Genre: rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title:  Second Coming
Company: Mercury
Catalog: SRM-1-701
Year: 1974
Country/State: Alexandria, Louisiana
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG+
Comments: minor edge wear
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6093
Price: $20.00

As you tell from the bands he's worked with, singer Jerry LaCroix's quite a talented guy. That said, he's never managed to breakout on his own, essentially serving as kind of a 'hired gun' supporting the like of Edgar Winter and replacing better known singers in bands like Blood, Sweat and Tears (where he took over for David Clayton-Thomas) and Rare Earth (where he replaced Peter Rivera). LaCroix's own website describes him as a 'true road warrior'.

LaCroix released his second (and last) solo album in 1974. Co-produced by Kenner Kerner and Richie Wise, "Second Coming" was recorded in New York, surrounding LaCroix with an all star cast of studio players. Featuring a largely original set of material (there was one cover tune), the collection did a good job of showcasing LaCroix's vocal chops. Exemplified by pounding funk numbers like 'Mean Ole World' and 'Genesis' there was simply no denying he had one of the best blue-eyed soul voices being recorded in the mid-1970s. While the performances were all technically impressive, at times the results sounded a bit clinical; LaCroix sounding somewhat detached from his surroundings. Shame he could not have recorded this with the ex-White Trash cohorts who helped him record the debut collection.

- 'Mean Ole World' captured LaCroix at his funky best. A highly commercial slice of blue-eyed soul, this one would have made a dandy single. The song was made even better by the absence of any horns. In case anyone cared, former boss Edgar Winter provided the arp solo. rating: **** stars
- The lone outside cover tune, LaCroix's version of Bert Burns 'Are You Lonely for Me Baby' was okay, but sounded like he was trying a bit too hard to channel Van Morrison. rating: ** stars
- Opening up with a Stu Wood bass line that sounded like it had been swiped from a Sam and Dave song, 'You Girl' made it clearly LaCroix could hold his own in the old school soul genre. A blazing slice of Memphis-styled soul, Otis Redding would have been proud of the performance. The song was made even better by David Spinozza's blazing guitar solo. rating: *** stars
- 'The Die Has Been Cast' was a pretty ballad - perhaps a bit over-orchestrated, but one of his most restrained and impressive performances. rating: *** stars
- 'Genesis' found LaCroix returning to straight-ahead funk with suitably impressive results. Once again David Spinozza turned in a breath-taking solo, rating: **** stars
- Opening up with some bubbly clavinet, 'She Does It To Me' was probably the album's most radio-friendly number. Almost danceable for goodness sake ... rating: *** stars
- Johnny Winter's slide guitar provided the highlights on the bluesy 'Funny Boy'. The song wasn't bad, but just sounded a bit too cutesy with LaCroix simply trying too hard to sound slinky. rating: *** stars
- Normally a cutesy song like 'Drinkin' Daddy's Wine' wouldn't do anything for me. While it wasn't my favorite performance on the album, it wasn't half bad with LaCroix showing off a nice edge in his voice. The female backing vocalists were irritating though ... rating: *** stars
- Crap ... naturally the album had to include a stab at a big ballad. 'Silent In the Night' was certainly commercial with a nice hook, but it was also highly forgettable. rating: *** stars
- Yeah, the bells made it sound a bit like a Christmas carol, but 'You'll Always Be Mine' started out with some cheesy arp synthesizer (courtesy of Edgar Winter). I'm a pushover for the instrument so this mid-tempo number registered well with me. rating: *** stars

Unfortunately, in what proved to be a poor long term career decision, LaCroix essentially abandoned his solo career in order to replace David Clayton Thomas in Blood, Sweat and Tears. A planned tour to support his album was abandoned when he recorded "Mirror Image" with BS&T and then head out on a world tour in support of the collection. Needless to say, Mercury management lost all interest in LaCroix's career and the album instantly disappeared into cutout bins.

"Second Coming" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Mean Ole World (Jerry LaCroix) - 4:42
2.) Are You Lonely for Me Baby (Bert Burns) - 4:21
3.) You Girl (Jerry LaCroix) -3:43
4.) The Die Has Been Cast (Jerry LaCroix - W.D. LaCroix) - 3;30
5.) Genesis (Jerry LaCroix) - 3:49

(side 2)
1.) She Does It To Me (Jerry LaCroix) - 3:55
2.) Funny Boy (Jerry LaCroix) - 3:50
3.) Drinkin' Daddy's Wine (Jerry LaCroix) - 3:49
4.) Silent Is the Night (Jerry LaCroix) - 4:32
5.) You'll Always Be Mine (Jerry LaCroix) - 3:12


LaCroix has a small, but interesting website at:

http://jerrylacroix.com/