El Mirage (album)

El Mirage is the sixth album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb, released in May 1977 by Atlantic Records. This was the second album for which Webb handed production and arrangement duties on to another person, George Martin, producer of the Beatles. The album is notable for containing "The Highwayman", a song that later provided both the name and first hit for the Highwaymen, a country supergroup comprising Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson. Jennings also recorded the track "If You See Me Getting Smaller" for his album Ol Waylon (1977).[1] The cover was photographed at El Mirage Lake, Mojave Desert, California.[2]

El Mirage
Studio album by Jimmy Webb
Released	May 1977
Recorded	1977
Studio	Cherokee Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre	Pop
Length	39:15
Label	Atlantic
Producer	George Martin
Jimmy Webb chronology
Land's End (1974) El Mirage (1977) Angel Heart (1982)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Critical response

In his review for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann called the album "his most polished effort yet as a performer".[1] Ruhlmann noted the "lush tracks full of tasty playing and warm string charts", and continued:

Webb brought several typically strong compositions, beginning with the time-spanning saga "The Highwayman" ... and including the autobiographical "If You See Me Getting Smaller I'm Leaving" (released simultaneously by Jennings), about life on the road as a struggling performer, and "Christiaan, No," a heartfelt message from a parent to a child that actually had been introduced on record the previous year by Glen Campbell. Also featured was the sad, lovely ballad "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress," already recorded by Campbell, Joe Cocker and Judy Collins. The album's second side was somewhat weaker than the first, including an unnecessary remake of "P.F. Sloan", which had appeared on Webb's debut solo album in 1970; a nod to faithful backup guitarist Fred Tackett in a recording of his song "Dance to the Radio"; and a concluding instrumental, "Skylark (A Meditation)." But El Mirage was an album crafted to reshape Webb's image as a performer and relaunch his performing career.[1]

The AllMusic website gave the album four and a half out of five stars.[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jimmy Webb, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Highwayman"		3:51
2.	"If You See Me Getting Smaller I'm Leaving"		3:53
3.	"Mixed-Up Guy"		3:40
4.	"Christiaan, No"		3:07
5.	"Moment in a Shadow"		3:39
6.	"Sugarbird"		3:25
7.	"Where the Universes Are"		3:34
8.	"P.F. Sloan"		4:17
9.	"Dance to the Radio"	Fred Tackett	3:06
10.	"The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress"		3:06
11.	"Skylark (A Meditation)"	Jimmy Webb, Paul A. Skylar	3:37
Total length:			39:15

Personnel

Music Jimmy Webb – vocals, keyboards George Martin – arranger, conductor, keyboards, synthesizer David Paich – keyboards, synthesizer Fred Tackett – guitar Dean Parks – guitar Lowell George – slide guitar Herb Pedersen – banjo, 12-string guitar, background vocals Harry Bluestone – concertmaster David Hungate – bass Larry Knechtel – bass Dee Murray – bass Harvey Mason – percussion Nigel Olsson – drums Jim Gordon – drums Kenny Loggins – vocals Billy Davis - vocals George Hawkins – vocals Sherlie Matthews – background vocals Susan Webb – background vocals Clydie King – background vocals

Production George Martin – producer John H.R. Mills – engineer John Mills – engineer George Tutko – engineer Bob Fisher – mastering Bob Defrin – art direction Steve Smith – photography Henry Diltz – cover photograph Richie Unterberger – liner notes

References

1. Ruhlmann, William. "El Mirage". AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
2. http://www.musicalmaps.com.au/search/label/elmiragejimmywebb