Song:So Nice To Be With You
Album:Nice To Be With You: All Time Greatest Performances
Gallery scored a top five hit in 1972 with Nice To Be With You. Though they are perceived as a one hit wonder, they had a couple of other hits so they technically aren't one hit wonders. But most fans will only remember Nice To Be With You. The lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of Gallery was Jim Gold. He was born Jan. 12, 1947 in Detroit. He started writing songs and playing guitar as a teen. In 1971, Gold was working as a welder during the day and playing clubs at night. He was spotted by Funk Brothers guitarist Dennis Coffey and was signed to Sussex Records which was also the home of Bill Withers. Gold wrote Nice To Be With You and Coffey produced the record. It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gold thought he was a solo artist. But Sussex wanted a band and gave the act the name Gallery. Gold formed a band and went out on tour. They scored two more top 30 hits with a cover of the Mac Davis song I Believe In You and Big City Miss Ruth Ann. Gallery recorded a second album Gallery Featuring Jim Gold that didn't sell. Sussex ran into financial problems after Bill Withers won a lawsuit for back royalties. They closed in 1976 and that was the end of Gallery. This comp from Fuel 2000 has most of the two albums. When Sussex owner Clarence Avant started his new label Tabu, Gold recorded a couple of solo albums in the late 70s. He hasn't recorded since then but he still plays locally in Detroit. And I'm sure he gets plenty of royalty cheques for Nice To Be With You. Here's Gallery performing Nice To Be With You 1972.
No comments:
Post a Comment