ANDY MENDELSON
Maybe The Good Guy's Gonna Win
Andy Mendelson, one time rock critic & keyboard player for Andy Pratt,
released only this one solo album. It sounds very much like a lost Andy
Pratt album with tunes like "Hold On" and "Sweet Persuasion" with their
great power-pop hooks and sensibilities. Andy Pratt in fact, helps out on
backing vocals. This is perfectly crafted music, and there are some heavy
players on here, from Greg Hawkes of the Cars to the legendary Tom Scott.
If you like The Dwight Twilley Band, Phil Seymour, David Bowie, Steely Dan,
The Beatles, or 20/20, then this neglected masterpiece album is for you.
The full-bodied production is by Harry Mails, who two years before, produced
Boston's Nervous Eaters for Elektra. "Fire in the Night" is indicative of
the merits of this LP, and "Lifetime Woman" is another contender for the
top-40 as well. "Outside My Window" is truly unique, and could have been
a perfect tune for Art Garfunkel's solo album, "Breakaway". The selections
are: Lifetime Woman; Fire in the Night; We All Fall Down; Free Is Free;
Hold On; Sweet Persuasion; Outside My Window; Fortunately; What Makes Me
the One; and the title track, Maybe The Good Guy's Gonna Win. Andy's brother,
Richard Mendelson did the engineering, drumming, and also co-wrote the song
"We All Fall Down." According to Boston area legend 'Count' Joe Viglione,
who provided the bulk of this text, the two brothers would eventually buy
the Cars' studio, Syncro Sound, which the Cars had purchased from people
involved with Boston 50's legends, The G-Clefs. The Mendelson brothers were
important elements of the Boston scene, and are widely respected for their
skills. Other musicians on this session include Richard Hart (later to form
the Ace Of Hearts record label, early home of The Lyres); Laura Creamer
(The Black Crowes, Bob Seger, others); hard-bop jazz saxophonist, Joe Farrell
and post-bop jazz saxophonist Ernie Watts; Gwen Owens, and others. This
is a seldom seen original 1978 pressing on ARISTA RECORDS (4207), and comes
with the proper printed lyric innersleeve. Right now I have three copies
available: Two have diagonal cut to the corner, and one is Still Sealed
while the other has near Mint vinyl. The third copy has no cut corner, and
the vinyl appears in overall Excellent condition. The record labels are
bright & clean on the EX copy, while the M- copy has writing on the label
as well as the cover. Be the first to get the copy of your choice.
