Today: Charlie Rich passed away in 1995 – 17 years ago

From Wikipedia:

Charles (Charlie) Rich (December 14, 1932 – July 25, 1995) was an American country music singer and musician. A Grammy Award winner, his eclectic-style of music was often hard to classify in a single genre, playing in the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and gospel genres.

In the latter part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname The Silver Fox. He is perhaps best remembered for a pair of 1973 hits, “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Most Beautiful Girl“. “The Most Beautiful Girl” topped the U.S. country singles charts, as well as the pop singles charts.

From Allmusic (Stephen Thoma Erlewine):

Charlie Rich was simultaneously one of the most critically acclaimed and most erratic country singers of post-World War II era. Rich had all the elements of being one of the great country stars of the ’60s and ’70s, but his popularity never matched his critical notices. What made him a critical favorite also kept him from mass success. Throughout his career, Rich willfully bended genres, fusing country, jazz, blues, gospel, rockabilly, and soul. Though he had 45 country hits in a career that spanned nearly four decades, he became best-known for his lush, Billy Sherrill-produced countrypolitan records of the early ’70s. Instead of embracing the stardom those records brought him, Rich shunned it, retreating into semiretirement by the ’80s.

Behind closed doors:

Album of the day:

 

Other July-25:

  • Steve Goodman (July 25, 1948 – September 20, 1984) was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago,Illinois. The writer of “City of New Orleans“, made popular by Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.
  • Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984) was an American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. She was the first to record the hit song “Hound Dog” in 1952. The song was #1 on the Billboard R&B charts for seven weeks in 1953. The B-side was “They Call Me Big Mama,” and the single sold almost two million copies. Three years later, Elvis Presley recorded his version, based on a version performed by Freddie Bell and the Bellboys. In a similar occurrence, she wrote and recorded “Ball ‘n’ Chain,” which became a hit for her. Janis Joplin later recorded “Ball and Chain,” and was a huge success in the late 1960s.
  • Back in Black is an album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band.Released on 25 July 1980, Back in Black was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott, who died on19 February 1980 at the age of 33, and was dedicated to him. The band considered disbanding following Scott’s death, but they ultimately decided to continue, with encouragement from Scott’s parents, and shortly thereafter hired Brian Johnson as their new lead singer and lyricist. Producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange, who had previously worked with AC/DC on Highway to Hell, was again brought in to produce. The album was recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, and Electric Lady Studios in New York, where the album was also mixed.
    Released 25 July 1980
    Recorded April–May 1980 at Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas and Electric Lady Studios in New York
    Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
    Length 42:11
    Label Albert/Atlantic Records
    Producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange

     

  • Paul’s Boutique is the second studio album by American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on July 25, 1989, on Capitol Records. Featuring production by the Dust Brothers, the recording sessions for the album took place in Matt Dike‘s apartment and the Record Plant in Los Angeles from 1988 to 1989, after which the recordings underwent mixing at the Record Plant in Los Angeles. Subsequent remixes were done at the Manhattan-based Record Plant Studios.
    Released July 25, 1989
    Recorded 1988–1989
    Mario C’s
    (Los Angeles)
    The Opium Den
    The Record Plant
    (New York City)
    Genre Hip hop, golden age hip hop
    Length 53:03
    Label Capitol
    Producer Beastie Boys, Dust BrothersMario Caldato Jr.

-Egil

2 thoughts on “Today: Charlie Rich passed away in 1995 – 17 years ago”

  1. Thank you for the reminder. I love the Silver Fox! I cannot believe it has been 17 years.

    1. Thanks for the feedback.

      We at JV really love the music of Charlie Rich. His deep understanding and love for american roots music was and is an inspiration.

      The “demo” version of “Fell Like Going Home” has to be my all time CR fav.

      -Egil

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