Ron Davies'
Where Does the Time Go is an important and soulful work from the major songwriter whose "It Ain't Easy" was covered by such diverse artists as
Three Dog Night,
David Bowie, and
Mitch Ryder. The theme of the title track makes even more of an impact because of
Davies' untimely passing at age 57 in October of 2003, the year of this disc's release. Notable are "Beyond the Realm of Words," which would make
Rusty Kershaw proud with its laid-back Cajun feel, and "Mama, Take Me With You." Engineer/guitarist
Brent Moyer co-produced the album with
Davies, the ten originals from the singer/composer having a crisp sound and mellow authority. With a similar vocal to what
Gerry Goffin put on his It Ain't Exactly Entertainment album three decades earlier,
Davies' sentiments are more to the point here than on
Goffin's experimental work, songs like "You Come, Call on Me" and "You Were Right on Time" affectionate and appealing. Lana Brown and sister
Gail Davies add their harmonies to the album, which should launch many a cover, the country-folk essay "I'll Still Be Lovin' You" just perfect for Barry and Holly Tashian, a compelling duet with beautiful guitar. "Cool, Southern Breeze" is tasty pop that
Maria Muldaur could easily embrace. "Time is precious, don't let it slip through your hands," he sings on the final track, "The Moon Tonight," with its New Orleans flavor over a thoughtful melody.
Where Does the Time Go is a treasure chest of strong compositions, a wonderful gift
Ron Davies gave to the world. Hopefully it will find an audience to appreciate its depth. ~ Joe Viglione