George Burns' charming personality cut through the dreadful film soundtrack to 1978's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band when he performed "Fixing a Hole," followed on that record by Alice Cooper's equally exotic rendition of "Because." Two years later Burns almost landed in the Top 40 with "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again," a sequel of sorts to Alice Cooper's debut hit, "I'm 18." Is he country or comedy? As stated above, George Burns is personality. In a cloud of cigar smoke on the front and back covers of this LP the singer is un-p.c. and flagrantly not giving a damn about the hazards of tobacco -- his long life a threat to the accuracy of the Surgeon General reports. And the music inside is a reflection of the fascinating cover photos, the lament of the title track a perfect fit for the television icon. Burns sings on key, though the voice makes up in enthusiasm what it lacks in power. Taking on country material like Tom T. Hall's "One of the Mysteries of Life" as well as "Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine" continues the retrospective theme initiated by "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again." There's a host of musicians backing Burns on this Jerry Kennedy production, classy-sounding country music with a humorous edge. He borrows from Dean Martin for "Old Bones," while "A Real Good Cigar" is a song about his love for women, Glenn Sutton's composition yet another potential signature tune for Burns' spoken word singing. There's a lot of advice from the wise old sage, Dolly Parton's twang of "Nickels and Dimes" blending perfectly with Tim Rice and Marvin Hamlisch's show tune swing of "The Only Way to Go." Delightful is the best description for the star of the Oh, God! films, proof here of the staying power of an old pro. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide
Yvonne Hodges (Vocals (Background)), Martin Katahn (?), Wilfred Lehmann (?), Thomas Brannon (Vocals (Background)), Charlie McCoy (?), John Catchings (Musician), Craig Nelson (?), Harold Bradley (Musician), Bob Moore (?), Chip Young (Musician), Samuel Terranova (?), Mike Psanos (Assistant), Gary VanOsdale (Musician), Dean Schachtel (Project Assistant), Pete Wade (?), Philip Forest (Vocals (Background)), Gil Wright (Vocals (Background)), Noah Kay (Project Assistant), Mike Psanos (Assistant Engineer), Gary Heery (Photography), Lennie Haight (Musician), Ray Edenton (Musician), Dennis Wilson (Vocals (Background)), Diane Tidwell (Vocals (Background)), Roy Christensen (Musician), Bill Justis (Conductor), Jim Rasfeld (Design), Carla Fredricks (Engineer), Denny Thomas (Assistant Engineer), Stuart Wax (Project Assistant), Charles Fach (Executive Producer), Aaron Victor (Project Assistant), Steve Pippin (Vocals (Background)), Jerry Kennedy (Musician), Trish Williams (Vocals (Background)), David McLees (Project Assistant), Sheldon Kurland (Musician), Carl Gorodetzky (Musician), Jerry Kennedy (Producer), Yehuda Remer (Project Assistant), Martha Jacobs (Rehearsal Accompanist), Dennis Wilson Quintet (Vocals (Background)), Byron Bach (Musician), Marvin Chantry (Musician), Brent King (Audio Engineer), Dennis Molchan (Musician), Summer Ray Brown (Project Assistant), Virginia Christensen (Musician), Rodger Morris (Musician), George Burns (Vocals), Stephanie Woolf (Musician), Bob Moore & His Orchestra (Musician), Shane Keister (Musician), Mary Francis (Design), Farrell Morris (Musician), Louis Dean Nunley (Vocals (Background)), Bill Justis (Arranger), Brent King (Engineer), Hal Lifson (Liner Notes), Hargus "Pig" Robbins (Musician), Phil Forrest (Vocals (Background)), D. Bergen White (Vocals (Background)), Donna McElroy (Vocals (Background)), Brent King (Mixing), Buddy Harman (Musician), MC Rather (Mastering), Chris Teal (Musician), Denny Thomas (Assistant), Craig Melone (Project Assistant), Salvatore Terranova (Musician)
