Bobby Charles (album)
| Bobby Charles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Bobby Charles | ||||
| Released | 1972 | |||
| Studio | Bearsville Studios | |||
| Genre | Roots, rock,[1] swamp pop [2] | |||
| Length | 42:52 | |||
| Label | Bearsville Records | |||
| Producer | Bobby Charles, John Simon, Rick Danko | |||
| Bobby Charles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bobby Charles is the debut album by the American singer-songwriter Bobby Charles. Released in 1972 on Bearsville Records, the album was produced by Charles with John Simon and Rick Danko.[3]
History
Charles' musical career started in the 1950s as a songwriter, notably writing "See You Later Alligator" for Billy Haley & His Comets and "Walking to New Orleans", released by Fats Domino.[4] Charles later moved from Nashville, Tennessee to Woodstock, New York, where he fell in with the local music circle which then involved The Band.[5] Charles recorded his debut album in Bearsville Studios, a studio belonging Albert Grossman.[5]
The album features a number of guest stars. As well as co-producing the album and co-writing the track "Small Town Talk", Danko performs on the record alongside fellow Band members Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Levon Helm; however, it is thought that The Band's guitarist Robbie Robertson may have contributed to the recording, as he was also present at the sessions.[4] Ben Keith and Dr. John are also credited on the album, but the lack of definitive song credits makes it difficult to determine how the musicians contributed to each track.[3][4]
Track listing
All songs were written by Bobby Charles, except where noted.
Side one
- "Street People" – 3:44
- "Long Face" – 3:38
- "I Must Be in a Good Place Now" – 4:07
- "Save Me Jesus" – 5:17
- "He's Got All the Whiskey" – 5:17
Side two
- "Small Town Talk" (Bobby Charles, Rick Danko) – 3:29
- "Let Yourself Go" – 4:13
- "Grow Too Old" (B. Charles, David Louis Bartholomew, Fats Domino) – 4:03
- "I'm That Way" – 4:04
- "Tennessee Blues" – 5:29
Personnel
- Bobby Charles - lead vocals, piano, production[6]
- Amos Garrett - acoustic and electric guitars[6]
- Ben Keith - pedal steel guitar[7]
- Billy Mundi - drums[8]
- Bugsy Maugh - bass[8]
- David Sanborn - alto saxophone[8]
- Garth Hudson - organ[6]
- Geoff Muldaur - acoustic guitar[8]
- Harry Lookofsky - trombone[8]
- Hymie Schertzer - horns[8]
- Jim Colegrove - bass[6]
- Joe Newman - horns[8]
- John Simon - piano,[6] production[6]
- John Till - acoustic guitar[8]
- Levon Helm - drums[6]
- Mac Rebenack - keyboards, piano, guitar[6]
- Norman D. Smart - drums[6]
- Rick Danko - electric bass guitar, production[6]
- Richard Manuel - piano[6]
- Mark Harmon - engineer
References
- ^ "Bobby Charles – 1972 Self Titled Album | Talk From The Rock Room". talkfromtherockroom.com.
- ^ "The Last Music Company - Bobby Charles - Swamp Pop Pioneer". www.lastmusic.co.uk.
- ^ a b Lewis, Stephen (2022-05-29). "Why 'Bobby Charles' Is the Best Band Album Not Released by the Band". Something Else!. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ a b c "Bobby Charles – 1972 Self Titled Album | Talk From The Rock Room". talkfromtherockroom.com. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ a b Beta, Andy. "Bobby Charles: Bobby Charles". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bobby Charles - Bobby Charles, 2014-02-18, retrieved 2026-03-05
- ^ Bobby Charles - Bobby Charles | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 2026-03-05
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Bobby Charles 70's LP Credits". theband.hiof.no. Retrieved 2026-03-05.