Jimmie Spheeris - 1973 - The Orginal Tap Dancing Kid

Jimmie Spheeris

1973

The Orginal Tap Dancing Kid

01. Beautiful News 2:59
02. Shirtful Of Apples 3:16
03. Open Up 3:01
04. Streets Of The Harbour 2:50
05. The Original Tap Dancing Kid 3:29
06. Sweet Wahini Mama 2:55
07. Keeper Of The Canyon 3:15
08. Soul Tumbleweed 2:59
09. Long Way From China 4:07
10. Village Vapors 2:44
11. Moon On The Water 2:35


Bass – Charlie Larky, John Summers, Leland Sklar
Celesta, Piano, Harmony Vocals – Jane Getz
Congas – Bobby Hall
Drums – Harvy Mason, Vinnie Johnson
Drums, Tambourine – Russ Kunkel
Electric Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Geoff Levin
Fiddle, Arranged By [Strings] – David Campbell
Flute – Jim Calgar
Harmony Vocals – Doreen Davis
Pedal Steel Guitar – Sneeky Pete
Tap Dance – Norma Trotter

Jimmie Spheeris' second album, The Original Tap Dancing Kid, was produced by Felix Cavaliere, who was the lead singer of the Rascals from 1965-1972 and co-wrote such blue-eyed soul classics as "Groovin'," "A Beautiful Morning," "I've Been Lonely Too Long" and "People Got to Be Free." Known for both rock & roll and blue-eyed soul, the Rascals didn't sound anything at all like Spheeris-the Rascals were very extroverted, whereas singer/songwriter Spheeris was the epitome of an introspective singer/songwriter. So Cavaliere and Spheeris might appear to be an unlikely combination, but then, Cavaliere was hardly one-dimensional. Just as an Italian chef could master Vietnamese and Cambodian cuisine if he really put his mind to it, there is no law stating that masters of blue-eyed soul cannot produce introspective singer/songwriters-and on 1973's The Original Tap Dancing Kid, Cavaliere does right by Spheeris. This is a slightly more commercial effort than Spheeris' debut album, Isle of View, but only slightly. Spheeris' writing is still quite introspective, and he isn't any less poetic and vulnerable-the main thing he gets from Cavaliere (who is heard on piano and organ) is a more commercial production style. Once you get past the production, it becomes obvious that this excellent album (which Rain reissued on CD in 1998) is state-of-the-art Jimmie Spheeris.