Description
Motives is the fifth album by the American singer and songwriter Andy Pratt, released on Nemperor Records in 1979, distributed by Epic Records, a division of CBS Records. The album was produced by Andy Pratt and Eddy Offord (the latter especially known for his work with Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer).
Sophisticated pop-rock offering from fragile-voiced pianist and songwriter who’s never quite gotten his due in either the secular realm or in his post-conversion recordings of which I believe this is the first. Andy’s songs are anything but trite – in fact they’re often complex with jazz influences. And he pours every fiber of his being into his performance. «Savior» and «Cross On A Hill» seem especially to teem with the conviction of a new found faith. I highly recommend his ‘80s albums as well. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
Though it received little attention at the time of its release, Motives is a good album at least on par with 1977’s Shiver In The Night. No track on the record shouts instant classic, but most songs are strong in melody and retain the unique musical and vocal quirkiness (i.e. falsetto) that is the hallmark of Pratt’s style. Much to his credit, Pratt doesn’t sanitize his music after his apparent conversion to Christianity. The last cut, «Cross On A Hill» quotes liberally from the Bible, but Pratt, as is often the case, sounds as if he is still struggling with issues of faith and belief. The opening track, «Love Insurance», is the one of the catchiest and certainly the funniest thing he has recorded, advising readers that “you can’t collect a new heart if you lose your girl.” «Savior» has a pleasing jazz-like ending with pianist Pratt and guitarist Shane Fontayne trading tasty licks. Pratt’s use of shrill falsetto, always one of his trademarks, is in liberal use on the album and shows up in nearly every song. It is evident after listening to this album that Pratt is an accessible but not mainstream talent whose unusual style is not going to land him on the top of the charts as many predicted. Nonetheless, with this album and others in his catalog, Pratt emerged as one of the most unique singer-songwriters of the 1970’s. [Michael Ofjord, AMG]
In the day and age of no deposit melodies and instant Top Ten farina, it’s nice to have back a singer songwriter who first caught the public ear in May, 1973 by doing a interpretation of Woody Guthrie’s «Ballad Of Pretty Boy Floyd» under the title «Avenging Annie». And it’s a little startling to realise after a long track record (Records Are Like Life, Andy Pratt, Resolution and Shiver In The Night), Andy Pratt has returned with his fifth product, Motives, assisted by ex-Yes producer Eddy Offord.
Though always a man of few words, Andy Pratt seems to have found a restored inner strength over his new found faith in the Lord. But, although two songs («Saviour» and «Cross On The Hill») deal with this new aspect of his life, A.P. keeps a sharp eye of his forte, the many whims of life and love.
On the upbeat side is, «Love Insurance», a tongue-in-cheek, funky look at heartbreak with lines like “where my good hands, where my piece of the rock, there’s no elk nowhere and I’m in shock.” A sure hit in Hartford, Conn. Former Andy Pratt Band guitarist Mark Doyle gets co-write credit on not only «Love Insurance» but also the reggae story of Andy’s siblings «Keep The Light Burning», featuring percussionist Alexander J Ligertwood, drummer Eric Parker and Tony Levin (on stick-bass). Pluss ex-A.P.B. keyboardist Andy Mendelson (his neglected solo work, Maybe The Good Guy’s Gonna Win is waiting for you in the record racks) co-pens a beautiful love ballad with A.P., «Finally I’m Yours» that includes a standout guitar solo from Mike Stern. The rest of the show is Andy Pratt’s including two slower pieces «Sing» and «Christine» where David Sancious makes his presence felt in the latter on electric organ.
J.T. may be the most famous songwriting initials Massachusetts ever produced, but with the release of Motives, A.P. isn’t far behind. [D.B. Cooper, Scene entertainment weekly, Vol. 10, No. 32, Sept. 6-12, 1979 (Records)]
[Gord Wilson, Campus Life, June 1980]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/motives/1107566988)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Love Insurance” – 3:34
A2. “Sing” – 4:24
A3. “Christine” – 3:50
A4. “King In Beggar’s Clothes” – 2:49
A5. “Saviour” – 4:12
Side Two
B1. “Keep The Light Burning” – 3:38
B2. “Finally I’m Yours” – 5:04
B3. “Close My Eyes When I Die” – 4:39
B4. “Cross On A Hill” – 4:22
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