Harlequin Melodies (studio album) by Mickey Newbury

More than 50 years later, the heavily promoted Mickey Newbury debut album on the major label of RCA is still a head scratcher. More particularly, the arrangements and the production are the head scratcher.

Newbury's talent hits all the marks. He is probably the best songwriter to ever come out of Nashville. He is a brilliant guitarist, opting for delicate gut/nylon strings on a classical guitar instead of fingerpicking on a flattop guitar or shredding on an electric. He has an impeccable way of interpretating and re-inventing classic American songs. Finally, his lyrics and presentation fit uncomfortably in the genre of commericial country, as they spillover into folk, blues, pop, and R&B. Perhaps this flexibility with genres it what doomed his commercial career from the start.

This extraordinary talent manages to shine through here, despite the challenging arrangements and production. Newbury had penned many top hits within the last few years, and RCA had all the momentum to make him a star, but the failure of RCA to properly capitalize on Newbury's talent is one of the biggest blunders of all time from within the music business.

Moving on to the content, it is nothing short of brilliant. "Sweet Memories" has a classical pop feel. Here Comes the Rain Baby is delicate. "Mister Can't You See" was co-written with Townes van Zandt, the only other song penned by the two was a song called "The Queen." Newbury was instrumental in encouraging Van Zant, Guy Clark, Kristofferson and Rodney Crowell, fellow Texans, to make their careers in Nashville. It was Newbury who finally convinced Roger Miller to record Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee." Speaking of Van Zandt, the next track "How Many Times Must the Piper..." sounds an awful lot like VanZandt's "For the Sake of the Song." "Are My Thoughts..." is next and the production actually works well with the title track. Next is the highlight of the album and a Newbury essential: "Funny, Familiar Forgotten Feelings." After the tender "Time is a Thief" and "Good Morning Dear," the album closes with the unremarkable "Sleeping Annaleah" and the excellent but horridly produced "Just Dropped In." One can only wonder how great the closer would have sounded with a proper R&B backing.

RCA would also release a dud of a compilation called "Sings His Own," which included outtakes of the songs on Harlequin Melodies.

None of it would compare to Newbury's trilogy of albums that immediately followed this album: Looks Like Rain (1969), 'Frisco Mabel Joy (1971), and Heaven Help the Child (1973).

Recommended.

All songs written or co-written by Mickey Newbury.

Career Highlight: Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings
Gems: Sweet Memories, Good Morning Dear