Mark Winkler: “I’m With You” (2019) CD Review

Mark Winkler is a talented vocalist and lyricist, many of his songs having been recorded by other artists as well as appearing on his own albums. However, his latest release, I’m With You, is a tribute to songwriter Bobby Troup. Mark certainly had quite a lot of excellent material to choose from when putting together the track list for this album, for Bobby Troup wrote many beloved songs, including “Route 66” and “The Girl Can’t Help It” (the latter of which was featured in John Waters’ Pink Flamingos). I’m With You is actually Mark Winkler’s second album of Bobby Troup songs. The first, Sings Bobby Troup, came out more than fifteen years ago. Interestingly, Mark Winkler here chooses to include a few of the tracks from that earlier album, such as “Three Bears” and “Hungry Man.” Joining him on the new tracks are Rich Eames on piano, Gabe Davis on bass, Dave Tull on drums, and Grant Geissman on guitar. Those musicians also backed him on his previous release, Eastern Standard Time, which was a joint effort by Mark Winkler and Cheryl Bentyne.

I’m With You opens with a cool rendition of “Route 66,” one of Bobby Troup’s most famous compositions. It has been covered by a tremendous amount of artists with a wide range of styles. This rendition has a wonderful vocal performance by Mark Winkler, with some interesting phrasing (I really like the way he delivers the lines “Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty,” for example). There is also a seriously good instrumental section featuring some excellent work on guitar. That’s followed by a smooth, somewhat cheerful version of “Please Belong To Me.” The way Mark sings it, with an optimistic sound, you feel he will certainly find that right someone. The piano helps to drive the track, and there are also some excellent touches on bass. Then halfway through, we are treated to a delicious lead on saxophone by Ricky Woodard.

“Triskaidekaphobia” is a delight. This rendition is appropriately playful, particularly in Mark’s vocal approach. He is clearly having a great time with this one, and as a result it is a fun track. This track also features a wonderful bass line, and even includes some finger snaps. So there.  People have a lot of fears and phobias, some of them quite strange, including triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13. I think it absurd when hotels and other buildings skip floor 13. All that means is that the fourteenth floor is actually floor 13. Interestingly, this disc has but twelve tracks. Hmm…

“I’m With You,” the disc’s title track, is another fun one. Mark Winkler delivers a lively rendition. I particularly dig the drums on this one. And Jamieson Trotter adds some great stuff on organ. Trotter also arranged this one. “Who needs the Cadillacs/The mink coats, the income tax/But, baby, I’m with you.” “I’m With You” was written by Bobby Troup and Johnny Mercer. Mark Winkler then changes gears with “It Happened Once Before,” a slower, romantic number, Mark Winkler’s passionate vocals supported just by piano. That’s Jon Mayer on piano on this track. “If I were only sure/You’d love me more and more/Not less and less/The way it happened once before.” “Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring” is a pretty number, here Mark’s voice being supported just by guitar. Anthony Wilson plays guitar on this one.

“Hungry Man” is another playful number, featuring an energetic vocal delivery, with Mark Winkler belting out some of the lines. Like “Route 66,” it mentions different cities of this country, but this time each place is mentioned in relation to the specific food you can get there. There is some wonderful work on keys. This is one of the tracks from Mark Winkler’s earlier Bobby Troup tribute album, and the band is made up of Jon Mayer on piano, Kevin Axt on bass, Roy McCurdy on drums, and Bob Sheppard on saxophone. Mark ends this track with the line “Feed me, baby, feed me,” reminding me of the musical version of The Little Shop Of Horrors. As you might guess from the title of “Snootie Little Cutie,” this one is also playful. It features Ann Patterson on flute, plus some great stuff on drums. We then return to food with “Lemon Twist.” Mark delivers another enjoyable vocal performance on this track, and Joe Bagg joins him organ. Mark Ferber plays drums on this one. The disc concludes with another version of “Hungry Man,” this one with different lyrics written by Mark Winkler, this set of lyrics related to Halloween, which is without question the best holiday. So you can add this fun track to your holiday play list. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “I got this call from my friend Frankie/Yes, Frankenstein, he sure is cranky/His cafe is gonna close/They say he’s serving toes/I’m not so hungry, man.” It ends with Mark singing, “Don’t feed me, baby, don’t feed me,” which doesn’t remind me of Little Shop Of Horrors at all.

CD Track List

1. Route 66
2. Please Belong To Me
3. Triskaidekaphobia
4. I’m With You
5. It Happened Once Before
6. Three Bears
7. Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
8. Hungry Man
9. In No Time
10. Snootie Little Cutie
11. Lemon Twist
12. Hungry Man (Halloween Version)

I’m With You was released on August 9, 2019 on Cafe Pacific Records.