Behind Closed Doors
Within the Nashville of the early 1970s, Charlie Rich's talent was a given. His blues-drenched vocals, jazzy piano work, and moody intimacy reflected a raw integrity that no one could sell to the mainstream. That changed in 1973, when the singles "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl" made him a household name, as did this album. But at that time, many longtime fans viewed the "new" Charlie Rich warily; their fear was that mass success came at a cost. The songs were undeniably more commercial, and his Epic producer Billy Sherrill shifted his sound to one clearly aimed at a broader audience. However, in 2001, the arguments and concerns seem moot. By and large, this music holds up, particularly compared to many of Rich's later, less substantive lightweight efforts. "I Take It On Home," for example, is as fine and funky a number as anything he recorded. Moreover, this excellent reissue highlights the contrasts in the Epic years by appending four pre-"Closed Doors" tracks, among them the magnificent "Ruby, You're Warm" and the majestic honky-tonker "Mama, Take Me Home." Decide for yourself.--Rich Kienzle