The Fabulous Charlie Rich follows the same formula as its predecessor, Set Me Free, but to more successful results. For starters, the record has a more consistent set of material — these are songs that Rich can really sink his teeth into, as evidenced by the beautiful, melancholy "Life's Little Ups and Downs" (written by his wife, Margaret Ann) and his own "Sittin' and Thinkin'." Furthermore, the core of each song — from the bluesy "July 12, 1939" and "Bright Lights, Big City" (which is done essentially as a Jimmy Reed medley, performed in the style of Ray Charles) to the soulful "I Almost Lost My Mind" and the country-pop stylings of "San Francisco Is a Lonely Town" and "Love Waits for Me" — is more apparent, thanks to Billy Sherrill's relatively trimmed-down production. There are still strings, vocal choruses, and horns throughout the album, but Sherrill has incorporated them into Rich's style more effectively. Occasionally, there is a fairly uninspired number, but The Fabulous Charlie Rich does capture the eclectic nature of Rich's music better than the great majority of his albums, even if the sumptuous production will make it less palatable for country purists.
CHARLIE RICH
THE FABULOUS CHARLIE RICH
Epic BN-26514January/1970
Produced by Billy Sherrill
Recorded:Sept 1969, Columbia Studios, Nashville
1.
I ALMOST LOST MY MIND
(Ivory Joe Hunter) « © '49 Unichappell Music, BMI »When I lost my baby I almost lost my mind
When I lost my baby I almost lost my mind
My head is in a spin since she left me behind
I went to see a gypsy and had my fortune read
I went to see a gypsy and had my fortune read
I hung my head in sorrow when she said what she said
I can tell you people the news was not so good
Well I can you people the news was not so good
She said your baby left you this time she's gone for good
When I lost my baby I almost lost my mind
When I lost my baby I almost lost my mind
**********
2.
LIFE HAS ITS LITTLE UPS AND DOWNS
(Margaret Ann Rich) « © '69 Makamillion Music, BMI / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing, BMI »Don't know how to tell her I didn't get that raise in pay today
And I know how much she wanted the dress in Baker's window
And it breaks my heart to see her have to wait
And cancel all the plans she made to celebrate
But I can count on her to take it with a smile and not a frown
She knows that life has its little ups and downs
Like ponies on a merry-go-round
And no one grabs a brass ring every time but she don't mind
She wears a gold ring on her finger and it's mine
New house plans we've had so long I guess will gather dust another year
And the daffodils are blooming that she planted way last fall upon the hill
And over by the gate
Lord knows I hate to say again we'll have to wait
But you can bet that she'll just take it with a smile and not a frown
She knows that life has its little ups and downs
Like ponies on a merry-go-round
And no one grabs a brass ring every time but she don't mind
She wears a gold ring on her finger and I'm so glad that it's mine
She wears a gold ring on her finger and I'm so glad that it's mine
**********
3.
SAN FRANCISCO IS A LONELY TOWN
(Ben Peters) « © '69 Shelby Singleton Music, BMI »Two happy people on a Greyhound bus
We came here looking for a life for us
But the nightlife is her new life and the only thing I've found
Is San Francisco is a lonely town
Oh there were good times for a little while
But now her new friends say I cramp her style
I guess I'm only in the way now and she don't need me hanging round
San Francisco is a lonely town
Now she's out there somewhere across the Bay
And she'll be wondering where I am when she gets in today
She'll find I've left her a oneway ticket home
And while she stands there crying all alone
And while the Greyhound keeps on rolling I'll pray the Lord she's found
San Francisco is a lonely town
San Francisco is a lonely town
**********
4.
SITTIN' AND THINKIN'
(Charlie Rich) « © '63 Knox Music, BMI »(Please baby wait for me wait for me wait for me)
I got loaded last night on a bottle of gin
And I had a fight with my best girl friend
But when I'm drinkin' I am nobody's friend
But please baby wait for me until they let me out again
I know the same thing has happened before
And everytime it does I hate it more and more
But when I'm drinkin' I am nobody's friend
So please baby wait for me until they let me out again
I spent a whole lotta time sittin' and thinkin'
Sittin' and just thinkin' bout you
Well if I didn't spend so much time sittin' and drinkin'
We'd still have the love that we once knew
Oh I won't promise the same thing won't happen again
But I can promise it'll be a long long time till then
Cause when I'm drinkin' I am nobody's friend
But please baby wait for me until they let me out again
Please baby wait for me until they let me out again
**********
5.
JULY 12 1939
(Norro Wilson) « © '68 Al Gallico Music, BMI »July the 12th sho' was a scorcher
Mama she'd fixed some lemonade
Sister Beth was sunnin' in the sunshine
Baby Cory was a playin' in the shade
I looked up the road yonder comes a big car
Somethin' we don't see much around here
Big man said son where's your pappy
Said he's over in the cornfield not far from here
They started taking over by the rail fence
It looked like papa was a gettin' mad
They walked to the house and papa was a cryin'
Papa never cried and I knew it was bad
Two weeks later in the Logan Courthouse
Raining cats and dogs outside
Sure was awful the way mama was a cryin'
She said she thought that woman had lied
Papa siad Judge we tried to raise up a good boy
From a little bitty tot
Jody'd never go against of what a woman wishes
That kind of boy we know that he's not
You know the power of the almighty dollar
Will come out the winner every time
That Willie Buchanan done got away with something
And they're tryin' to blame that boy of mine
Hmh hmh hmm hmm July the 12th 1939
Hmh hmh hmm hmm
**********
6.
BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY
(Jimmy Reed) « © '61 Conrad Music, BMI / Seeds Of Reed Music, BMI »Bright lights the big city gone to my baby's head
Bright lights the big city gone to my baby's head
I tried to calm you woman but you don't believe a word I said
Alright pretty baby you're gonna need my help some day
Alright pretty baby you're gonna need my help some day
You're gonna wish you had listened to some of the things I had to say
Now I need to tell you baby tell you what I would do
Well I would climb the tallest mountain baby just to get real tight with you
Ain't that lovin' you baby ain't that lovin' you babe come on and tell me
Ain't that lovin' you baby and you don't even know my name
Now ain't that lovin' you baby ain't that lovin' you baby
Ain't that lovin' you baby and you don't even know my name
[ not complete ] **********
7.
RAGGEDY ANN
(Dallas Frazier - Arthur Leo Owens) « © '69 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »Over there across the tracks inside a dingy two-room shack
Lives a girl who spends her spare time cryin' Raggedy Ann
The patches that she tries to hide keep tearin' down her heart has cried
And makes it hard for her to keep on tryin' Raggedy Ann
But here's somoeone who loves her and to him she's Cinderalla
He's just waitin' for the day until she's old enough for him to come
And take her away
To a world where there'll never be no hand-me-downs
Safe in the arms of the one who loves her and understands Raggedy Ann
Yes Raggedy Ann I love you and to me you're my Cinderella
I'm just waitin' for the day until you're old enough for me to come
And take you away
To a world where there'll never be no hand-me-downs
Safe in my arms cause I love you and I understand Raggedy Ann
Over there across the tracks inside a dingy two-room shack
Lives a girl who spends her spare time cryin' Raggedy Ann
**********
8.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN LONELY (HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BLUE)
(George Brown - Peter DeRose) « © '33 Shapiro-Bernstein Co, ASCAP »Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue
Have you ever loved someone just as I love you
Can't you see I'm sorry for each mistake I've made
Can't you see I've changed dear can't you see I've paid
Be a little forgiving take me back in your heart
How can I go on living now that we're apart
If you knew what I've been through you would know why I ask you
Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue
(Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue
Have you ever loved someone just as I love you)
If you knew what I've been through you would know why I ask you
Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue
Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue
**********
9.
PICTURE OF YOU
(Ted Harris) « © '69 Milene Music. ASCAP »It's only a face in a frame with lips that have nothing to say
But it's oh so important to me since he took the real one away
As I cling to the frame made of brass and stare at the angel in glass
I long for the love that we knew when I took this picture of you
Oh I've found no contentment so rare as the love we would chosen to share
The smile on your picture will serve to stay me if I lose my nerve
Now I pick up the wine and the glass and pour out a toast to the past
Here's to a love that we knew here's to a picture of you
**********
10.
LOVE WAITS FOR ME
(Dallas Frazier) « © '69 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »**********
11.
IT MAKES ME WANTA CRY
(Eddie Rabbitt - Dick Heard - Van Trevor) « © '69 Careers Music, BMI / Mount Pocono Music, BMI »I wake up in the morning and I watch you sleeping there
I whisper that I love you and gently touch your hand
Your eyes begin to open and you realize it's me
Then you get that cold look in your eyes and it makes me wanta cry
It makes me wanta cry
You used to be my woman and now you act so strange
Eveyrthing I gave you but your love for me has changed
You know it just ain't natural but you don't want your man
I don't understand you won't even try and it makes wanta cry
Woman it makes me wanta cry
This room is cold and silent like your forbidding heart
My hand can almost touch you yet we're so far apart
But if that's how I must love you then I'll stay here by your side
Dreaming of the love the love you deniend but it makes me wanta cry
Baby it makes me wanta cry it makes me wanta cry
**********
