complete, though): Only It never rains in Southern California, Down by the river, The air that I breathe and The free electric band being really popular, this CD contains several underestimated gems, e.g. Anyone here in the audience, Names, tags, numbers & labels, The road to understanding, Smokey factory blues, Rebecca... The Albert Hammond/Mike Hazlewood songwriting team was/is without doubt one of the greatest gifts of the Seventies' music world. But please be aware that Hammond didn't leave the business after these efforts; hopefully, Sony will prove this by re-releasing more of his works. See alberthammond.net, my website about this great singer/songwriter (supported by Albert Hammond himself), for more details on his life and music.

Best remembered singer/songwriter:
one of the best remembered singer/songwriter in the 70s!

An Unknown Soldier:
This guy is the dark side of humanity crying out to be heard by the masses. It's a CD to listen to when you're feeling quiet and introspective. His voice isn't the greatest, the songs aren't the most memorable. But songs like "Listen To The World", "If You Gotta Break Another Heart", "Brand New Day", "Anyone In The Audience" and "For The Peace Of All Mankind" have the soul of an emerging poet with something to say. "All I Need Is The Air That I Breathe" has been made into a zillion re-makes. His is not the best but he is the author and gives a good version. "It Never Rains In Southern California" remains one of those great am radio songs from the early seventies. However, the song I most like is "Names, Tags, Numbers & Labels". I bought the CD mostly for this song. I hadn't heard it in twenty years but remembered how I played that eight track over and over to hear this one. It hits hard and true and with real American poetry. If I were a singer this is one of those songs I would sing again and again. Albert also wrote "99 Miles From L.A." that great song by Art Garfunkel and "When I Needed You" with Carole Bayer Sager.

• Listen to the World
• If You Gotta Break Another Heart
• From Great Britain to L.A.
• Brand New Day
• Anyone Here in the Audience
• It Never Rains in Southern California
• Names, Tags, Numbers and Labels
• Down by the River
• Road to Understanding
• Air That I Breathe
• Smokey Factory Blues \o*\c
• Peacemaker \o*\c
• Woman of the World \o*\c
• Everything I Want to Do \o*\c
• Who's for Lunch Today? \o*\c
• Free Electric Band \o*\c
• Rebecca \o*\c
• Day the British Army Lost the War \o*\c
• For the Peace of All Mankind \o*\c
• I Think I'll Go That Way \o*\c
• Half a Million Miles from Home \o*\c
• I'm a Train \o*\c