Charlie Rich

When Charlie Rich sings about being in love, the gentleness of his voice, the inexplicable sadness of his piano playing and the slight echo on everything can make even the most stable among us want to slit our wrists and write "I loved you" on the wall in blood. Behind Closed Doors is the best record ever that will make you wish you were dead and gone.

I welcome the title hit not just because it's richly deserved but because it makes love and marriage seem exciting enough to break out of Nashville. But the album is a typical Music Row mediocrity. Love and marriage is Rich's natural subject at this stage of his career (life, I mean), but to limit him to it is counterproductive--part of the excitement of the bond is what happens outside its circle, and I don't mean cheating. (Grade - B-)