By 1973, Rock n Roll icons, The Everly Brothers had gone their separate ways and launched solo careers. While Don headed for Nashville, Phil, the higher register voice of the duo, embarked on releasing his solo debut, Star Spangled Springer on RCA.
In 1974, Phil headed for London and over the next two years recorded two albums for Pye Records. There’s Nothing Too Good for My Baby and Mystic Line were both co- produced by Phil and Terry Slater and are both now featured on a newly released single CD from Morello records along with two bonus tracks.
As you’d expect from Phil Everly, his gentle vocal delivery remains constant on both albums.
There’s Nothing Too Good for My Baby is a bright selection of 70s summer pop from the opener Sweet Music via Summershine and Invisible Man, while the title track appears to be fun fusion of vaudevillian jazz and rock. Caroline is reminiscent of the gentle style of Everly Brothers ballads and one almost expects Don to step in and harmonise on the chorus.
The next album, Mystic Line appears to be more experimental instrumentally with the title track and Lion & The Lamb revealing a harder edge to Phil’s sound. The vaudevillian style returns once again on the catchy Back When the Bands Played Ragtime while Phil’s Everly Brothers past gets a nod with a reggae rendition of When Will I Be Loved. Fans will no doubt welcome the CD release of these albums along with two bonus tracks, The Three Bells and Baby You Know Me.
The release shows Phil Everly finding himself as a solo musician, while remaining true to his roots. An experience that would take him through two further solo albums before a triumphant return to recording and performing with his brother again a decade later.
- To find out more about this release visit Cherry Red Records website