Bobby Russell - Little Green Apples

Spar-ing partner in all his cash-in glory

Russell is best remembered for writing two of the most exquisite pop songs of the 60s, Little Green Apples and Honey, originally US No 1s for OC Smith and Bobby Golsboro respectively. His regular gig, however, was writing and recording for Nashville’s Spar label, both under his own name and under the aliases Bobby Denver and John Carlton. He also played with The Now Generation, The Electric Screwdriver and Today’s Top Hits (Spar’s in house combo specialising in soundalike versions of contemporary hits).

This collection draws together material which originally appeared on Spar’s Sterling series of soundalike albums, finding Bobby in his best Glen Campbell/BJ Thomas crooner mode. The original bare bones demo of Little Green Apples, which Spar released as a cash-in 45 when the song became a major hit, is featured here, alongside Russell’s versions of Honey and Sure Gonna Miss Her, the latter a hit for Gary Lewis & The Playboys. In Spar fashion the balance of tracks are a mix of covers of contemporary hits, standards, lesser known Russell originals and songs penned by his fellow writers at the Spar hit factory.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

SPV Yellow | SPV 92972 CD

Reviewed by Grahame Bent
<< Back to Issue 354

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