Search - Charlie Taylor :: Once Upon A Time

Old Blues

A. James Santella | Los Angeles | 10/08/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Singing about cars, lovers, broken hearts and lofty promises, Charlie Taylor delivers a throwback album that introduces a part of genuine Americana. The 1950s represented a gentler era. Back then, we had time to spare. Sure, we worked hard, but life was less complex. We were able to enjoy the simpler things. Taylor emphasizes those qualities on his latest album. "The Sky's the Limit" oozes with a Mississippi Delta foundation and Nashville horns all around. Working with a large band that includes organ and horns, Taylor provides a convincing message. "I'd Rather Beg" borrows from the doo-wop comfort that once ruled the airwaves. Gospel and blues was never far away back then, and Taylor keeps it all in this inspirational composition. "Baby Look at Me Now" examines the blues ballad, while "Once Upon a Time" features Taylor's storytellin' expertise. The album's lone instrumental track, "Malibu Blue," represents the quiet peacefulness that we'd like to recall as often as we can. Taylor's singing gives the album a peaceful quality, as he interprets tales of what makes the world go `round."

Charlie Taylor's Debut CD listed in 2004Grammy Awards Guide

A. James Santella | 10/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charlie Taylor's Debut CD listed in 2004Grammy Awards GuideBiographyCharlie TaylorOnce Upon A Time
Gullwing Records GR4301
(Distributed in the United States by Rhombus Records RHO 8016) Veteran singer songwriter Charlie Taylor was born in Abilene, Texas in 1943 and raised in Western Kentucky (Mayfield) and Westport, CT through out the late 50's and 60's. As a youngster Taylor absorbed the Grand Ole Opry in the late 1940's while soaking up the blues in the 1950's from Nashville, Chicago, St Louis and Memphis every evening on his short wave radio. Taylor's mother was a gifted piano player and turned Charlie on to the Nat King Cole Trio, jazz and the Big Bands before he had even entered elementary school. In the late 1950's Taylor moved to Westport, CT where he met Barry Tashian (later of Boston's The Remains) and a young fellow Westport Downshifter Michael Douglas (Oscar winning Actor/ Producer). Charlie also met a young Don Law, Jr. later to become one of the most successful concert promoters in the world. Mike Borchetta (Capitol, Curb Records) was also a classmate of Charlie's at Staples High School. Charlie joined The Westport Downshifters and immersed himself in the hot rod culture of the late 50's. Starting in 1961 Taylor spent four years in Lexington, KY at Transylvania University where he toured with Little Hilton and the Artesians playing frat parties, sock hops, local radio shows and learning from other bands such as the legendary Monarchs, The Sultans and Little Enos and the Table Toppers. After brief stints in Greenwich Village, Washington, DC, San Angelo, Dallas and Houston, TX Charlie moved to California in 1970, married on the beach in Malibu and for the next seven years honed his songwriting and musician skills by recording, writing, jamming, hanging out with and/or learning from the likes of two time Academy Award winning songwriter Al Kasha at his UCLA Songwriting Workshop, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Hilton Valentine (Animals) and Andy Summers (Police, Animals, Soft Machine). Other friends include Johnny Wieder (Family), Gram Parsons, Chris Ethridge(Flying Burrito Brothers) Kevin Kelley (ex Byrd, Rising Son) , Sneaky Pete Klienow (Flying Burrito Brothers), Chicago bluesman Luther Tucker, cajun fiddler Gib Gilbeau, John Braheny, Mandi Martin, Daniel Moore (Shambala, My Maria), and many others. In LA Taylor performed at The Troubador, The Sundance Saloon , The Palomino Club and other venues of the day. He wrote, recorded and placed songs with Warner-Tamerlane, ABC Dunhill and Snuff Garrett's company. In 1976 Taylor had a minor country record with Hobo John released by Dave Diamond on Claridge Records in LA. Bill Coumo (Betty Davis Eyes) arranged and played on the record.About Once Upon A TimeOnce Upon A Time, the debut release by Charlie Taylor, is a 13 song collection of Pop, R&B and Blues songs crafted in collaboraton with fellow songwriters and R&B ledgends Dan Penn (I'm Your Puppet, Do Right Woman, Dark End of the Street), Spooner Oldham (Cry Like A Baby, Sweet Inspiration, It Tears Me Up) and Carson Whitsett (Don't Give Up On Me). From the opening crackle of 1950's era Flathead Ford vs. Chevy in The King of Saturday Night, to the funk laced I Got the Itch (But I Aint Got the Scratch) and on to the haunting I'm Here (But I'm Not All There) the listner is transported back in time. The title cut Once Upon A Time has the ear marks of a modern day standard. Please Dear, the closing rockabilly romp, featuring Scotty Moore, Barry and Daniel Tashian, Taylor and Mike Durham will leave you wanting to boost some hub caps. All in all this record sparkles sonically, made by some of Americas most consumate studio musicians and produced and engineered with all the skill and care they used to make records in the 1950's and 60's. The overall sound quality of this recording, the songwriting and production are the added value here.Recorded in Dan Penn's Dandy Studio in Nashville, TN with additional recording at Visual Rhythm Studio in LA this project is a sonic sparkler. Producers Penn and Geoff Gillette cut this record the old fashioned way, on 2" tape at 15 ips using a blend of new and old tube and digital technology, including great old condenser and ribbon mics and some original Motown (yes Motown) tube equipment.The musicians Taylor and Penn assembled read like a who's who - Mike Leech on bass (Memphis American Studios) , Ian Wallace (King Crimson) on drums, Barry Tashian (The Remains)and Scotty Moore (Sun Records and Elvis) on guitars, also on guitars Mike Durham (original Dave Mathews Band) and Rick Vito (Fleetwood Mac), Spooner Oldham (Dylan, Neil Young) and Carson Whitsett (BB King, ZZ Hill) on piano and B-3 with Dan Penn and James Griffin (Bread) joining Taylor on background vocals. Handling production, engineering, mixing and mastering duties is Geoff Gillette (Sergio Mendes, The Yellowjackets, Flora Purim) and Yutaka at Visual Rhythm Studio in LA. Taylor makes his home in Nashville these days and is busy collaborating with many different writers including Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham and Barry Tashian. Taylor has written several songs with the late great Kent Robbins (Stand By My Woman Man, Love Is Alive, Write This Down) and is writing material for a second CD at press time.
Songwriting and Studio credits:
In 1996 Taylor and Penn's I'd Rather Beg was recorded by ex- Spyders and New Orleans R&B legend Chuck Carbo on The Barbers Blues CD(Rounder #2140) and also on wound up on the blues compilation CD Silky Soul (EasyDisc 7008). In 2003 new country artist Tim Murphy released The Cure on his Like A Train CD (Labeless - 0100). Recently Charlie has appeared as a guest vocalist on CD's released by folk artists Jerry Merritt ( wrote Ritchie Havens - Follow) Sutherland Records -104 and Justin Devereaux's Whiskey Eyes on Sutherland Records -103 both released in 2002.
Other credits:
A partial list of artists that Charlie has been associated with professionally in his role as a telethon and special events producer include: Bill Cosby, Frankie Avalon, Gladys Knight, Minnie Pearl, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Tom Landry,Vince Gill, Amy Grant, James Brown, Barbara Mandrell, Brenda Lee, Brooks and Dunn, Rick Nelson, Kansas, The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Elvis/Sun Records founder Sam Phillips, football legend Jim Brown, Hollywood Golden Era actors Cornell Wilde and Lloyd Bridges and TV star Marion Ross (Happy Days). Contact Information:
Charlie Taylor
%Gullwing Records
PO Box 210365
Nashville, TN 37221-0365
615-294-9624 Mobile
Email:
charlietaylor43@netscape.net
Web site: http://www.rhombus-records.com - Attn: Thom TeresiCD Availabile for sale: rhombus-records.com, Amazon.com, Borders.com, Allmusic.com, Barnes&Noble.com, CDNow.com and DiscoWeb.com (UK and Europe) and charlietaylormusic.comDistribution and Sales in US
Rhombus Records % Thom Teresi
P.O. Box 7938
Van Nuys, CA 91409
Phone & Fax: (818) 709-8480
http://www.rhombus-records.com
Please email Thom Teresi at:
thomteresi@rhombus-records.com October 2003"

Great songs, great production values and great musicians.

simone kane | Philadelphia, PA | 09/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charlie Taylor has created a masterpiece. Utilizing musicians no less than Scotty Moore (Elvis), James Griffin (Bread) Dan Penn, (FAME, American Studios) Spooner Oldham (Neil Young,Bob Dylan, Ian Wallace (Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Bob Dyaln, Don Henley)
Mike Leech (Elvis, BJ Thomas), Carson Whitsett (BB King), Rick Vito (Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt)Producer Geoff Gillette (Sergio Mendes, the Yellojackets, Stevie Wonder)has produced some of the best Americana music in years.
From the opening chords of The King Of Saturday Night to the closing bars of rocabilly rave up Please Dear this Album smokes.
The songwriting is superlative including contributions and cowrites with Taylor from the ledgendary R&B singer/songwriter and producer Dan Penn (Do Right Woman, Dark End Of the Street,) Spooner Oldham (I'm Your Puppet, Cry Like A Baby),Carson Whitsett (Don't Give Up on Me - Solomon Burke)and three tunes pinned by Taylor alone. Songs like Once Upon A Time don't come along everyday. this is a modern day standard. Other funky cuts include I Got the Itch, the confessonal blues number I'd Rather Beg (covered by R&B ledgend New Orleans stalwart Chuck Carbo in 1993), the haunting I'm Here and Your Memory are just a few of the standouts on this record. Gillette and co Producer Penn spared no expense in getting this one in the grooves. Sidemen include hron players from Delbert McClinton's band Dennis Taylor and Terry Townson and the Fly By Night Singers from Nashville on Gospel cut Let Love Begin With Me.Anywhere you turn on this record you get hit with a groove slow or uptempo"