My Boy (Richard Harris album)
My Boy is the third studio album of Richard Harris, released in 1971 by Dunhill Records. The album is about a love story between two people, which in time, develops from something platonic to a lost romance in their couplehood. They are only four Jimmy Webb songs on this album.[1]
| My Boy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1971 | |||
| Studio | Chapell's Studios and Advision Studios | |||
| Genre | Vocal, baroque pop, rock | |||
| Length | 40:15 | |||
| Label | Dunhill | |||
| Producer | Johnny Harris, Bill Martin / Phil Coulter | |||
| Richard Harris chronology | ||||
| ||||
Origins of the album
In the year 1971, during a visit to Britain, Dunhill Records president, Jay Lasker, completed a record deal negotiations with Richard Harris. His first single release My Boy, which entered a music contest at Radio Luxembourg Grand Prix.[2]
Reception
The album has mixed opinions, William York from AllMusic described it as "another difficult (and depressing) concept album".[3] He further notes that this album is not for those seeking standard Harris fare, and those who want to introduce themselves to his art should start with A Tramp Shining or one of the "best-of" offerings.[3] A review by Jean Ehmsen of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch focused on the strengths of Harris' voice, along with the romantic and paternal aspects of the album while ignoring any darker overtones.[4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [3] |
Track listing
The album concept and synopsis by Richard Harris. Also, Richard Harris wrote the music of six songs.[5]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Beth" | Jimmy Webb | 1:58 |
| 2. | "Sidewalk Song" | Jimmy Webb | 3:21 |
| 3. | "Proposal" | Bill Martin, Phil Coulter | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Ballad To An Unborn Child" | Johnny Harris, John Bromley | 3:00 |
| 5. | "This Is Our Child" | Bill Martin, Phil Coulter | 3:36 |
| 6. | "Like Father Like Son" | Johnny Harris, John Bromley | 3:06 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Requiem" | Jimmy Webb | 5:02 |
| 2. | "This Is Where I Came In" | Jimmy Webb | 3:37 |
| 3. | "Why Do You Leave Me?" | Richard Harris, Bill Whelan | 2:36 |
| 4. | "All The Broken Children" | Richard Harris | 2:36 |
| 5. | "My Boy" | Bill Martin, Phil Coulter | 3:18 |
| 6. | "This Is The Way" | Johnny Harris, John Bromley | 4:42 |
| Total length: | 40:15 | ||
Personnel
- Richard Harris – vocals
- Johnny Harris – producer, arranger
- Bill Martin and Phil Coulter – producer, side one track 3, 5 and side two track 5
- Dermont Harris - executive producer
- Technical
- Barry McKinley – photography
- Peter Whorf – album design
- John Timperly - Chapell's Studios
- Martin Rushent - Advision Studios
- A Limbridge Productions
References
- ABC/Dunhill celebrated the actor-singer's new "My Boy" album - Billboard 27 Nov 1971
- ABC-Dunhill Probe U.K Promotion - Billboard 30 Oct 1971
- "My Boy - Richard Harris | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- Ehmsen, Jean (20 January 1972). "Record Reviews: Benefit For Refugess". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 5D – via newspapers.com.
- Harris active in films, disks - Billboard 29 Jan 1972