Better Days

Description

Better Days is the third album by the American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Tom Autry, released on StarSong Records in 1980. The album was recorded by Brian Tankersley at Rivendell Sound Recorders in Pasadena, Texas; with Randy Adams producing (an original member of Dallas Holm & Praise). Strings and horns arranged and conducted by Fletch Wiley. Vocals arranged by Paul Mills and Adams.

Better Days leaves the moody angle of Blood Of The Lamb behind, focusing instead on soft rock sounds with soulful edge. The fact that Tom does a cover of Bill Withers’ «Lean On Me» ought to give you an inkling of the direction he’s taken here. Sometimes a hint of funk slinking along on cuts like «Lay It Down» and «Justified». The smooth groove of «Pious Piper» reminds me a bit of DeGarmo & Key’s «Love Is All You Need». Well produced as usual. Includes assistance from Fletch Wiley (flute, string and horn arrangements) and Hadley Hockensmith (guitar). Followed by an independent release in 1982 titled Mockingbird. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Lay It Down”
A2. “Stay Together”
A3. “Song In The Night”
A4. “Lean On Me” (feat. Dallas Holm)
A5. “To Love You”

Side Two
B1. “Master Plan”
B2. “Pious Piper”
B3. “Solomon”
B4. “Justified”
B5. “Time To Believe”

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by StarSong Records.