JOE EGAN "STAY AS YOU ARE"

Artist: Joe Egan
Album: Stay as You Are
Company: The Goods Records
Catalog: TGR 9304
Released: 1982
Genre: pop
Grade: *** 3 stars
Condition: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Comments: cut lower right corner
Quantity available: 1
Price: $25,00

So how obscure is the repackaged version of Joe Egan's second solo album ?  Well, for one thing, it doesn't show up on the man's brief Wikipedia entry.  Also, as far as I can tell, there isn't a single review of the album to be found on the web (except for this one).  Yeah, it's pretty obscure.

 

For whatever reason, 1981's "Map" never saw an American release.  For whatever reason, in 1982 the California-based The Goods Records decided to change that.  Somehow acquiring distribution rights to the album, they slapped it with a new title and new cover art.  The song listing remained unchanged.   From a marketing standpoint it certainly seemed suicidal.   By 1982 Egan didn;t have much of a fan base left in the States and as a small label, the company certainly didn't have much in the way of promotional capabilities.   Needless to say, that didn't stop the project.

 

Produced by David Courtney who also co-wrote most of the ten songs and contributed keyboards to several tracks,, 1982's "Stay As You Are" was recorded in California with an extensive list of sessions players including keyboardist Nicky Hopkins and guitarist Fred Tackett.  I guess it's just me, but after all these years I still can't hear Egan's dry, gravelly voice without thinking of Stealers Wheel (which is a good thing in my book).   That said, Egan sounded in a great form on this album.   Perhaps feeling he didn't have much to lose, Egan sounded loose and comfortable throughout the album turning in a collection that was surprisingly diverse and enjoyable.   Highlights included the opening rocker 'Tell Me About It', the Stealers Wheel-esque 'Maker On the Make', a rocked-up cover of The Everly Brothers classic 'The Price of Love', and the unexpected reggae-tinged 'Diamonds'.   Was it a monster ?  Nah, not by a mile, but it was a nice late inning album that surpassed most of Gerry Rafferty's solo releases).  Let me add the album is surprisingly hard to locate. 

 

"Stay As You Are" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Tell Me About It   (Joe Egan) - 3:56

To be honest, for a guy best known for commercial pop material, 'Tell Me About It' came as kind of a surprise since it showcased a straight ahead rocker.  Great tune  that climbed into your head and wouldn't leave.  I've always wondered why it wasn't tapped as a single.  rating: *** stars

2.) Survivor   (Joe Egan - David Courtney) - 4:14

Pleasant mid-tempo rocker that was burdened with one of those isn't-rock-music-tough-on-everyone lyrics.  Funny that Egan would still have an ounce of sympathy for anyone associated with the business side of music.  rating: *** stars

3.) Stay As You Are   (Joe Egan - David Courtney) - 3:56

'Stay As You Are' started out as a bleary adult contemporary ballad that might have slotted on a Gerry Rafferty solo album) (complete with sax solo, but was saved from total anonymity by a catchy top-40 pop chorus.  Funny, the chorus is really the only part of the song that's stuck with me.  The song was tapped as an instantly obscure single.   rating: *** stars

4.) Diamonds   (Joe Egan - David Courtney) - 3:25

Hum, who would have expected a reggae-tinged number on an Egan album ?  You weren't going to throwaway your Bob Marley albums, but if 10c.c. could get away with it, why not Egan ?   Another tune that was pleasant.   rating: *** stars

5.) Maker On the Make   (Joe Egan - David Courtney - Hunter) - 4:15

With strumming guitars and multi-tracked lead vocals, 'Maker On the Make' was probably the album's most Stealers Wheel-ish composition.   Highly commercial and another song that would have sounded good on early-'80s radio, though it would have been better without the horn arrangement.   rating: **** stars

 

(side 2)

1.) Miss March   (Joe Egan) - 3:05

Probably that album's most outright pop tune, I've always loved the stuttering Supertramp-styled electric piano on 'Miss Match'.   Bouncy pop tune that would have sounded good on the radio.   rating: **** stars

2.) Heat of the Moment   (Joe Egan) - 3:37

Initially 'Heat of the Moment' didn't make much of an impression on me, coming off as another slice of adult contemporary that might have been used for a Miami Vice soundtrack.   It's since grown on me, though still isn't a great tune.  rating: *** stars

3.) Price of Love   (The Everly Brothers) - 3:47

The lone cover, Egan's take on The Everly Brothers 'Price of Love' was actually one of the album's more interesting performances - in this case he gave the tune a heavy rock feel.  On the surface that may not have sounded all that promising, but the results were quite impressive - I certainly like it better than Brian Ferry's version.   rating: **** stars

4.) A Little Bit of Magic   (Joe Egan - David Courtney) - 4:00

With a folky feel, 'A Little Bit of Magic' was another tune that recalled Stealers Wheel.  I'm guessing the song had personal roots, but who knows.   Stan Behrens  provided the harmonica solos.  rating: *** stars

5.) Front Line   (Joe Egan - Hunter) - 3:35

Every '80s album seemingly had to have at least one big, AOR ballad and 'Front Line' was Egan's contribution to the genre.   Pretty, but forgettable.   rating: *** stars

 

 Yes, the album was tapped for an equally obscure single:

 

- 1982's 'Stay As Your Are' b/w 'Survivor' (The Goods Records catalog number TGR93012

       
Egan seems to have dropped out of the music business, reportedly focusing his attention on a publishing company he owns and operates in Scotland.  

Postscript:
In a strange quirk, I just had a Scottish student ask me for information on Egan for a thesis she was writing.