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Time - 27:44
In 1972, Tom released a self-titled album, as would his brother three years later. This album is a bit short; if it and Excalibur were put in print again, the two albums could fit onto one CD. The two songs I like best from this album are "Train to Nowhere" and the drumless "My Pretty Baby."
Legend of Alcatraz (2:35) - In this moderate-tempoed song, an Indian prophet sees golden bridges, a black cloud in the sky, and birds in a circle in the water. He goes to his people and tells them of his vision, but they don't believe him.
Lady of Fatima (4:27) - The third beat of each measure is accented. A tambourine plays along with the drums. The Lady of Fatima is the woman to whom the narrator speaks in the first and fourth verses; in the second verse it's Lady of Electra; and in the third verse it's Lady of the Seasons.
Beauty Is Under the Skin (2:29) - The title of this swing-tempoed song is the flip-side of the title of a Temptations song, "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep." But the theme is the same: the narrator believes that personality is more important than looks.
Wandering - (2:28) - This song has a slow, 3/4 tempo. A guitar solo fills the first 9 seconds. The narrator is probably wandering mentally rather than physically.
My Pretty Baby - (2:21) - The only instrument in this song is a guitar. Like "Video Girl" and "Woman of the Year" (see my Sidekicks review), this is about what the narrator's girlfriend does that reinforces his love for her.
Train to Nowhere (3:35) - The tempo is slow but upbeat. The drums sound out the eighth beats as well as the quarter beats. The second and fourth quarter beats are accented. Good clarinet and piano, too. The train is moving, but to no particular destination; the narrator wants to take this cruise to escape some stressful situation and maintain his sanity.
Everyman (2:15) - Studio chatter fills the first 5 seconds. Just like in the old fable, Everyman personifies all humankind. He makes every move knowing it may be his last. My favorite part of this song is the harmonica instrumental.
The Me Song (2:27) - This song fades in at the start and out at the end. The narrator wants to do nothing except "be me, me, me, me."
Cast the First Stone (2:09) - This song satirizes the Biblical saying, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." In the case of the Bible, the object of the stone-casting was a woman who got pregnant out of wedlock. But in this case, at whom or what is the narrator telling the saint to throw the first stone?
Here Stands the Clown (2:58) - In the first verse, here stands the clown; in the second verse, here stands the fool; and in the third verse, here stands the man. The narrator is all three. Like "The Me Song," this song starts by fading in and ends by fading out. Somehow this song seems shorter than it is.
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