Touch 'Em With Love

About four years ago I was with my sister in the used record shop in Barry when she asked me who it was sang 'Ode to Billy Joe', was it Billie...? she couldn't recall. I felt fairly sure it wasn't sung by a Billie but nor could I bring the name Bobbie to mind. In due course it came back to me, and, that Christmas, I bought her a Very Best Of Bobbie Gentry LP. Not long after that I also found a copy of Way Down South, the budget UK re-issue of Gentry's second album The Delta Sweete, and gave that to my sister too.

Before passing it on I play-tested it, and was surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed it. As luck would have it, I found another copy of Way Down South not long afterwards, picking that one up for myself. In January this year, while perusing the records at St. Mary's St. Collectables in Chepstow, I found a copy of Touch 'Em With Love, and thought I'd try that for size too. It's another very good album, an harmonious blend of country, easy listening & soul flavours.

The highlights for me include 'Where's the Playground, Johnny', 'I'll Never Fall in Love Again', and Gentry's own composition 'Seasons Come, Seasons Go'. There's also a version of 'Son of a Preacher Man' which is good too, if not quite up there with Dusty Springfield's. Speaking of Springfield, the album as a whole covers similar ground to 'Dusty in Memphis', albeit in a breezier, less highly-polished style. The cover image is another good choice, with Gentry captured barefoot & mid-twirl in a fringe-trim buckskin suit.

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All Wrapped Up

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