The pub rocker Sailor sees him and Ronnie making room for the unnecessary horn section. The Cooke medley Bring It On Home To Me/You Send Me shines until the orchestra kicks in. Elton's contribution to the album Let Me Be Your Car, a overwrought Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting), picks up the pace a little.
With (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man he boldly transformed the Goffin/King/Wexler composition using a suave interpretation and fair use of The Memphis Horns breathing life into the album. The average Dixie Toot and Hard Road follow.
Another interlude, this time from veteran Martin Quittenton I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face introduces Dylan's Girl From North Country, another highlight of the album. Though heavily orchestrated, it's full of emotion lyrics render another admirable rendition by Rod.
This albums closer, Paul and Linda McCartney's heartfelt Mine Of Me presents us a nice ballad sung with the sincerity that Rod has accustomed us with, cluttered with a Carribean touch lend by The Tropic Isles Steel Band.
More material had been recorded during the period of contractual disagreements between Warner Bros. and Mercury. Tracks like You Put Something Better Inside Of Me, Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying, So Tired, Every Time We Say Goodbye and Missed You, now available on the Handbags & Gladrags compilation would have probably turned the tides around.
Tracklist for Smiler:
1. Sweet Little Rock 'N' Roller
2. Lochinvar
3. Farewell
4. Sailor
5. Bring It On Home To Me/You Send Me
6. Let Me Be Your Car
7. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man
8. Dixie Toot
9. Hard Road
10. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
11. Girl from the North Country
12. Mine For Me
With (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man he boldly transformed the Goffin/King/Wexler composition using a suave interpretation and fair use of The Memphis Horns breathing life into the album. The average Dixie Toot and Hard Road follow.
Another interlude, this time from veteran Martin Quittenton I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face introduces Dylan's Girl From North Country, another highlight of the album. Though heavily orchestrated, it's full of emotion lyrics render another admirable rendition by Rod.
This albums closer, Paul and Linda McCartney's heartfelt Mine Of Me presents us a nice ballad sung with the sincerity that Rod has accustomed us with, cluttered with a Carribean touch lend by The Tropic Isles Steel Band.
More material had been recorded during the period of contractual disagreements between Warner Bros. and Mercury. Tracks like You Put Something Better Inside Of Me, Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying, So Tired, Every Time We Say Goodbye and Missed You, now available on the Handbags & Gladrags compilation would have probably turned the tides around.
Tracklist for Smiler:
1. Sweet Little Rock 'N' Roller
2. Lochinvar
3. Farewell
4. Sailor
5. Bring It On Home To Me/You Send Me
6. Let Me Be Your Car
7. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man
8. Dixie Toot
9. Hard Road
10. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
11. Girl from the North Country
12. Mine For Me