Customer Reviews

Time & Charges /Portraits

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"Portraits" is one of the best, as well as least appreciated, albums of the late sixties. I have enjoyed listening to it, through the years, as much as "Rubber Soul", "Fresh Cream", Surrealistic Pillow", "Pet Sounds" and "Buffalo Springfield Again". A progressive "concept" album it is almost diametrically opposed to the image most people have of the Buckinghams. The hits, "Hey Baby" and "Susan" are totally out of place with the rest of the material on the album which was written by various members of the band. "C'mon Home", "Have You Noticed You're Alive" and "Any Place in Here" are just fabulous!

Excellent production by James William Guercio doesn't mask the impressive guitar work by Carl Giammarese. Very strong vocals by lead singer Denny Tufano backed by Marty Grebb,Nick Fortune and Carl. The late Jon Poulos was an excellent drummer.

Also on this CD is the "Time and Charges" album which is much more representative of most people's concept of the Buckinghams. It is a very good pop album but not in the class of "Portraits". The Buckinghams always did great covers of Beatles material and "I'll Be Back" shines here.

This CD is an incredible bargain. If you like the other albums mentioned in this review you owe it to yourself to give this CD a chance. You are unlikely to be sorry.

Imagine Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, Wally Parazaider, Jimmy Pankow and the other guys who would soon form the band Chicago Transit Authority sitting around listening to "Time & Charges", ideas swirling around in their heads. Imagine Al Kooper, Steve Katz, Bobby Columby and the other guys who would become the band Blood, Sweat & Tears hanging out listening to "Time & Charges". This influential album by the Buckinghams was produced by James William Guercio and features the horn section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Some great tunes came off of "Time & Charges", the Columbia Records debut for the Buckinghams from Chicago's north side. Jim Holvay, probably best known as guitarist for local band "The Mob" (which had a killer horn section), was half of a songwriting duo that had just written a number one song for the Bucks called "Kind of a Drag". Holvay followed up with 2 songs that would appear on "Time & Charges", the hit-yielding "Don't You Care" and "Susan". Other hits from this album include "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)" and an adaptation of the jazz favorite "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy".

One of my favorite Bucks tunes is found on this long-player, "Why Don't You Love Me". I think this track is one of Dennis Tufano's most convincing moments as a singer. "And Our Love" is another track worth a second listen.

Following its release, the producer of this album, William Guercio, would go on to produce the award-winning second album for Blood, Sweat & Tears and the first several albums for Chicago.

Had the Buckinghams not been so terribly successful as a pop band, they very well could have gone on to be a band like Chicago or BS&T...one listen to "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" foretells the jazz/rock fusion that might have been. My opinion is if it weren't for this album by the Buckinghams (along with the use of horns on "Got To Get You Into My Life" by Sir George Martin on The Beatles' "Revolver") there would have been no way paved for the jazz/rock fusion that came after it. This is where it all started, and that's a mighty great legacy for the Dennis, Carl, Nick and the rest of the Bucks.

There's another review here that tells you why "Portraits" is a great album. So I'll concentrate on why "Time and Charges" is a great album. The Buckinghams Columbia debut sports fresh, irresistable pop classics full of great hooks, great vocals and fabulous James Guercio horn arrangements. The classic singles "Don't You Care" and "Mercy Mercy Mercy" are here along with unforgettable cuts like "Remember", "Why Don't You Love Me" and "You Are Gone". Of special mention are the socially aware "Foreign Policy" and the overlooked novelty, "The Married Life" which along with "Mercy" is the highlight of the album. Gosh, this is good stuff!

The Buckinghams are America's best underrated group. In a four year career that lasted for only 4 studio albums, the Buckinghams were responsible for the "Chicago Sound" that later manifested itself with groups like Chicago, The Flock and even Styx. After the surprising #1 hit "Kind Of A Drag", these 5 musicians were paired with a young, aggressive visionary named James William Guercio, who had the idea of "the Beatles with horns". What followed was a stunning "debut" of pop, psychedelica, soul and rock with the Columbia album "Time And Charges". Singles came fast, furious and Top-10. "Don't You Care" and "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" were nationwide hits. "I'll Be Back" (by the Beatles) should have been and is now a feature in their live act. To follow that excellent album, the band and Producer completed a concept that became "Portraits". A flowing stream of rock and soul that seamlessly starts with "C'mon Home" and ends with "Any Place In Here". The "Portraits" album is much more guitar orientated and lets Carl Giammarese improvise his excellent solos. It should be noted that bassist Nick Fortuna shows his inovative playing that is very similiar to Paul McCartney's as he moves all over the neck of his bass.
This album also features the already mature songwriting of vocalist Dennis Tufano and especially keyboardist/vocalist Marty Grebb. The hit songs are here - "Hey Baby (They're Playin' Our Song) and Carl's personal favorite in concert, "Susan". For budding percussionists, this album is a workshop on how to play "just what is needed" with Jon Jon Paulos. Their next album "In One Ear And Gone Tomorrow" is a must-have also. If you are lucky to have the Buckinghams come to your city, by all means GO! It's like they never left.

I'm not sure why the two albums were combined, but Portaits is truly a classic; sounding just as good today as it did 40 years ago. The Buckinghams' effort needs to be acknowledged for great music that--except for Hey Baby and Susan--never got played on the radio. Time & Charges rests largely on the greatness of Don't You Care, and unfortunately the rest is dragged along by the strength of Portraits. For those old Buckingham fans of a generation back, this is money well spent on the Portraits portion alone.

Some commented another album that was close to Sgt. Peppers in quality and diversity. I am not sure I can say that. What I can say is it is Wonderful to listen to over and over. Will continue to enjoy the rest of my life. Used to live in Elgin, Il, they were a Chicago band.

Portraits is a rare gem of an album that a lot of folks don't know about. Its quite differant from the Buckinghams we all know and love, but coupled with Time & Changes this is even better. -A REAL KEEPER

Just finished listening to the set and really wasn't impressed. If you are looking for their music that is not on the music charts then this one is for you...