Released 1967 Release date 1967 Label RCA Victor | Artist John Hartford Producer Felton Jarvis | |
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Looks at Life
(1967) Earthwords & Music
(1967) Genres Country music, Folk music, Novelty song Similar John Hartford albums, Country music albums | ||
I shoulda wore my birthday suit john hartford
Looks at Life is singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist John Hartford's debut album. It essentially set the pattern for all of his RCA albums over the next four years: a combination of dry wit and superb musicianship, delivered with a warm conversational baritone. This, along with all six of his first albums were repackaged in three "twofer" CDs on BMG's Camden Deluxe label in 2002, immediately following his death.
Contents
Reception
Music critic Richie Unterberger, writing for Allmusic, wrote "Though occasional songs skirted commercial country-pop ("Like Unto a Mockingbird," "Minus the Woman") and novelty tunes ("I Shoulda Wore My Birthday Suit" and the kazoo-laden "Jack's in the Sack"), usually they fell somewhere between the normal and the silly. It wasn't quite as good as the best of his subsequent RCA albums of the late '60s and early '70s, though, as the melodies weren't quite as strong and the production not as elaborate. "The Tall Tall Grass" does give a hint of what was to come..."
Track listing
All songs written by John Hartford.- "I Reckon" – 1:21
- "Today" – 3:16
- "A Man Smoking a Cigar" – 2:04
- "Untangle Your Mind" – 2:03
- "Like Unto a Mockingbird" – 2:53
- "I Shoulda Wore My Birthday Suit" – 1:51
- "The Tall Tall Grass" – 2:26
- "Front Porch" – 2:00
- "Eve of My Multiplication" – 1:49
- "When the Sky Began to Fall" – 3:51
- "Corn Cob Blues" – 2:36
- "Minus the Woman" – 2:57
- "Jack's in the Sack" – 2:09
Songs
1I Reckon1:18
2Today3:11
3A Man Smoking a Cigar1:59