Description
Sweet Music is the third studio album by the American soft-rock band The Pat Terry Group, released on Myrrh Records in 1977, a division of Word. The album was recorded at Studio 55 in Hollywood and Location Recording Service in Burbank, California; with Al Perkins producing. Strings arranged and conducted by Jim Stipech. All songs written by Pat Terry. Featuring guest vocals by Matthew Ward.
There’s nothing particularly trailblazing about the trio of Pat Terry, Sonny Lallerstedt, and Randy Bugg – just solid, palatable servings of folky light rock, pop country, and gospelly blues. Terry’s a fine songwriter and he’s penned a good number of classics, most notably «I Can’t Wait» (the era’s banner song for Christ’s imminent return) and the wedding standard «That’s The Way», both from the first LP. The obligatory string arrangements are tolerable. With Songs From The South we begin to hear a good deal more of Sonny’s guitar – solos that were conspicuously absent on the debut are to be found in «You Got Me» and others – the end result is a grittier album though the standard Terry ballads are still in there as on all PTG albums: memorable tunes in spite of their MOR orchestration. The cover art is frameable, as is Sweet Music’s depiction of the band members’ heads as scoops of ice cream in a banana split. That album’s title track and «New New New» are both nice cruisin’ bluesy jams. Terry’s slurred vocal approach is particularly apparent on «I Feel Free» which slams a number of cults and boldly proclaims that “Venus and Mars ain’t all right tonight”. Heaven Ain’t All There Is follows in the same mode.[Ken Scott, The Archivist]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Ladder Of Love” – 3:26
A2. “To Me For You” – 3:17
A3. “I Feel Free” – 3:24
A4. “Wonder Of Your Love” – 2:36
A5. “Sweet Music” – 3:18
A6. “One Step Closer” – 3:24
Side Two
B1. “Never Lose A Minute” – 2:48
B2. “New New New” – 4:30
B3. “You” – 3:02
B4. “Melody For You” – 3:32
B5. “Things I Never Knew” – 3:51
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records.
CREDITS. Produced by Al Perkins. Strings arranged and conducted by Jim Stipech. Concert Master: Glenn Grab. Recorded at Studio 55 in Hollywood and Location Recording Service in Burbank, CA. Assistant Engineer: Ken Jacob. Mastered by Lanky Linstrot at ABC Records. Art Direction by Bill Weaver. Cover Design and Illustration by D.M. Gaadt, Noah’s Art. Photography by Bill Wages. All songs written by Pat Terry. Thanks to United Western Studios for the “707”.
Musicians: The Pat Terry Group – Pat Terry (Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards), Sonny Lallerstedt (Lead Guitars – Acoustic and Electric, Vocals), Randy Bugg (Bass, Vocals). Additional Musicians: Al Perkins (Steel Guitar), Chet McCracken (Drums and Percussion), Mike Carnahan (Saxophone and Clarinet), Mike Egan (Trombone). Additional vocals on tracks A3 and A5 by Matthew Ward. Handclaps: Pat, Sonny, Randy, Matthew Ward, Kirk Herring.
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