The Jerry Ragovoy Story: Time is on My Side, 1953-2003

It figures that Ace of London would issue a volume on Jerry Ragovoy, another song-writing/producing legend after issuing one on his equally-renowned and occasional partner, Bert Berns (Piece Of My Heart was one co-written with Berns). As Al Kooper says in the voluminous liner notes that are a hallmark of anything issued by Ace, the duo were considered to be "...the white kings of soul music." As with the Berns volume, you likely came to this release while searching under a song title.

Whereas Berns died young (at age 39 on December 30, 1967), Jerry, born in Philadelphia in 1935, is still with us, although not as involved in music as much as was in the 1960s and early 1970s. His last major award came in 1973 when he received a Grammy for producing the "Best Score From An Original Cast Show Album" for "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope," although he also received high acclaim for his 2003 CD Howard Tate Rediscovered, a collaboration with an artist who recorded a number of his songs back in the late 1960s (the last track, Get It While You Can, is from that 2003 album).

Jerry's first composition to be recorded was the elusive "This Silver Ring" by the Philadelphia group The Castelles (not to be confused with The Castells of California) on the Grand label in 1953. It's said that Ragovoy, then all of 18, "hovered over the recording session" making the group do one take after another until it met with his approval, a focus he himself described in the liner notes by saying "With every singer I've ever worked with I was like Hitler when it came to vocals. Every time I produce something, it's as if I'm still trying to prove myself. Every note, every song, every project that I immerse myself in, whether it's an arrangement or whatever, all of it is a unique challenge." It's too bad that first song has been lost to posterity.

Another composition, Time Is On My Side, was written under the pseudonym Norman Meade and first recorded by the trombonist Kai Winding, although the best version, to my mind anyway, was by Irma Thomas. Hers, recorded in 1964 and released as the B-side of her hit Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand), never made any singles charts either, but a cover later that year by The Rolling Stones reached # 6 Billboard Pop Hot 100.

In terms of hit singles in this release, just 8 made any national charts, the earliest here being A Wonderful Dream by the Philadelphia group The Majors which peaked at # 22 Hot 100/# 23 R&B in October 1962 on Imperial (Disappointed, by Claudine Clark, was heard earlier that summer, but it was the uncharted flip of her hit Party Lights). In October 1963, Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters hit it big with Cry Baby, taking it to # 1 R&B/# 4 Hot 100 for United Artists, and in September 1964, billed as just The Enchanters, I Wanna Thank You topped out at # 91 Hot 100 on Warner (note that Billboard had suspended the R&B charts from late 1963 and all of 1964).

When Good Lovin' by The Olympics hit the airwaves in 1965, those charts had been reinstated, but it was shut out on the R&B listings, and only managed a weak # 81 Hot 100 in May on Loma, a subsidiary of Warner. However, the parent label released Lorraine Ellison's Stay With Me in late 1966, and in December it reached # 11 R&B but a disappointing # 84 Hot 100. A year later, Miriam Makeba would have a huge hit with Pata Pata (# 7 R&B/# 12 Hot 100 on Frank Sinatra's Reprise label) while Dusty Springfield scored a # 49 Hot 100 with What's It Gonna Be? for Philips (re-mixed here). The latest hit represented here is What Do You Want Me To Do? by Lou Courtney, which finished at # 48 R&B in October 1973 on Epic.

Some other notable Jerry Ragovoy-penned hits not included here, but which could hopefully be included in a Volume 2, are: About This Thing Called Love by Fabian (# 31 Hot 100 in March 1960 on Chancellor; One Way Love by The Drifters (# 56 Hot 100 in May 1964 on Atlantic); I'll Take Good Care of You by Garnet Mimms and The Enchanters (# 15 R&B/# 30 Hot 100 in May 1966 on United Artists); Ain't Nobody Home, a # 12 R&B/# 63 Hot 100 for Howard Tate in summer 1966 on Verve, and a # 28 R&B/# 46 Hot 100 for B.B. King in late 1971 om on ABC; Heart Be Still by Lorraine Ellison (# 43 R&B/# 89 Hot 100 on October 1967 on Loma); Stop by Howard Tate (# 15 R&B/# 76 Hot 100 in March 1968 on Verve); Sure Thing by Dionne Warwick (# 66 R&B in December 1974 on Warner); You Got It by Diana Ross (# 39 R&B/# 49 Hot 100 in June 1978 on Motown; Love Makin' Music by Barry White (# 25 R&B in August 1980 on United Artists); and Cloudy With a Chance of Tears, first recorded by The Manhattans, but only a hit in 1993 (# 97 R&B) by The Voices on Zoo Records).

Excellent sound quality as always with an Ace product, and a must-have if you purchased the Bert Berns volume.

I can't listen to this music without wanting to dance--especially a "slow dance," with its hypnotic rhythm. This CD brings back the sixties perfectly--and they were a lovely time. I knew Jerry when he was starting out, and I can see him bent over the piano keys, playing measures again and again, to get the arrangement "right." And he sure did get it right ... a lot of times.

I was unaware of Jerry Ragavoy until I read his obit. in the new york times. So glad I bought this. The tracks are wonderful. It also introduced me to many singers who did not the recognition their voices deserved.

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