Charles Ramsey’s second album has plenty of great songs, and it’s opening title track evokes those bright melodic Burt Bacharach-Hal David hits of the 70’s, and resembles current contemporaries, Brent Cash and Adrian Whitehead. But after this great opening track, it settles into a more folk-pop mode with the acoustic guitar similar to Harry Chapin or Cat Stevens with “Things Could Be Different.” Ramsey has a rich mid-tone vocal here that wavers on the higher register at times, but the plaintive “Odelia” is a perfect example of where his vocal range belongs. Lower profile pop ballads make up the bulk of the album with “The See & Be Seen Scene” bringing to mind a Philadelphia version of Billy Joel. The only return to the Brill building pop sound is the brilliant “My Lost Days” which resembles Michael Brown (Left Banke, Stories) with a masterful hook, melody and a gorgeous key change in the chorus. The slow but steady “When Forgetfulness or Sleep Has Gone” makes best use of the full orchestra backdrop, although his vocal limitations are on full display here. If you like classical 70’s pop and folk this is a welcome addition to your album collection.
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