From the Vault...

04/07/2019
#1667

info
Bill Cosby
"Silver Throat - Bill Cosby Sings"


© Wounded Bird Records

Year of Release: 1967
Rating:

track listing
  • Bright Lights Big City
  • Big Boss Man
  • Hush Hush
  • Baby What You Want
    Me To Do
  • Tell Me You Love Me
  • Aw Shucks
    Hush Your Mouth
  • Little Ole Man
    (Uptight
    Everything's Alright)
  • Mojo Workout
  • I Got A Woman
  • Don'cha Know
  • Place In The Sun

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    Hillsong United--Live In Miami
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    Bill Cosby
    "Silver Throat - Bill Cosby Sings"



    From the original back cover: Be alerted tough. Some of the numbers in this album will make you laugh... but with a beat... experly provided by Fred Smith (Fred Smith was the album producer.)


    On that note, yes, it does make you laugh... Can Bill Cosby really sing? No, not soulful as the title on the back cover says - A Rocking, Soul Album by "Silver Throat" Golden Throats, yes - Rhino's compilations of well-known celebrities who are not a celebrity in the music world. Bill Cosby singing easily fits the title of "Golden Throat"; not "Silver." Actually, the Golden Throats you can easily hear (and laugh hysterically) - that these celebrities cannot sing at all, with maybe a few exceptions. Did Bill Cosby actually appear on any of the Rhino Golden Throat series? No. Maybe the reason why, is that he is Bill Cosby. A well-known comedian, and a famous one. Although he did release music albums, singing or not, he kept his "day job" -- that being a famous comedian.


    Being said that he is not a good singer, his singing does get better, as the album continues on. (If you're still not laughing throughout, and at least trying to listen throughout, with an open mind, and ears.)


    The Jimmy Reed songs on this album sounds more of a comedic style. Tracks 1 - 4 are in this "style" : "Bright Lights, Big City," "Big Boss Man," "Hush Hush," "Baby, What You Want Me To Do." But "Tell Me You Love Me" sounds pretty decent. And with a title such as "Aw Shucks, Shut Your Mouth," this one you can't help thinking that he is having a fun time recording it, and not necessarily saying that this would pass as a "fine and soulful" song.


    On a more high note, there was one song that actually got airplay, and was a Top 5 hit - "Little Ole Man (Uptight, Everything's Alright)." Having a comedic monologue throughout the song (and not really singing), the music itself was from Stevie Wonder's "Uptigh, Everything's Alright)." Being a "Top 5 hit," it would be just that, for the fact that he isn't really singing, but telling a funny story of a "Little Ole Man." A funny story, being from a funny comedian. This is what made it work.


    "Mojo Workout" is another "funny" and "parody" song, based on MUddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working." With different lyrics to the Mudday Waters classic, it was considered a "sequel" to the original, with different lyrics. Singing wise, it is not thatb bad, but still, it's comedic. Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman" passes the test too, as Cosby tries to sing as Brother Ray did. But does he succeed? No. especially on the high notes - Cosby doesn't even come close to Brother Ray. Give him credit for trying though; it still makes you laugh, just as the other songs on this album.


    Don'cha Know" is the album's original track, and it again, makes you laugh. Again, you're saying, "No, this guy really can't sing, but he sure is having a fun time doing this." "Place In The Sun" ends the album, and this song sounds more like an early, old Country song, or even an old Dean Martin-styled song. It doesn't fit with the other songs on this album, really. But again, you say he can't sing, but he's having fun.


    Bill Cosby was way better as a funny comedian, rather than being a musician. Although his love for Jazz music was really his personal favorite style of music, he has recorded Jazz albums. One was with famous music producer, Quincy Jones - The Original Jazz Sessions, which was recorded in 1969. It was re-released on CD, in 2004. The tracks on the album was recorded as backing music for his 1969 TV show, The Bill Cosby Show. On a more serious note, Cosby released Hello Friend: To Ennis With Love, an album dedicated to his son, Ennis, who was killed in 1997, near Interstate 405 in Los Angeles, California. He was murdered in a failed robbery attempt. The tribute album to Cosby's son was instrumental Jazz songs, with the help from professional Jazz musicians.


    WSVNRadio's review of Cosby's tribute to his late son was reviewed in 2013. Of course, we are all now familiar with his current sex scandal, which became public in 2018. It was actually brought up in a comedy routine by Hannibal Buress in 2014. Bill Cosby had a very active (and successful) career for six decades, before this brought up by Buress. Since then, Cosby was the subject of highly publicized accusations of rape, drug faciliated sexual assult, sexual battery, child sexual abuse, and sexual misconduct. These accusations started in the mid-1960s. The results of women who came forward with these accusations, stated they had occurred from 1965 to 2008. Cosby denied these accusations, and would not discuss it.


    As of 2015, a total of 33 alleged victims were being represented by high-profile attorney Gloria Allred. Some court records were released to the public, as a transcript was released. In this transcipt testimony, Cosby admitted to casual sex, with the use of a sedative methaqualone (quaaludes) drug with younger women, yet he indicated that the prescription drug was legal. Based on incidents occured in 2004, he was found guilty in 2018, of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against a Toronto woman, after a jury trial. He was sentenced to three to ten years in state prison, and a $25,000 fine plus court costs. In 2019, he was moved from administrative segregation into the general population. A defamation lawsuit with seven women accused of lying by Cosby. The charges could not be moved forward, being the allegations were too old. The allegations were that they occurred from 1969 to 1992. As many as 50 women were allegedly accusing Cosby of sexual misconduct.


    During that time span, Cosby was becoming (or already) a well-known popular and successful comedian. If what he was being accused of decades later during his popularity, why didn't any of these women come out and accuse him then? Did Cosby pay them off? (This was also said about Michael Jackson's accusations of sexual misconduct with younger boys.) Money does talk, of course. But if that was the case, not only would he be accused of sexual misconduct back when he was popular, they could also state that they were paid off to keep quiet. A picture of the check (or most likely), cash would have been appropriate. So the question still remains, if it really happened, why not report it right away then? Did this REALLY happen? Cosby was charged, and sent to jail for it. He did admit to "casual sex," and drugs were involved. That would be more discriminating. Therefore, this really did happen, but why wait decades later to make public?


    But despite this scandal, one thing still remains... Bill Cosby has always been a fantastic comedian. His stories from his comedy albums were clean, and made you think as he told his stories. This is true about Michael Jackson... Despite the sexual abuse he was accused of, his music and as a music performer are what he will be (positively) known for. Cosby on Comedy, Michael on Music. Silver Throat - Bill Cosby Sings is a comedy album. He tries to sing, yet it makes you laugh. He really couldn't sing, yet because he is Bill Cosby, you can't help but laugh at his attempt to sing. Although we can't laugh about him now, but we can look back at his albums, and how he made us think with him, and laugh with him.


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    Previous Review: #1666
    Hillsong United--Live In Miami
    Next Review: #1668
    Alabama--Dancin' On The Boulevard