The early '80s were lean times for classic-pop singers like
Jack Jones, who had had long stints on Kapp Records in the '60s and RCA Victor in the '60s and '70s, and had regained some recognition with the "Love Boat Theme" in 1980. This self-titled effort for a small label found him mixing soft-rock standards such as
Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water," the Eagles' "Lyin' Eyes," and
the Beatles' "Long and Winding Road" with older favorites, sometimes literally, as in a bizarre medley of
Carole King's "You've Got a Friend," James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," and songs from
George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.
Jones also remade "The Race Is On," one of his '60s hits, and co-wrote the novelty song "My Fault" (about romance and California earthquakes). The songs were cut with a rock rhythm section, and strings. While
Jones sang the material gamely -- his interpretations had become far more rhythmic and expressive since his early days -- this was the sort of album that would have sounded dated had it been recorded in the early '70s, much less the early '80s. As usual, the rock songs were far too closely identified with their authors to admit to satisfying covers, especially since
Jones was essentially aping the original arrangements.