Patchwork
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Track listing
Show track credits
- A1 Benjamin
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- A2 Marigolds and Tangerines
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- A3 Billy the Kid
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- A4 Beverly
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- A5 Miss Clara-Azusa Sue
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- A6 But I Can't Get Back
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- B1 Jeremiah
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- B2 Belinda
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- B3 Mean Stepmama Blues
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- B4 Your Number One Fan
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- B5 Somebody Like Me
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- B6 Lookin' In
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Rate/Catalog
Catalog
Set listening
Review
To rate, slide your finger across the stars from left to right.
7 Reviews
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A1
Benjamin
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A2
Marigolds and Tangerines
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A3
Billy the Kid
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A4
Beverly
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A5
Miss Clara-Azusa Sue
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A6
But I Can't Get Back
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B1
Jeremiah
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B2
Belinda
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B3
Mean Stepmama Blues
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B4
Your Number One Fan
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B5
Somebody Like Me
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B6
Lookin' In
Bittersweet
At the end of the road now; Patchwork would prove to be the last studio album Bobbie Gentry ever released, and a decade later, in 1981, she'd completely escape the public eye.
Patchwork was also her first and last album that was almost entirely crafted by her; every song was written and produced by Gentry herself. It shows her immense talent; I'd argue that its at least on par with her cult classic, The Delta Sweete. Unfortunately this album has not had the reappraisal that The Delta Sweete has somewhat experienced (I'd argue that none of her albums get the level of attention they deserve).
The sound is so lush and clever in a way a lot of her later works hadn't been. It features a tasteful blend of country, soul, pop, and folk that makes it entirely her own. After every couples songs there's these beautifully orchestrated interludes that only add to the record. The songs range from campy, cheery tunes like "Miss Clara/Azusa Sue," "Billy The Kid," and "Your Number One Fan." There are character portraits like "Benjamin," "Beverly," and "Belinda."
Standouts include the calming "Marigolds and Tangerines," it lists common household objects as an invitation to share a quiet, mundane life with the narrator. The composition is simple, meditative, but there's an air of mystery as well. There's also "But I Can't Get Back," a soulful piano ballad about feeling lost and being unable to get back to better times.
The last two tracks are so interesting. After "Interlude 7" there's "Somebody Like Me" that I only recently noticed shares lyrics with the closer, "Lookin' In."
"But here I am again / You'll take me back and then / It won't be long 'til I'll be gone / Upon my way again " and "Can't seem to settle down / Maybe I'll just hang around / But every time you pick me up / I guess I take you down"
In "Somebody Like Me" the narrator questions why her lover sticks around for somebody like her, she doesn't want somebody waiting around for her, and her partner better find someone else to love them. "Lookin' In" instead is a solemn reflection on life as a celebrity, and how it twists you around and stretches you thin. I can't help but think it's Bobbie Gentry saying her peace. She's essentially saying go find another celebrity to care about, and then Hasta La Vista!
She would go on to do more things, and I think she wanted a future in the music industry, but forces out of her control made it increasingly frustrating to do so. So she quit! An air of sadness permeates all of these tracks, even the quirkiest ones like "Miss Clara/Azusa Sue" have a feeling of grief. It's all so final, and I find it so sad that her potential was cut off so soon, but I can't blame her. I would've done the same thing, just quit when it wasn't working. I never even would've made it as far as she did!
At the very least, we got one more great album before she went upon her way again.
Review written September 17th, 2023.
Published
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Good heavens, this is some goofy, very dated sounding, Vegas visiting, early 70s, big band having, variety show produced, attempt at soul having, plush and shiny, needless interlude having, vaudevillian music.
There was one song worth revisiting, when Bobbie Gentry sang “Beverly” and began singing in Spanish halfway thru….nice.
Ugh. “Somebody Like Me” did its best to catch some soul…and almost made it!
Now get this off my turntable.
D/D-
There was one song worth revisiting, when Bobbie Gentry sang “Beverly” and began singing in Spanish halfway thru….nice.
Ugh. “Somebody Like Me” did its best to catch some soul…and almost made it!
Now get this off my turntable.
D/D-
Published
The soundtrack to a forgotten Disney classic about a swamptown superstar and all the magical people she meets on her way to super stardom and then subsequently - the way out of that life. This album has so much flair.
whatever is beyond five stars - pure perfection!!
whatever is beyond five stars - pure perfection!!
Published
a masterpiece form miss gentry, how i miss her creative talent.
Published
An exceptional talent with a real songwriting gift, a great voice able to tackle a great variety of emotion and a rags to riches American story/image to die for!!
Where's the love?
Where's the love?
Published
Gentry's star was already waning when Capitol Records granted her full creative control for this album of self-composed and produced songs. It's a brilliantly diverse (hence the title) and confident set of songs, effortlessly covering pop, soul, comic songs, folk, gospel and country rock - the transitions between the styles are made imperceptible by some beautiful linking pieces (the stitching between the patches?). In short, it's a masterpiece.
The album was a commercial failure and consequently Gentry's last. Or maybe she just thought she couldn't top it...
The album was a commercial failure and consequently Gentry's last. Or maybe she just thought she couldn't top it...
Published
With each successive album, Gentry's sound became more lush and produced and by the time Patchwork came into the world, Gentry was sounding a lot more MOR and a lot less 'Ode to Billie Joe'.
On paper, that isn't much of a recommendation. But I have to say that I find this record a total joy: because Gentry's voice is a joy and because there are some absolutely cracking tunes on here. Maybe she's straddled a bit between Nashville and Hollywood here, but she commits to it 100% and pulls it off marvellously.
Like all her work, profoundly under-rated.
On paper, that isn't much of a recommendation. But I have to say that I find this record a total joy: because Gentry's voice is a joy and because there are some absolutely cracking tunes on here. Maybe she's straddled a bit between Nashville and Hollywood here, but she commits to it 100% and pulls it off marvellously.
Like all her work, profoundly under-rated.
Published
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Catalog
20 Apr 2024
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1
Benjamin
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2
Interlude I
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3
Marigolds and Tangerines
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4
Interlude II
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5
Billy the Kid
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6
Interlude III
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7
Beverly
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8
Interlude IV
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9
Miss Clara / Azusa Sue
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10
Interlude V
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11
But I Can't Get Back
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12
Jeremiah
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13
Interlude VI
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14
Belinda
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15
Mean Stepmama Blues
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16
Your Number One Fan
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17
Interlude VII
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18
Somebody Like Me
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19
Lookin' In
16 Apr 2024
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A1
Benjamin
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A2 Marigolds and Tangerines
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A3 Billy the Kid
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A4
Beverly
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A5 Miss Clara-Azusa Sue
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A6
But I Can't Get Back
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B1
Jeremiah
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B2
Belinda
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B3 Mean Stepmama Blues
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B4 Your Number One Fan
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B5
Somebody Like Me
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B6
Lookin' In
14 Apr 2024
13 Apr 2024
5 Apr 2024
1 Apr 2024
31 Mar 2024
22 Mar 2024
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A1
Benjamin
-
A2
Marigolds and Tangerines
-
A3
Billy the Kid
-
A4
Beverly
-
A5
Miss Clara-Azusa Sue
-
A6
But I Can't Get Back
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B1
Jeremiah
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B2
Belinda
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B3
Mean Stepmama Blues
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B4
Your Number One Fan
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B5
Somebody Like Me
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B6
Lookin' In
29 Feb 2024
15 Feb 2024
5 Feb 2024
1 Feb 2024
25 Jan 2024
23 Jan 2024
12 Dec 2023