If I’m not mistaken, having been released in 1991, What’s Good For You, was created after Billy Conway and Mark Sandman started performing as Morphine, although Morphine’s debut wasn’t released until 1993, after THR broke up. Following the success of their self titled debut (1988) THR signed with RCA who had high hopes for the group’s second LP
Tied To The Tracks (1989). Despite the fact that the group had recorded a second fantastic album (better than the first in my opinion) RCA was disappointed with the sales and dropped the band from the label. On Wikkipedia the group is quoted as saying, “"RCA decided that if our little basement tape could do so well, why not spend fifty times more money and it will be fifty times better! (They think everything works like that.)"
Following the poor treatment by RCA, the group signed with Rounder Records and issued what would become their last true LP (I say true because I’ve read of a reunion release in 1995 which consisted mostly of covers, If anyone has a copy of this let me know as I’d love to hear it!). The most instantly noticeable difference is the production quality. Here the group employ a stripped down live-in-studio approach that in some places adds force to music, but in others leaves it sounding a bit scarce and underdeveloped. Don’t get me wrong this production approach can yield fantastic results; it just didn’t work all the time on this album for me. I also kind of get the feeling the group was feeling a bit lost and dejected after the fallout with RCA, when they recorded this effort.
“Rhythm and Booze” opens up the album, a slightly sloppy little blues chugger with lead vocals by Sandman, entertaining but largely forgettable. “I Wish You Would” is a bit of indie-blues which doesn’t do much for me. The cover of Dylan’s “From A Buick 6” is competent and fun though not quite stunning. “Tease Me” with lead vocals by Sandman features some nice guitar and harmonica jamming, lyrics are pretty lax for a Sandman tune but a decent song none the less.
“I’m Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail” is an album standout finds the group back in the same high energy new-blues groove that made the first two releases so captivating, a dirty swampy blues jam with roaring guitar and harmonica while David Champagne and Jim Fitting trade great vocal passages. “Red Yellow (What’s Good For You)” is a great Sandman song and another standout track of this release, great lyrics with a funky chugging blues stomp. “Jet Black” is a great bittersweet Champagne song fantastic lyrics and beautiful backing vocal lines from Sandman, another great track. “Standing By Your Window” continues the streak of amazing tracks that occupy the center of the album. Beginning as a creeping blues beat the song soon becomes a full blast stomper with wild guitar and harmonica accompanying a great blues swagger in Champagne’s vocal performance.
“Same Thing” cools things down a bit with a slow Sandman tune that’s has a charm but doesn’t quite do it for me, not bad though. “Factory Girl” is a sweet but kind of boring slow Champagne number. “Come Back” closes the album with a Sandman blues tune with nice harmonica work by Fitting.
In summary
What’s Good For You is not quite as consistent as the first two THR albums but it certainly has it’s share of essential THR songs. The middle of the album is particularly strong however the opening and closing sets of tracks are kind of weak and sound a bit underdeveloped. Don’t make this your first Treat Her Right album, start with one of the first two.
Download No Longer Available (Send me an e-mail if you'd really like a copy)
Posts
