Everything That’s On My Mind

Description

Everything That’s On My Mind is the fifth studio album by the American singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer Charlie Peacock, released on Sparrow Records in January 1995. The album tracks were recorded by Tom Laune assisted by Shane D. Wilson at Charlie Peacock Productions in Nashville, Tennessee; with Charlie Peacock producing. Additional recording by Peacock, Wilson, and Rick Will at The Dugout and Sixteenth Avenue Sound in Nashville. Mixed by Will assisted by Pete Martinez at Sixteenth Avenue Sound.

Featuring Charlie Peacock on lead vocals and piano (as well as Memory Moog on the opening track), Karen Bradley on piano and Wurlitzer, Jerry McPherson – and on a few tracks, Charles Garrett – on guitars, and a rhythm section consisting of bassist Brent Milligan and drummer Dan Needham. Scott Denté of Out of the Grey and Phil Madeira are sitting in on two tracks – “Aim a Little Higher” and “Dear Exception” – playing acoustic guitar and Hammond B-3 organ, respectively. Backing vocals provided by guests Brent Bourgeois, Steve Taylor, Ashley Cleveland, Vicki Hampton, as well as Christine Denté of Out of the Grey.

In the three-plus years since ‘Love Life‘, Peacock’s last solo release, the artist/songwriter/producer has been anything but idle. His most laudable accomplishments have been producing the acclaimed ‘Coram Deo‘ albums, as well as Out of the Grey’s ‘Diamond Days‘, Cheri Keaggy’s impressive debut and several tracks for the last album by his old pal Brent Bourgeois. As a songwriter, Peacock helped pen the smash hit «Every Heartbeat» for Amy Grant’s mega-selling ‘Heart in Motion‘. However, the solo recording itch struck, and back to the studio he went with different mission in mind – transparency, not only lyrically but musically as well. Peacock’s concept was to recruit several young players in order to revitalize his music and keep the focus on the songs. He carried that idea over to the recording technique as well, tracking songs “live” in the studio as much as possible, resulting in a very open sound with lots of “breathing room.”

If your favorite Peacock ear is the period of time between his departure from Island Records and his signing with Sparrow – when the self-released ‘West Coast Diaries‘ were Peacock’s only recorded link with his audience – then you should find much to love about ‘Everything’. Though not as stripped down as most of the ‘Diaries’, Peacock’s newest exudes the same spirit of refreshment and simplicity. Charlie judiciously revisits those roots, mixing a splash of his jazzy leanings with a dash of R&B, a smidgen of classic pop and even alternative rock overtones. Peacock crafts catchy melodies and rhythmic hooks, so that as fast as you can say “gotcha!” you’re soaking in his terrific lyrics.

And front to back, there are a lot of lyrical bon mots to be sampled among the album’s 10 tracks; due mostly, it seems, to Charlie allowing his wry sense of humor to come to the fore. In the opening «One Man Gets Around», he observes how the reputation of Christ has spread around the world, noting that “They know of You in Hollywood/ Though that’s up for debate” and “They even know you in Nashville, Tennessee” (ouch!). Steve Taylor joins Peacock on «Inside Out Upside Down», as Charlie reckons that “All our fortunes are like crumbs that drop from the morning toast/ Yet we boast”. (Kenny Greenberg and Jerry McPherson’s tasty guitars permeate this track, even as guitars dominate this album more so than any of Peacock’s recent efforts). In «Climb a Tree» Charlie tweaks his penchant for over-introspection with the line “Thank God, I’m not as sensitive as I used to be,” yet in the title track, he asserts “I’ve got to say everything that’s on my mind/ I cannot keep it bottled up inside me.” The one-time title tune, «Monkeys at the Zoo» sports a bouncy Stax feel, along with the pointed lines “If you were to dive deep inside my soul/ Would you find Jesus there/ Or a gaping hole?” As a cautionary note not to hang onto the temporal, Peacock proffers «Slippery Pearls». Aided by Ashley Cleveland, the duo’s soulful voices drive home lines like “There’s two thieves named pain and pleasure/ And neither one is true/ You ransom your flesh to save you bones/ Then they come and take that too.” I could go on, but by now you should be on your way to purchase this great album. But, as wonderful as it is, I doubt that it’s everything on Charlie’s mind, and I hope I don’t have to wait three more years to see what else he’s thinking about. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, January 1995]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/everything-thats-on-my-mind/716434659)

CD tracklist:

01. One Man Gets Around – 4:15
02. Inside Out Upside Down – 4:29
03. Climb A Tree – 4:31
04. Everything That’s On My Mind – 4:32
05. My Father’s Crown – 3:26
06. Aim A Little Higher – 4:03
07. William And Maggie – 5:15
08. Monkeys At The Zoo – 4:32
09. Slippery Pearls – 4:05
10. Dear Exception – 3:59
11. (this track is filler space) – 5:00
Bonus Track:
12. Interview with Charlie Peacock – 17:17

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Sparrow Records.