Artist: Gary McFarland & Peter Smith
Album: Butterscotch Rum
Genre: Jazz-Pop
Label: Sony Music Japan (Pied Piper Days Revisited)
Released: 1970/2015
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
- All My Better Days (McFarland-Smith) - 3:15
- Poor Daniel (McFarland-Smith) - 4:10
- Salvation Army Rags (McFarland-Smith) - 5:12
- Miami, Here We Come (McFarland-Smith) - 2:53
- Straight Arrow (McFarland-Smith) - 3:52
- Dance with Me (McFarland-Smith) - 5:03
- Rain on the Ocean (McFarland-Smith) - 7:26
- Jenny's Path (McFarland-Smith) - 2:40
- Patricia (McFarland-Smith) - 5:39
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Gary McFarland's last recording under his own name is a set of folkish pop originals, with lyrics by Smith, music by McFarland and vocals by both. McFarland was clearly headed toward new areas of creativity at this point. But while it seemed he had utterly abandoned jazz, his music still retained his individual emotional subtlety and childlike, yet erudite wit. However, if he was seeking life in Top 40, it's truly surprising he didn't find more success. There is at least one great performance here ("Salvation Army Rags") that never became the hit it deserved to be. Throughout, Smith's vocals sound very much like Bob Dorough's while McFarland, who blends well with Smith but sings lead on the album's most downbeat songs, seems a most remarkable blend of the Beatles and the Beach Boys. McFarland's music traverses changes that are quite a bit more complicated and unusual than pop is accustomed to - which may explain why the album never caught on.
Review by Douglas Payne