Starting with the hard won records for Sun/Philips International - the pew-rockin' "Lonely Weekends" to name just one - and on through his overlooked and largely unreleased Hi releases, Charlie Rich was one or two steps ahead of the rock and roll, blending genres that weren't supposed to play well together. Those who can get beyond the pay day hits of the Billy Sherrill/Epic years may have different favorite periods, clearly defined by the label to which he was signed at the time, but everyone I know seems to agree that "I Can't Go On" as a masterpiece of the blue-eyed soul genre and one of Charlie's career best.
A little bit of Spector, a little bit of Motown, and that beautiful country boy croon simmer and stew before rolling to a full stomping boil that explains why record companies continued to sign the guy up no matter how many flops he'd just left behind. This is usually mistaken for Elvis in '68 when I play it for someone unaware and I say, "No, this is what Elvis listened to two years before Elvis in '68".
There may be much to dismiss in Charlie's hit years on Epic but it is in the wondrous flops like this and many more, including the stunning last album, 1992's "Pictures and Paintings" for Sire, that give more than enough reason to excuse the cashing of the check - he'd already suffered for his art. Besides, "Behind Closed Doors" isn't all that bad, now is it?
p.s. I happen to like the Smash years best.
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