This album is an all time favourite of mine. I played it within an inch of it's life when I got it. It has so many musical anecdotes that I can get free drinks all night talking about it. This could be a long post. Bear with me.
The first track gets me to my first anecdote. 'Some of Shelley's Blues' kicks off the album. Previously recorded by the Stone Poneys (lead singer Linda Ronstandt) in 1968, the song was written by Michael Nesmith. Nesmith, as those old enough to remember will know, became one of The Monkees. As if that wasn't enough of a claim to fame, his mother invented the typewriter correction fluid, Liquid Paper, White-Out.
Kenny Loggins (Loggins & Messina) wrote a couple of songs on Side 1, 'Prodigal's Return' and 'Yukon Railroad'. Randy Newman threw one in, 'Livin' Without You' and then there's a rendition of the Buddy Holly classic 'Rave On'.
Side 2 introduces us to the man of the album, Uncle Charlie.
'Uncle Charlie' was related to Bill McEuen's wife. Bill McEuen was brother to John McEuen, a member of the band. Bill went on to produce a number of Steve Martin movies.
The songs and interviews with Uncle Charlie were done in 1963, long before the group was formed. He appears mainly on Side 2, most notably when he gets his dog Teddy to howl along with his harmonica during an interview that leads into 'Mr. Bojangles'.
'Mr. Bojangles' is one of the world's most beautiful pieces of music. Forget the classics and the operas and the torch songs. Listen to this poignant story from the pen of Jerry Jeff Walker. It's been recorded by so many people - I have at least 6 versions by Dylan, Nina Simone, Nilsson etc as well as Jerry Jeff's own recording. A couple of the band members knew the song, one of them had the single. They played it, transcribed the lyrics and recorded it. Unfortunately they got some of the words wrong - even on their final recording. It is still a great version of a brilliant song.
Mike Nesmith has another composition on Side 2, 'Propinquity' and Kenny Loggins contributes 'House at Pooh Corner' before the album ends with a short 'Swanee River' and a final 'Uncle Charlie' interview.
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