Alabama native Razzy Bailey (1939-2021) started out as a pop/country singer and songwriter, but "went country" in the late 1970s, while working the bars in Georgia. At the decade's end, he finally broke through in Nashville and posted a quick string of chart-topping hits that ended in '82. Bailey's sound was typical of the synthy tilt of country production in the disco and New Wave eras -- not totally my cup of tea, but he had his moments. Here's a quick look at his work...
Razzy Bailey "Anthology" (Renaissance Records, 1999)
Hey, is that a kitten in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me? So, most of these songs are pretty cheesy, but the fact that he posed on the cover with an orange tabby kitten tucked into his vest gives Bailey extra points, as far as I'm concerned. This is a well-selected best-of that covers his hits from 1978-83... Bailey seems to have been another one of those fellers who, once they tasted a little chart success as a twangster, went whole-hog "pop" when the opportunity arose. Some of his early songs, like "Anywhere There's A Jukebox" are fairly tasty, but for the most part syrupy string sections, drum machines and slushy arrangements are the order of the day. I've always liked "Ain't Got No Business Doing Business Today," but the rest of his Kenny Rogers-y number-one hits are for the birds.
Razzy Bailey "I Hate Hate" (MGM Records, 1974) (LP)
Apparently this was a pop-oriented album, in sort of a Mac Davis-y style... The title track is an impassioned plea for tolerance and brotherhood, a whitebread spin on the Curtis Mayfield pop-social anthem formula.
Razzy Bailey "What Little Bit That's Left" (Erastus Records, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Razzy Bailey & Bill Lowery)
Okay, so eventually Bailey did break into Nashville and become a chart-topping Top Forty artist... But that was still a couple of years away when this super-indie album came out on a label from Georgia. This disc was a transition from his earlier work in pop music, and even though he booked several top-flight session players (Buddy Emmons, Jeff Newman, Ron Oates, Bobby Thompson and others) he was kinda going for an outlaw vibe. But... wait a minute... Are there two guys wearing blackface on this album cover? And "afro" wigs? Uh.... guys? Hello?
Razzy Bailey "If Love Had A Face" (RCA, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Montgomery, Travis Turk & Ernie Winfrey)
One of Bailey's earlier albums... He kicks things off by putting pick-up lines to music (on the title track and on "What Time Do You Have To Be Back In Heaven?"), then sinks into a deep disco-tinged romantic crooning groove. He's kind of like a less-satisfying version of Conway Twitty. Things perk up a little on Side Two -- "Your Old Love Letters" isn't great, but it's okay, "Ain't Got No Business" is a breath of fresh air in the middle of the disc, and at least he's trying to perk things on the Latin-themed "Conchita" and his self-penned paean to good old-fashioned rock'n'roll, "Is It Over." Not a lot to hop up and down about on this one, but it's an accurate reflection of its time.
Razzy Bailey "Razzy" (RCA Victor, 1980) (LP)
Razzy Bailey "Makin' Friends" (RCA Victor, 1981) (LP)
Razzy Bailey "Feelin' Alright" (RCA Victor, 1982) (LP)
Razzy Bailey "A Little More Razz" (RCA Victor, 1982) (LP)
Razzy Bailey "The Midnight Hour" (RCA Victor, 1984) (LP)
Razzy Bailey "Cut From A Different Stone" (MCA Records, 1984) (LP)
Razzy Bailey "Arrival" (MCA Records, 1985) (LP)
Razzy Bailey "Blues Juice" (King Snake Records, 1989)
Razzy Bailey "Razzy Unwrapped" (SOA Records)
Razzy Bailey "Damned Good Time" (SOA Records, 2009)
Razzy Bailey "I Hate Hate" (K-Tel Records, 2009)
Although this contains the title track of Bailey's 1974 pop debut, the rest of the record is (relatively speaking) more country... An okay overview of his work, and probably about as much as any average listener would need...
