Just Like Medicine [Vinyl Edition]

by A.J. Croce

Overview

Following a successful demo session with producer Dan Penn, A.J. Croce decided to make Just Like Medicine -- the singer/songwriter's ninth record -- his first full-fledged soul album. Croce and Penn assembled a world-class crew of musicians -- Steve Cropper and Vince Gill are the superstar cameos but the entire band comprises pros -- and then settled into a well-worn groove that recalls the supple Memphis soul of the '60s. Much of the pleasure of Just Like Medicine lies in its sheer sonics: it's smooth and soulful, evoking the past but fleet enough to feel fresh. Listen long enough, though, and the variety within Croce's ten songs becomes apparent. He opens proceedings with the swampy R&B of "Gotta Get Outta My Head," which gives way to the sprightly beat of "The Heart That Makes Me Whole," and by the time the tight half-hour wraps up with the open-ended "The Roads," he's touched upon simmering ballads ("I Couldn't Stop") and nimble, rolling New Orleans-inspired pop ("Full Up"). Croce also unearths the fine "Name of the Game," a previously unrecorded song by his father, Jim, but for as good as it is, it's ultimately a grace note on an album that's among his very finest. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	08/11/2017
Label:	Compass
UPC:	0766397469126
Rank:	25471

Tracks

1. Gotta Get Outta My Head
2. The Heart That Makes Me Whole
3. Name of the Game
4. Cures Just Like Medicine
5. Move On
6. The Other Side of Love
7. Full Up
8. I Couldn't Stop
9. Hold You
10. The Roads

Album Credits

Performance Credits

A.J. Croce   Primary Artist,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Percussion
Steve Herrmann   Horn
Bryan Owings   Percussion,Drums
Colin Linden   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Charles Rose   Horn
Vince Gill   Featured Artist,Guitar (Acoustic)
David Hood   Bass
Doug Moffet   Horn
Dan Penn   Vocals (Background)
Steve Cropper   Guitar
Jeff Taylor   Accordion

Technical Credits

Charles Rose   Horn Arrangements
David Wild   Liner Notes
Peter Doell   Mastering
A.J. Croce   Composer
Dan Penn   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Liner Notes
Leon Russell   Composer
Jim Croce   Composer
Robert Hakalski   Layout Design
John Simon   Horn Arrangements
Ron Laury   Mixing,Engineer
Karan Simpson   Photography
Darren Grealish   Cover Art
Shelly Yakus   Mastering