[2020-02-14] Bobby Hatfield "Stay With Me: The Richard Perry Sessions" (Omnivore)

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Jan 21, 2020 2:47 pm

Description
Unfinished lost album from former tenor of blue-eyed soul duo The Righteous Brothers.

In 1971, record producer Richard Perry was at the beginning of his long ascent into superstardom as one of popular music’s most legendary and successful producers. During the previous 12 months, Perry had struck gold with Barbra Streisand (Stoney End), produced two albums by the seminal all female rock band Fanny, and finished his masterwork, Harry Nilsson’s Nilsson Schmilsson, an album that would receive worldwide critical and commercial success with Top 10 singles (“Without You,” “Coconut”), Grammy® awards and Gold and Platinum records.

Bobby Hatfield had achieved huge success as a member of The Righteous Brothers. In the mid-’60s, with partner Bill Medley, Hatfield scored numerous Top 10 records, most produced by iconic producer Phil Spector and sang on one of rock’s true great standards, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” a song that has amassed a record 8 million performances according to BMI. By early ’71 Hatfield had left The Righteous Brothers looking to establish himself as a solo artist.

So it was fortuitous that these two popular music heavyweights should meet and record together. Unfortunately, most of what they did in the studio did not see the light of day—until now. Omnivore Recordings is proud to announce the release of Stay With Me: The Richard Perry Sessions, a collection of material recorded by Hatfield and produced by Perry that was primarily recorded at Apple Studios in December of 1971 with an all-star cast of musicians that include Ringo Starr, Klaus Voormann, and Al Kooper.

The two singles that were released in the spring and fall of 1972 (“Stay With Me” and “Oo Wee Baby, I Love You”) are included here in addition to multiple takes of six additional songs. Here rhythm and blues tinged versions of George Harrison’s “What Is Life” and “Sour Milk Sea,” a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Baby Don’t You Do It,” and a stunningly gorgeous version of the Cole Porter classic “In The Still Of The Night.”

Stay With Me: The Richard Perry Sessions is primarily a collection of previously unissued work. Some tracks are complete, some are works in progress. But the record gives the listener an opportunity to be a fly on the wall while great music is being made. So sit back, and return to December, 1971—you are there!

Tracklist
1. Stay With Me (Take 1)
2. Oo Wee Baby, I Love You (Take 2)
3. Run To My Lovin’ Arms
4. What Is Life (Take 7)
5. In The Still Of The Night
6. Sour Milk Sea
7. Baby Don’t You Do It (Takes 4 & 11 – Edit)
8. Oo Wee Baby, I Love You (Take 3)
9. What Is Life (Take 4)
10. Baby Don’t You Do It (Take 2)
11. Stay With Me (Single Version)
12. Oo Wee Baby, I Love You (Single Version)
13. Rock’n Roll Woman

All tracks previously unissued except 11–13.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082JKSWLX/?tag=imwan-20

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Jan 21, 2020 2:48 pm

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

Finally got this. A very enjoyable listen. Good for Omnivore releasing this - there's barely a full LP here (really 8 songs, plus alternates), so you could see it being a tough argument to release, but they did their usual fantastic job on it.

tideshea · **Joined:** 27 Mar 2014 **Posts:** 225

I may have to get this simply for the two George Harrison covers. Looks intriguing.

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

tideshea wrote:

I may have to get this simply for the two George Harrison covers. Looks intriguing.

I think both takes of "What Is Life" are terrific - an unexpected rearrangement that really gels. "Sour Milk Sea" is less successful, mainly because Hatfield's vocal sounds very tentative.

But the whole set as a whole is a pleasure to listen to. Shame they didn't get further back in 1971/2. (BTW, if you've never heard it, Hatfield's lone solo LP, Messin' in Muscle Shoals, is similar in vibe to these sessions, and a strong record overall).

[2020-02-14] Bobby Hatfield "Stay With Me: The Richard Perry Sessions" (Omnivore)

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