Lesley Gore
My Town, My Guy and Me - Mercury 1965
Tracks: 1. 1. My Town, My Guy and Me / 2. What's a Girl Supposed to Do / 3. What Am I Gonna Do with You / 4. You Didn't Look 'Round / 5. I Don't Care / 6. No Matter What You Do / 7. The Things We Did Last Summer / 8. A Girl in Love / 9. Baby That's Me / 10. Just Another Fool / 11. Let Me Dream / 12. Before and After
Comments:
"My Town, My Guy & Me" from 1965 was Lesley Gore's fifth in just two and a half years. Like the previous ones, it is skillfully and timely produced by Quincy Jones and if the high level of the album's first half had held the album out, it would be a strong candidate to be named her strongest.
Unfortunately aside from Jackie DeShannon's "Baby This Me", which is slightly Motown inspired, the original side 2 is a disappointing experience. Five forgettable strings-ballads; with Lesley Gore's own "A Girl in Love" being the best.
On the other hand, the original side one ( tracks 1-6) is really strong. Strong melodies in which Gore's great voice can come to fruition and where the production of the songs seem far more youthful, contemporary and inspired.
The title song is melodically catchy and it performed quite well as a single. The Barry / Greenwich song "What's a Girl Supposed to Do" is outstanding; a song that was also recorded by The Shangri-Las for their second album; in an equally excellent version.
There is Phil Spector sound on the Titleman/Goffin ballad "What Am I Gonna Do With You" which is another great melody.
Easy and catchy is "You Didn't Look 'Round"; a song in the best girl-group style.
One of Gore's greatest songs was "You Own Own Me," written by John Madara and David White and released on Gore's debut album. John Madara and David White also wrote "I Don't Care" which is a strong number in the same vein.
Finally, there is "No Matter What You Do", on which there is actually room for an electric guitar - very refreshing.
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