Customer Reviews

In Our Image

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Mny of the '50s originators struggled to stay afloat on the charts, though they still were a sensation on the concert circuit. Many, many great hits were lost by artists like Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard.
By 1966, the Everlys were considered "Regional" as far as the Charts went.
And that year, this good album was issued, collecting alot of those kinds of things which begged for reconsideration. At least fiur of them are here: the opener, "Leave My Girl Alone", with a foretaste of "The Inner Light" by The Beatles; "(You've Got) The Power Of Love", well, maybe not Top 40 material, but a solid "listener"; we have a huge overseas hit included, the highlight of the album, "The Price Of Love", a storming 4/4 country rocker, which in a way relates to Ike and Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High" - a monster in the U.K., but a minor hit back home. Hearing these numbers and then checking the Billboard or CashBox charts will lend to reflection on the vagaries of the Music Industry. Great songs by great artists in a contemprary, commercial setting and.....nothing!
"The Price Of Love" has perhaps more resonance for England even today, as the Everlys opened their "Comeback" shows for years with this item, which this Reviewer feels may have inspired Elvis Costello to write "Pump It Up" (the rhythm).
"It Only Costs A Dime" is another Don & Phil composition, an exquisite finale tune.

This CD carries like Two Yanks In England one of the Everly's least known albums from their career. Ironically, this album more or less reveals the brothers on a new artistic peak. Very good songs, quite a few written by the brothers themselves. A UK smash hit added to the tracklist with 'The Price Of Love' this album signifies the brothers last hurrah until they released Roots in 1968.
Every album has a weak song. I think every Everly fan will agree with me that on this album it is 'Lovey Krazevit'. It is so bad that it makes you wonder how that track even was allowed to be released at all, knowing how many outtakes superior to 'Lovey' had been recorded and could be picked up from the shelf.

The Everly Brothers' 1966 album "In Our Image" is like its predecessor "Beat & Soul" and especially the sequel "Two Yanks in England" very much influenced by the contemporary British pop sound. The opening track "Leave My Girl Alone" is a good example of this, and the track might easily go for a Searchers recording, with ringing guitars - one of the disc's many highlights.

"Chained to a Memory" is the first two fine ballads in the classic Everly Brothers style - the other one is Don Everly's own "It's All Over" - much in the same vein as the earlier "Like Strangers".

In the lighter section you will find "I'll Never Get Over You", "I Used To Love You" and "Lovey Kravesit" which, without being directly weak, could be classified as album fillers. The wistful "The Doll's House is Empty" is quite sweet but not very memorable.

The brothers come out strongest on the British inspired tracks like the previously mentioned "Leave My Girl Alone", but of course also on the hit single "The Price of Love". More or less the same approach you will find in "Glitter and Gold", "June is as Cold as December" (more Searchers sound) and not least the closing track "It Only Costs a Dime" is highlighted. One of the brothers' strongest originals.

Many Everly Brothers albums appear somewhat uneven, but this definitely belongs among the best. Like many albums released in those days "In Our Image" has a very short playing time, which may have been a contributing factor to the fact the album has been somewhat overlooked.

Nice sound, and fine informative liner notes from Richie Unterberger