Patchwork (Bobbie Gentry album)

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Patchwork
Bobbiepatchwork.jpg
Studio album by
Bobbie Gentry
ReleasedApril 26, 1971
Recordedc. November 1969–c. March 1971
StudioHollywood Sound Studios (Hollywood)
GenreCountry
Length47:18
LabelCapitol
ProducerBobbie Gentry
Bobbie Gentry chronology
Fancy
(1970) 		Patchwork
(1971) 		Live at the BBC
(2018)
Singles from Patchwork
  1. "But I Can’t Get Back"
    Released: March 29, 1971[1]
  2. "Somebody Like Me"
    Released: May 21, 1971[2]

Patchwork is the seventh and final studio album by American singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry. It was released on April 26, 1971, by Capitol Records.

In 2007, Australian label Raven Records released the album on CD for the first time, paired with 1970's Fancy. The album was also made available for digital download the same year.

The cover art for the album is an uncredited painting of Gentry. According to the liner notes for the 2004 compilation Chickasaw County Child: The Artistry of Bobbie Gentry, the painting is believed to have been done by Gentry herself.[3]

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic3.5/5 stars link

Despite being a commercial failure, the album received positive reviews from music critics. Billboard called the album "simply charming," saying that "there is a strong hint of autobiography and disarming re-creations of recent times gone by." The review went on to say that "But I Can't Get Back", "Marigolds and Tangerines", "Miss Clara / Azusa Sue", "Beverly", and "Lookin' In" are stand out tracks.[4] Cashbox gave a glowing review, saying that the album should make "those who have been taking Bobbie Gentry lightly...stop and reconsider." They went on to say the album is "a masterpiece," describing it as "a finely woven collection of tunes written and produced by Bobbie. It is a perfect album in every respect." They review concludes by saying that the album "stands a good chance of winning album of the year awards."[5] Record World called the album "another newsletter from bayou country." The review said that Gentry "might be closer to Faulkner than she is to Irving Berlin. She sings about the people she's known and loved." The review concludes by comparing the album to "leafing through a good book or someone's family album," calling it "warm and quilty like a patchwork."[6]

Richie Unterberger, writing for AllMusic, gave the album three and a half out of five stars. He felt that "none of these songs really rank among her very best (or certainly her earthiest), and it's more something to be enjoyed by committed fans than recommended as the first or second stop for someone who wants more than a best-of collection. Still, some of the charms particular to Gentry—her husky voice, and her fusion of country, folk, and pop—remain in force, the most serious and intimate portraits ("Beverly", "Belinda", "Lookin' In", and "Marigolds and Tangerines") being the most impressive."[7]

Commercial performance[]

The album peaked at No. 221 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under the Top LP's chart.

The album's first single, "But I Can't Get Back", was released in March 1970. It peaked at No. 37 on the US Billboard Easy Listening chart and No. 93 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart.

In May 1970, "Somebody Like Me" was released as a single in the UK and did not chart.

Track listing[]

All songs written by Bobbie Gentry, except as noted.

Side one
No.TitleRecording dateLength
1."Benjamin" / "Interlude 1"May 19, 19704:19
2."Marigolds and Tangerines" / "Interlude 2"c. March 19712:42
3."Billy the Kid" / "Interlude 3"February 19702:40
4."Beverly" / "Interlude 4"c. March 19713:46
5."Miss Clara / Azusa Sue" / "Interlude 5"c. March 19714:41
6."But I Can't Get Back" (Bobbie Gentry, Kelly Gordon)c. March 19713:31
Side two
No.TitleRecording dateLength
1."Jeremiah" / "Interlude 6"c. March 19716:12
2."Belinda"May 19, 19703:59
3."Mean Stepmama Blues"c. March 19713:57
4."Your Number One Fan" / "Interlude 7"c. November 19692:53
5."Somebody Like Me"c. March 19713:25
6."Lookin' In"c. March 19714:39

Personnel[]

Adapted from the album liner notes.

  • John Cameron - arrangements
  • Bobbie Gentry - vocals, producer
  • John Guess - engineer
  • Larry Muhoberac - arrangements
  • George Tipton - arrangements
  • Jerry Toth - arrangements

Chart positions[]

Album

Year Chart Chart position
1971 US Bubbling Under the Top LP's (Billboard)[8] 221

Singles

Year Single Chart Chart position
1971 "But I Can't Get Back" Canada Top Singles (RPM) 93
US Top 40 Easy Listening (Billboard)[9] 37

References[]

  1. ^ "Bobbie Gentry - But I Can't Get Back". Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Bobbie Gentry - Somebody Like Me". Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  3. ^ Holly George-Warren, liner notes for Chickasaw County Child: The Artistry of Bobbie Gentry (Shout Factory DK 322778, 2004)
  4. ^ "Billboard Magazine - May 8, 1971" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Cashbox Magazine - May 1, 1971" (PDF). American Radio History. Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Record World - May 1, 1971" (PDF). American Radio History. Record World. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Patchwork - Bobbie Gentry / Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  8. ^ "Billboard Magazine - June 12, 1971" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Billboard Magazine - May 1, 1971" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
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