Hey, who loves you Baby? This was $4. How could I not?
Right off the bat, in the liner notes, Telly lets you know that “singing is not my bag”. However, “this is how Telly feels about this or that song” (both actual quotes). Released in 1974, hot on the success of Kojak, this was his first album. He would release several more with modest success. His version of Bread’s “If”, on this record, was actually a #1 hit in the UK.
I would hesitate to say that this is a really great album, but it is extremely listenable. Telly’s songs are a cross combination of spoken word and singing. It his delivery is what you would expect from the TV tough guy. . “You’ve lost that Loving Feeling”, You and Me Against the World”, and “Help me Make it Through the Night” suggest I am a lover , not a fighter, without letting you forget that I am still a tough guy. The song selection on this record is awesome. If you still wear medallions, you should be all over this. And he does not have that bad a voice. At the very least, the man knows what territory his range belongs in.
There were several songs to choose from. I wanted something that was more singing than spoken. The Beatles’ classic “Something” showcases this.
I hate to give this a top rating but it really sounds pretty good all things considered. And it delivered on what it promised, which is big in my book. It sounds like I wanted it to sound when I bought it. Are my ratings trite and arbitrary? Sure, but all ratings are trite and arbitrary. At the end of the day, Telly “can only make mistakes by pretending to be a great singer”(Also in the liner notes). By working within his limits, as a result, he nails this album.