Don Williams
Don Williams
The Pozo Seco Singers "Time" (Columbia, 1966)
Three Texans bit by the folk-pop bug -- Lofton Kline, Susan Taylor and Don Williams -- set out to crack the big time... They had a few modest hits, including "Time" and "I Can Make It With You," which kind of fit in with the folk-rock/sunshine pop vibe of the time... But they never really grabbed ahold of the big brass ring, and the band split up after a few years. It was, of course, the platform from which Don Williams launched his own phenomenally successful solo career...
The Pozo Seco Singers "Spend Some Time With Me" (Columbia, 1966)
Don Williams & The Pozo Seco Singers "Spend Some Time With Me" (Certron, 1967)
(Produced by Aubrey Mayhew)
Apparently, after the Pozo's fizzled out in the Pop arena, Columbia sold their contract to Aubrey Mayhew, owner of the Little Darlin' and Certron labels... The result was this album, which is a pretty woeful set of brash, clunky sunshine pop, covering the Beatles, Stones and Bacharach, with a few mildly contemplative acoustic moments that remind us that, oh yeah, these guys were sort of a folk group. None of it seems particularly inspired or subtle, although Williams did stand out as a talent that needs to move on to higher ground. The way Mayhew tells it, he was the one who encouraged Williams to go solo, and helped steer him towards Jack Clement, who struck gold with the first Don Williams' album, released on his independently-owned JMI label. To complete the circle, Clement later sold Williams' contract to Dot Records... And the rest is history. This album kinda sucks, though.
Don Williams "Volume One" (JMI, 1973)
Don Williams "Volume One" (JMI, 1973)
Don Williams "Volume Two" (JMI, 1974)
Don Williams "Volume Three" (Dot, 1974)
Don Williams "You're My Best Friend" (Dot, 1975)
Don Williams "Harmony" (ABC-Dot, 1976)
Don Williams "Visions" (ABC-Dot, 1977)
Don Williams "Country Boy" (ABC-Dot, 1977)
Don Williams "Expressions" (ABC, 1978)
Don Williams "Portrait" (MCA, 1979)
Don Williams "I Believe In You" (MCA, 1979)
Don Williams "Especially For You" (MCA, 1981)
Don Williams "Listen To The Radio" (MCA, 1982)
Don Williams "Yellow Moon" (MCA, 1983)
Don Williams "Cafe Carolina" (MCA, 1984)
Don Williams "New Moves" (Capitol, 1986)
(Produced by Garth Fundis & Don Williams)
...One of the new moves in question was, of course, the jump over to Capitol Records, which doesn't seem to have hurt his sound in any way. This is standard-issue Williams material, mellow, low-key, mournfully and shamelessly sentimental, and quite effective... One fine, understated song after another. If you were already a Don Williams fan, this disc will be no disappointment. Worth checking out.
Don Williams "Traces" (Capitol, 1987)
Don Williams "Prime Cuts" (Capitol, 1989)
Don Williams "One Good Well/Just As Long As I Have You" (RCA, 1989)
Don Williams "True Love" (RCA, 1990)
Don Williams "Currents" (RCA, 1992)
Don Williams "The Best" (RCA, 1995)
A good summation of his hits (and near misses) on the RCA label, from 1989-92. Includes one previously unreleased track, "Maybe That's All It Takes."
Don Williams "An Evening With Don Williams" (American Harvest, 1994)
Don Williams "Borrowed Tales" (American Harvest, 1995)
Don Williams "Flatlands" (American Harvest, 1996)
Don Williams "I Turn The Page" (Giant, 1998)
Don Williams "Follow Me Back Home" (Orpheus, 2002)
Don Williams "Silver Turns To Gold" (Row Music, 2002)
Don Williams "The Best - Greatest Hits" (ABC-Dot, 1975)
Dot Records signed Williams in '74, and they didn't waste much time rushing this early best-of set out... But, hey, with songs like "Amanda" and "Come Early Morning" to work with, what's there to complain about? Modest by comparison to collections that would come down the road later on, but still some nice, classic material...
Don Williams "The Best -- Volume 2" (ABC, 1979)
Don Williams "The Best, v.3" (MCA, 1984)
Don Williams "The Best, v.4" (MCA, 1986)
Don Williams "Don Williams Sings Bob McDill" (MCA, 1986)
This is also a best-of, but since Bob McDill composed so many of Williams' most moving tunes, such as "Amanda" and "Good Ole Boys Like Me," the repetition is quite welcome...
Don Williams "Lovers And Best Friends" (MCA, 1986)
Another best-of set, though this time with a few previously unreleased tracks...
Don Williams "20 Greatest Hits" (MCA, 1987)
Don Williams "Millennium Collection" (MCA, 2000)
Don Williams "The Best" (RCA, 1995)
A good summation of his hits (and near misses) on the RCA label, from 1989-92. Includes one previously unreleased track, "Maybe That's All It Takes."
Don Williams "Anthology" (Universal/Hip-O, 2000)
Now, see, this is my kind of best-of collection...! This near-perfect 2-CD set tracks the career of country crooner Don Williams -- one of my greatest guilty pleasures -- from his early hits on the independent JMI label in 1972 to his surprisingly vigorous later work on RCA in the early '90s. It's an amazing set, which spans several labels -- MCA, RCA, Capitol, ABC/Dot and Warner Brothers -- and really does a good job showing the breadth of his career. The only thing missing is something from his early years as a folkie in the Pozo-Seco Singers, but as far as his country work goes, this anthology can't be beat. All of his best songs are included: "Amanda," "I Believe In You," "If I Needed You," the haunting "Good Old Boys Like Me" and dozens of other finely crafted gems -- most of them written by collaborator Bob McDill, whose quiet craftsmanship perfectly suits Williams' intimate, understated style. Williams is a softie, but his low-key style, with a small, stripped-down accompaniment, is just so damn good you'd have to have ears of stone not to get drawn in. This is really fine music... highly recommended!
