Hangin' Around the Observatory (1974)

About this title: John Hiatt mixed pop, folk, rock, R&B, country, and gospel on his debut album, immediately becoming an uncategorizable (and thus uncommercial) entity. Although this album was cut in Nashville, it owes more to Van Morrison than it does to Conway Twitty, and like the Belfast bluesman, Indianian Hiatt came to his influences somewhat secondhand, however sincerely he evoked them. What he really was, of course, was a singer/songwriter, albeit not in a style easily recognizable in 1974. The title indicates his position: Hiatt's songs show him an acute observer. But the performances require him to ... read more

Tracks:

1. Maybe Baby, Say You Do [Hiatt]
2. Whistles in My Ears [Hiatt]
3. Sure as I'm Sittin' Here [Hiatt]
4. Rose [Hiatt]
5. Hangin' Around the Observatory [Hiatt]
6. Full Moon [Hiatt]
7. Wild-Eyed Gypsies [Hiatt]
8. It's All Right With Me [Hiatt]
9. Little Blue Song for You [Hiatt]
10. Ocean [Hiatt]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.