Old Enough to Forget

This is the North American release of Himself that added his signature song "Alone Again (Naturally)" and changed up the cover art. Now Gilbert looked like Archie Andrews (without the ginger hair and freckles) rather than a street urchin from a Charlie Chaplin movie. If you didn't like the long-haired freaky people, here was Gilbert, a dapper figure in his letter sweater looking like he was just waiting to help an old lady cross the street to add to his collection of merit badges. This is a rather strange album. For me, the draw was "Alone Again (Naturally)" with his double-tracked vocal and Paul McCartney-infused delivery. The syrupy string arrangement hearkened back to another time, but it sure was a great song. Even now this is a piece of pop magic, and it brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye when I hear it - it makes me think about my dad. So I was more than a little curious when I got this from the bargain bin. It's not a throwaway bubble gum ...