Billy J. Kramer was a key artist of the British Invasion. He had many hits including several penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Like The Beatles, he was managed by Brian Epstein, recorded at Abbey Road Studios (then called EMI Studios), and was produced by George Martin.
Kramer released his comeback album, I Won the Fight, ten years ago. While it’s taken him 10 years to do a follow-up, it was more than worth the wait. The new release does not feel like an album from a heritage artist making what could be his final musical statement. This sounds like an artist of the moment with many albums yet to come. The release celebrates Kramer’s 60th anniversary in music. To commemorate his beginnings, Kramer ventured back to Abbey Road Studios last summer to record the album.
The album was co-produced by Jeff Perholtz and Laurence Juber. Juber was of course in Wings with Paul McCartney. Another Wings member Steve Holley reteams here with Juber and plays drums on five tracks. Also contributing is Liberty DeVitto, Billy Joel’s original drummer, who wrote “I was Only Sleeping.” Additionally, Mark Hudson, who has worked extensively with Ringo Starr, co-wrote “I Couldn’t Have Done It Without You.” Kramer doesn’t just sing on the album; he also wrote “Be Kind to Emma” and “Peace of Mind.”
While Kramer was obviously influenced by Lennon and McCartney through his recording of some of their songs, this album actually has a more updated, latter-day Ringo Starr and even George Harrison feel in parts, with the Ringo-esque sound on the first two tracks and Harrison’s influence on “Go On Girl.”
This is an energetic album filled with rousing pop and rock. On “I Was Only Sleeping,” Kramer pays homage to one of his idols, Elvis Presley, with an authentic rockabilly roots raver. Also, he continues to pay tribute to Brian Epstein, as he previously did on I Won the Fight, but this time with “I Couldn’t Have Done It Without You.” The album is filled with original songs with hit potential, along with the lone cover of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy,” which proves yet again that few singers can interpret John Lennon as well as Billy J. Kramer.
This is easily the best post-British Invasion album Kramer has ever done and given where he is musically right now, his next album will most likely come along quickly and add further to his rich body of work.
GRADED ON A CURVE:
B+
