The World Famous Ultimate Twang: Classic Album Review-Larry Gatlin "Straight Ahead"

Classic Album Review-Larry Gatlin “Straight Ahead”

We start off this week’s reviews with Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers’ release from 1979, “Straight Ahead”. Featuring their biggest hit, “All The Gold In California”, the album contained a total of four singles, of which three would reach the top twenty, with “All The Gold In California” making it all the way to number one. The album, itself, would be Larry’s only million seller, and would peak at number seven on the album charts.

The album starts off with “All The Gold In California”. A number one hit that is worthy of classic status, and appropriately enough, the best song on the disc. Thirty-one years has not diminished this track, at all.

“Piece By Piece” is a classic Gatlin ballad, as good as any he’s ever written and sang. One wonders how it got passed over when choosing singles for the album.

The exceptional quality of music continues of with “The Way I Did Before”. It’s another ballad, that showcases the brother’s fine harmonies, and is arguably as good as the preceding track.

Both tracks are well produced, plus contain exceptional lyrical quality, along great melodies.

“Can’t Cry Anymore” sounds a bit like Gatlin’s hit “I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today”; it’s not quite to the level of the 1st three tracks. Okay, but nothing special.

“Gypsy Flower Child” is seven minutes you’ll never get back. A story song that feels every bit as long as it is. That, of course, is not a good thing.

Side two kicks off with another single from the album, “We’re Number One”, a top twenty hit. While I liked this song when it was on the radio, and still do, after revisiting this album, I believe that it’s a decent ballad, but a bit bland, now. “Piece By Piece” and “The Way I Did Before” are actually better tracks.

Best intro on the album? “Taking Somebody With Me When I Fall”. I’ve always thought it was great. The whole song has, even today, a breath of freshness to it’s sound. The arrangement makes this cut, with what I would describe as a light sound, that provides a perfect backdrop that doesn’t step on the lyrics or the vocals. This cut should have been a bigger hit than it was.

“How Much Is A Man Supposed To Take” is another ballad that I would say is okay, but nothing particularly special.

The tempo picks up a bit on “Hold Me Closer”, but again, nothing particularly special.

“Midnight Choir” was a controversial song that flopped as a single, because many radio stations wouldn’t play it, due to it’s lyrical content, particularly in the refrain. For me, personally, this song has never really done much, but I do know some who love it.

While it’s not been released, individually as a CD, “Straight Ahead” is available as a package, along with the “Greatest Hits” album. Of course, numerous vinyl copies are for sale, as well, most running $5 or less. I even ran across some cassettes and 8-tracks, as well.

I would say this album is a bit uneven. There are several tracks that excellent recordings, but also a few that just do nothing for me. I’m rating it a 3.5 out of 5.

As always, drop me a line, and let me know what you think.