- Label: 'Think Like A Key Music'
- Genre: 'Pop'
- Release Date: '26.4.24.'- Catalogue No: 'TLAK1168'
Our Rating:
This is the first Re-issue of John Bromley's 1969 album Sing to use the original artwork and title. The album is available in three different versions that have differing amounts of bonus material, I am reviewing the Japanese Cd version that has a total of 29 songs on it that includes singles and a variety of demos recorded between 1968-84. John is currently working n a new album with Pablo Solo.
The album opens with Only Foolish People that leads us into John's world with some lush strings and trumpets as he lays out his late 60's credo, as only foolish people fall in love, yes he wants all the women in the world to love him, so falling in love is a mistake.
Melody Fayre has that Donovan or Cat Stevens style late 60's optimism for the fun you can have down at the fun fair.
So Many Things burst with psychedelic energy full of nods towards Eleanor Rigby, as John tells us all the things you used to do together before well life got in the way, where did your love go, oh yeah he cheated on you with every woman he could, at least he admits you have the right to sleep around as well.
If You Are There With Me is a wistful song of longing, as John goes off wandering, he lets us know that as long as you are beside him, he will always be happy, the strings add sensuality with some interesting backing vocal effects.
Sugar Love is for someone creeping about in the middle of the night, looking for that Sugar to love once more, from the sounds of it you may be on the younger side of the love he's looking for, the harmonica and guitars battle this story out.
Old Time Mover is for one of those chance encounters with a Dolly-bird who just happened to walk by this has a cool brass section adding to his lust on the carefree breeze, will he entice her into his life, or will she just be another carefree flirtation.
What Do You Think Of Me as like the fool you may be your down on bended knee begging, pleading for some love, as this very music hall sounding song has chiming guitars strummed in the key of love.
What A Woman Does has John wondering about Women's ways in a Small Faces style way, as he tells us he will always love all the women he can, the strings will entice her towards him, while he still tries to unlock the mysteries.
Weather Man never wants to see the sun go down, as it may well be raining in her heart once more, this is lushly pretty with nods towards Bacharach & David's love songs.
I'm Gonna Love You Till I Die has dappled guitar freak outs, with loud quiet dynamics, as John tells us how no matter what, starvation or anything else the world throws at him he will always love you, what a softy he is.
Natural Born Loser is bittersweet reflections on not being the love god he'd like to be, having to only take the women that come his way, with lush orchestration making his sadness seem a little bit more baleful, as he tries to man up and get yet more women to love him.
And The Feeling Goes has a bit of the music hall style percussion over a very late 60's Beatlesque feel, as John tells us of the feelings he has for her, while the music goes a touch weird, but his love will never end. This was a poignant way to close the original album.
My My (Bonus B-Side) this was originally the B-side to What A Woman Does as John wants you to give him the silent treatment, as he wonders what he did to upset you, other than maybe sleeping with one of your friends, in the late 60's free love way, that infuses everything on this album.
Hold Me Woman was originally a single that is couched in strings, John pours out his heart in the hopes you'll be his till the end of time, so go on give him a great big hug.
Wonderland USA was a single in August 1969 that takes us on a trip to carefree days, marvelling at the Wonderland that America seemed to be, when your stuck on the other side of the pond in grey old England, so send John an invite, he just wants to be over there having a good time as the guitar freaks out a little bit.
Kick A Tin Can was the B-side with some stride piano driving it along as he tells us what happens when he dumps you like the tin can he'll kick down the road, like he thinks he's Mungo Jerry.
For Once In My Life (Demo) has John running into your open arms if you'll give him the chance, so he can stop playing with toy soldiers as love should conquer all on this strummed acoustic demo.
Just A Little Bit Of Love (Demo) comes from August 1970, John still has the summer of Love on his mind, as he feels quite rightly that the world would be better if we all just loved each other, both with their main partner and a little bit on the side too, the rogue.
All The People In The World (Demo) is a folky strummed love song with a yearning to be allowed to be her lover for years to come, as the piano line comes in the sweet harmonies make clear he won't ever let her go.
Darby & McKenney apparently didn't get their way, on a song that sounds very similar to a couple of David Bowie outtakes recorded around the same time, only with vastly different lyrical intent.
Comic Conversation (Demo) is a slow piano ballad in a Leo Sayer style, as he can't accept the truth that this relationship may be over, will he ever be able to give up, as she lives a far more fancy-free life than the one he envisions, on a song that is anything but comic.
Isn't This A Lovely Day? (Demo) is a humble brag for how happy he is to walk down the street with you on his arm, this has a bit of a Small Faces loved up feel to it.
This World's An Apple (Demo) is of course rotten to the core as this strummed acoustic finds John being chatted up by a man who tells him he can't do anything till he's 21, John fails to point out he's actually 22 so legal for what the bloke desires, no matter how unafraid of rotten apples he may be.
Leave A Man Alone (Demo) from August 1969 as he wants to be freed from the shackles of a relationship, as he wants to be free and easy, the piano and guitar tries to make clear, his vocals sound like he wants to be Paul McCartney desperately.
I Love Them All (Demo) is an electric take from 1968 that sounds a little bit acid influenced, sounding like Juniors Eyes in its gently evocative way, as John tells us how he loves all the women he meets or knows.
Distances (Demo) is only on the Japanese version, is from 1975, some tape hiss on this sketch, for those lovers who know have plenty of Distance between them, as life has taken them their separate ways.
Eve (Demo) is a demo from 1984 for the Japanese version, finding John in good voice on another nicely picked love song.
What'll I Do is another Japanese only bonus demo, this time from 1972 that is in a similar vein to Telly Savalas If or Charles Aznavour's She this one is rather sappy.
The album closes with Sweet Little Princess if you get the Japanese version of the album, this song hasn't been on CD before, this is a lust song of love for a young girl, who we have to hope was old enough for the lust in John's song, as he tells her to run along as she's not for him.
Find out more at https://www.thinklikeakey.com/release/429237-john-bromley-sing-2024-remaster https://www.facebook.com/bromsongsmith
