Mac Davis - "Texas in My Rear View Mirror" (1980) - Casablanca Records
Hello Friends,
For a short period of time in the 1970's Casablanca Records dominated the music universe.
Due in no small part to the arena-sized success of KISS, as well as being directly involved in the ground floor of the burgeoning disco movement as early supporters of Giorgio Moroder & Donna Summer, Casablanca Records, for a time, looked unstoppable. But massive egos and cocaine habits usually force all good things to end a little sooner than they should and Casablanca was no exception. (For a great read with all the nasty details check out the book, "And Party Everyday: The Inside Story of Casablanca Records" by longtime Casablanca employee, Larry Harris!)
Anyway, by 1980, Casablanca was really branching out and delving into newer, and hopefully trendsetting, arenas. They flirted with some pop-oriented country music acts that were far removed from the more successful Outlaw Country movement going on elsewhere. They signed bands and performers like Pure Prairie League, Tony Joe White and singer-songwriter Mac Davis.
Born in Lubbock, Texas, Mac Davis made quite a splash in the late 60's by writing some hits for Elvis (including "In the Ghetto" & "A Little Less Conversation") as well as having his own Solid Gold hit in 1972's "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me" (here).
Known for his not-so-subtle innuendos and often overtly sexual song lyrics (see: "Baby Spread Your Love On Me"... ewww), on paper his move to Casablanca Records in the late 70's seemed like a match made in heaven!
His 1980 release Texas In My Rear View Mirror is part country, part pop, part blue-eyed soul and part soft rock. A forgotten gem which lacks any truly big hits and whose songs are a little all over the place, but it still makes a great soundtrack for late summer listening when the days are still warm, but the nights start to get cool and crisp!
Things get started with "Hooked on Music", a Johnny Cash-style shuffle which has Davis tipping his cap to his friend and mentor Elvis Presley as well as Lubbock Texas's original favorite son, Buddy Holly.
"Remember When (Beverly's Song)" is as sugary sweet Solid Gold pop gem that borders very close to the tried-and-true Yacht Rock formula.
"Me 'n Fat Boy" sounds like it could have been written by Paul Simon.
"Hot Texas Night" is a sultry country rock ballad reminiscent of Rhinestone Cowboy-era Glen Campbell.
Side One concludes with the great & sappy "Sad Songs". Featuring some great pedal steel guitar work, its probably the purest country song on the record it featuring great, sappy lyrics like:
"Sad songs are like dumb old dogs
Who can melt you by just lookin' up in your eyes,
Like they're tryin' to tell you
There'll always be someone who cares
If you like or if you die..."
From start to finish, Side One is really good. Again, its a little all over the place so you get a little bit of country, pop, soft rock, folk, et cetera. Side Two continues with that theme although the songs aren't quite as good!
"Texas In My Rear View Mirror" IS good however. Really good. An autobiographical, bouncy country-pop tune about leaving the town that you grew up in order to head west in search fame & fortune and finding out that fame & fortune are cruel mistresses. All told without any semblance of bitterness or cynicism.
The soft rock schmaltz is back with "Hello, Hollywood", think of the band America, but lighter... and with more saxophone.
"Rodeo Clown" seems to be Davis's response to the more cynical Outlaw country artists of the time basically stating that he'd rather be a rodeo clown and make his fans laugh rather than make them introspective and depressed. Not a great song by any stretch.
More 70's soft rock with "Secrets" which sounds like REALLY watered-down Hall & Oates.
The record's last song, the gospel-inspired "In the Eyes of My People" isn't all that bad, but again its really over-produced and oozes schmaltz! Some songs on this record have aged better than others and this isn't one of 'em!
Still, overall, not a bad record if you don't mind some cheese served with your whiskey sour!
RATING: 3.5 hot texas nights waiting for the rains out of 5
Things get started with "Hooked on Music", a Johnny Cash-style shuffle which has Davis tipping his cap to his friend and mentor Elvis Presley as well as Lubbock Texas's original favorite son, Buddy Holly.
"Remember When (Beverly's Song)" is as sugary sweet Solid Gold pop gem that borders very close to the tried-and-true Yacht Rock formula.
"Me 'n Fat Boy" sounds like it could have been written by Paul Simon.
"Hot Texas Night" is a sultry country rock ballad reminiscent of Rhinestone Cowboy-era Glen Campbell.
Side One concludes with the great & sappy "Sad Songs". Featuring some great pedal steel guitar work, its probably the purest country song on the record it featuring great, sappy lyrics like:
"Sad songs are like dumb old dogs
Who can melt you by just lookin' up in your eyes,
Like they're tryin' to tell you
There'll always be someone who cares
If you like or if you die..."
From start to finish, Side One is really good. Again, its a little all over the place so you get a little bit of country, pop, soft rock, folk, et cetera. Side Two continues with that theme although the songs aren't quite as good!
"Texas In My Rear View Mirror" IS good however. Really good. An autobiographical, bouncy country-pop tune about leaving the town that you grew up in order to head west in search fame & fortune and finding out that fame & fortune are cruel mistresses. All told without any semblance of bitterness or cynicism.
The soft rock schmaltz is back with "Hello, Hollywood", think of the band America, but lighter... and with more saxophone.
"Rodeo Clown" seems to be Davis's response to the more cynical Outlaw country artists of the time basically stating that he'd rather be a rodeo clown and make his fans laugh rather than make them introspective and depressed. Not a great song by any stretch.
More 70's soft rock with "Secrets" which sounds like REALLY watered-down Hall & Oates.
The record's last song, the gospel-inspired "In the Eyes of My People" isn't all that bad, but again its really over-produced and oozes schmaltz! Some songs on this record have aged better than others and this isn't one of 'em!
Still, overall, not a bad record if you don't mind some cheese served with your whiskey sour!
RATING: 3.5 hot texas nights waiting for the rains out of 5
