"I Write the Songs" was covered by
the Captain & Tennille both in English and Spanish, by
David Cassidy, and, of course, hit big for
Barry Manilow two years before the release of this solo disc by one of
the Beach Boys. With
Elton John alum
Caleb Quaye on electric guitar, along with
Richie Zito,
Kathy Dragon on flute, the California Boys Choir, and a song each co-written with
Brian Wilson and Rocket Records recording artist
the Hudson Brothers, this outing does not have the star power of
David Cassidy's The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall album from 1975, which was co-produced by
Johnston; however,
Johnston does much more with less. "I Write the Songs" is nice, but
Manilow's voice and overproduction is what the song needed, and got. That said, having the songwriter's emotions on record is important, and the hit presence of the song doesn't disturb the seamless presentation here.
Johnston, like
Randy Edelman,
Tim Moore, and other quality songwriters from the era, has a pleasant voice, which is very effective on "Disney Girls." "Rock and Roll Survivors," with references to being a "dried out troubadour," is more like "C&W Survivor" -- it sounds like a rocker in his sixties lamenting his former profession. Had
Johnston made this a tip of the hat to
Ricky Nelson, it might've worked, but as it stands, it's a pleasant country tune that sounds misrepresented in this pop setting. The
Brian Wilson co-write "Deirdre" is sweet, and
Beach Boys sounds do invade side one to good effect. "Don't Be Scared," on the other hand, is
Johnston keeping within his vocal range and not taking many chances.
Burton Cummings' "I'm Scared" was a little more effective with this theme, but the production is lush, and the tune does not offend. "Rendezvous" is very interesting. Co-written by
the Hudson Brothers, one cannot ignore the fact that
Brian Wilson producer
Andy Paley co-wrote a song with the same title released on RCA's
the Sidewinders' album five years prior.
Paley would not produce
Wilson until the '80s, but he's well-known within
the Beach Boys/girl group/
Phil Spector circles. "Pipeline" is a real strange one. Imagine
Gamble & Huff re-working
the Chantays' early-'60s hit. This sounds more like
TSOP than "The Sound of Beach Boys," and is an interesting inside joke to end the album with. Overall, a good effort, and an indication that, perhaps,
Johnston should re-record the vocals on
David Cassidy's 1995 disc and release the two together on one CD. There is some really fine material on both records.