Eric Andersen

Like many singer-songwriters of his generation, Eric Andersen went from folksinger to singer-songwriter as the ‘70s and radio’s soft-rock campaign took the place of the social unrest of the ‘60s. Andersen went to Nashville to record this self-titled album in 1969 and it’s every bit as personal as a self-titled album should be. “Don’t Leave Me Here For Dead” features a full-on attack with back-up singers and every musician playing at their most aggressive. However, Andersen is a romantic at heart and he sounds most natural on the laid-back ballads. “It Wasn’t a Lie,” “I Will Wait,” “Secrets” and “Go Now, Deborah” express Andersen’s musical soul with a minimum of fuss, a careful picked acoustic guitar here, a mild piano there and sublime orchestration when needed. “Sign of a Desperate Man” pulls off straight country with pedal steel guitar and a Western saddle-sore lope. Sadly, like much of his career — with the exception of 1972’s Blue River — this album was overlooked at the time in comparison to works by Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, James Taylor and Bob Dylan. A shame, since it clearly belongs in their company.