Visions/Expressions/ Portrait

Liner Note Author: John Tobler.
Recording information: Jack Clement Recording Studios, Nashville.
Photographers: John Donegan; Frank Laffitte; David Montgomery; Chris Forte .
BGO's 2013 three-fer combines three of his hit albums from the late '70s: 1976's Visions, 1978's Expressions, and 1979's Portrait. These are the records that arrived after Williams' first greatest-hits and, thanks to such hits as "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend," "Tulsa Time," "Lay Down Beside Me," "It Must Be Love," "Love Me Over Again," and "Good Ole Boys Like Me," they were among his most popular. If it's slightly difficult to discern differences between the three records -- there's a creeping sense of polish that increases as the records get newer, sometimes surfacing via bouncy near-novelties like the corny "Woman You Should Be in Movies" -- there's nevertheless something to be said for Williams' consistency. These three records prove Williams was reliable, delivering sweet ballads punctuated by amiable midtempo pop songs, and the occasional laid-back country rocker like "Tulsa Time" which, in this context, sound harder than they would on country radio. Through it all, Williams' voice is warm, rich, and resonant, lending life to music that is sometimes just a wee bit too cozy. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine