Randy Edelman - Prime Cuts (1974)

Review by Joe Viglione
A much bigger sounding disc than its follow-up, the 1975 Farewell Fairbanks, which generated the Manilow hit "Weekend in New England," Prime Cuts is rich with Michael Stewart production and arrangements by Michael Omartian, Stewart, and composer Randy Edelman. Although this recording did not launch much radio activity, "Bluebird" and "Pistol Packin' Melody" start the album off with two solid pop tunes that, somehow, artists like Manilow, Helen Reddy, and Linda Ronstadt missed out on. Reddy performed a Leon Russell "Bluebird," and Paul McCartney wrote one for Band on the Run, but Edelman's original is truly a find. Though less of a cast than the album that followed, producer Stewart makes the most of the smaller ensemble than engineer/producer Bill Schnee did with Farewell Fairbanks. Two cuts were recorded live at Western Recorders, "I Am a Dancer" and "The Woman on Your Arm," conducted by Dr. Albert Harris. Edelman's voice is strong and powerful on this lush outing, and he stretches his songwriting skills. Some of the tunes are right in the pocket, others more indulgent, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Where Did We Go Wrong" is Peter Allen without the schlock. Even when Randy gets frivolous it has a certain appeal that refrains from being tacky. The line "a hundred million rainbows" is overdoing it, but he rescues the song with other ideas and cleverness. "Stan the Pantsman" would actually have been a nice excursion for the late Peter Allen or even Liza Minelli, the production being a little more substantial than the sentiment, a strong melody saving the theme from itself. The aforementioned "Woman on Your Arm" is downright maudlin, definitely for the Barry Mann/Carole Bayer Sager/Jeff Barry set. "Isn't It a Shame" has a gorgeous chorus and, like "Where Did We Go Wrong" on side one, it is Edelman being every bit as chart minded as Barry Manilow, with a bit more edge in his voice. "Everybody Wants to Call You Sweetheart" with sing-songy catchiness brings the program up from the melancholy which precedes. The final selection, "June Lullaby," features Blood, Sweat and Tears founder and alum Al Kooper on guitar. You can't judge a book by its cover, and this album cover is terrible featuring Edelman in front of a meat store, perhaps some not so subliminal message about songs or songwriters being over-commercialized. It does no respect to the beautiful pop majesty inside.