Until last month I only knew Charlie Rich as either a hair-piled-high rocker, on Sun Records, or as a somewhat soft-rock/country crossover, um, “silver fox” from the mid-’70s; I had no idea he recorded a proper blue-eye dancer!!
This side, written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter no less, he made for Hi Records in 1966. Until I found “Love Is After Me” I’d only ever heard “Mohair Sam,” Rich’s early ’60s chart attempt on Smash, so I had no idea his mid-’60s work for Hi was all so adventurous – just dig “Don’t Tear Me Down” and the funky “Can’t Get Right.” He was only on Hi for a two years, but, from what I’ve heard, it’s a solid run of singles.