Dave Frishberg has long been recognized as a hilarious songwriter who is best heard as a solo pianist accompanying his own vocals, though he occasionally adds a rhythm section. But this early effort for CTI (his debut recording as a leader) suffers from several problems. It is badly overproduced, with added electric keyboards, an uninspired contemporary rhythm section, and even overdubbed backing vocals in spots. On top of these problems,
Frishberg's compositions don't hold up very well when compared to his later output, with the exception of his baseball tribute "Van Lingle Mungo," whose nostalgic lyrics consist solely of old-time baseball players, though this version is inferior to a later remake for Omnisound. Die-hard
Frishberg fans may want to search for this obscure album, but most everyone else should bypass this early effort. ~ Ken Dryden