Retro Reviews: Neil Sedaka: Sedaka's Back!

 I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. All the albums reviewed are indeed classic albums. This is part one of a two part tribute to the pop legend Mr. Sedaka, may he rest in peace. 

Neil Sedaka – Sedaka’s Back (1974)

***3/4

Producers: Neil Sedaka, Robert Appere, 10CC

Musicians: Neil Sedaka, Ben Benay, Eric Stewart, Lol Crème, Kevin Godley, Graham Gouldman, Milt Holland, Jim Horn, Dick Hyde, Danny Kortchman, Russ Kunkel, Don Menza, Del Newman, Dean Parks, Brenda Russell, Brian Russell, Leland Sklar, William Smith, Chuck Findley

Songs: Standing On The Inside, That’s Where The Music Takes Me, Laughter In The Rain, Sad Eyes, Solitaire,  Little Brother, Love Will Keep Us Together, The Immigrant, The Way I Am, The Other Side Of Me, A Little Lovin’, Our Last Song Together

Reviewed By Matthew Anthony Allair

    This album represents a resurgence for early sixties star Neil Sedaka, from the end of the 50s and though the early 60s, Neil had a string of hit singles and a few albums, then it all started to wane for him commercially with the resurgence of the British Invasion in sixty-four. Yet Neil was already important after the transition away from the great American songbook, along with Rock N Roll, he was part of the Brill building circle of songwriters - a tradition of real craft. He was in a kind of wilderness commercially until he moved to Britian at the start of this decade and started recording a group of albums that gained attention and respect in the UK. Elton was impressed enough by his work to sign him to his Rocket record label and gather together this album. Technically, the album is more or less a compilation from his three UK albums, Solitaire, The Tra-La Days Are Over, and Laughter In The Rain. But this decision has allowed them to cut out the extra fat from those albums, and gather an impressive group of songs. The collective impression is one that is captivating, there’s just about nothing to skip over, and being that this is designed for the American market. This should help people to remember what an excellent singer and pianist Sedaka is. But Neil isn’t relying on nostalgia, he is a contemporary song writer that is on par with Elton John himself.

    The opening track “Standing On The Inside” seems to be a statement of intent as well as acknowledging his wilderness years, the playful piano and Wah guitar is a nice trace of coloring, as well as some claves. “That’s When The Music Takes Me” is a nice driving pulse with his piano, a great track about how music revitalizes him. The lush “Laughter In The Rain” has become the single, while the lyrics are simplistic, there’s a real lifting quality to the record and orchestration that acts as embellishment. “Sad Eyes” starts off as a deceptive blues with a shuffle and dobro, but some sophisticated chords belie the assumptions about the track rather quickly, the track leans into a New Orleans quartet, and sultry horns. The plaintive ballad “Solitaire”, a lost love tale where the card game is used as a metaphor, there’s a bottomless sadness to the track, and Neil delivers a strong vocal, there’s the additional touch with the Oboe ensemble . The side one closer, “Little Brother” is pretty self explanatory, probably told from a child who complains about his younger sibling, the Latin feel, the description and Spanish dialogue really captures a sense of place.

    Regarding side two, if “Love Will Keep Us Together” is not released as single, I would be quite surprised, some surprisingly good writing with a playful tone. “The Immigrant” has another full arrangement and some sincerity to remind westerners that America was founded on immigrants. The gospel infused “The Way I Am” paints a vivid image of a less than pleasant fellow, but there’s a real relatability that is similar to “Little Brother”. The rolling piano ballad “The Other Side Of Me” has some real drive during the chorus and almost hints at McCartney with it’s approach. The rocker “A Little Lovin’” has a Jerry Lee Lewis feel and some good guitar work that illustrates he can dabble in the genre, another vivid narrative song energetic number. The closer and final ballad “Our Last Song Together” can be about an ending relationship, but it also seems to acknowledge Sedaka’s need to move forward as a writer and not be tied to his early 60s past. 

    Something should be said about the supporting musicians, especially the band mates of 10CC, they really enhance and uplift the material. While there’s some sonically uneven material as this was culled from three albums, the mixture of intimate numbers along with sweeping orchestrations gives the album a good balance and keeps it interesting. The lyrics written by Cody and Greenfield makes much of the songs relatable and this album should have a broad appeal. The mix pop, ballads, Latin and Gospel, lite jazz, and even a romantic classical makes this a pleasant and compelling listen. It ends up being quite a pleasure to see Mr. Sedaka back in the spotlight and I will be curious to see his next release.