Tuesday, April 30, 1991

The Williams Brothers self-titled album released

The Williams Brothers

The Williams Brothers


Released: April 30, 1991


Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU


Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK)


Genre: folk rock/adult alternative


Tracks:

Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts.

  1. People Are People [4:19]
  2. Strings [0:11]
  3. Can’t Cry Hard Enough(Etzioni/D. Williams) [3:12] (10/3/91, 42 US, 39 CB, 24 RR, 11 AC, 43 CN)
  4. Happy Man [4:03]
  5. It’s a Wonderful Life [3:42] (6/25/92, --)
  6. Miss This World (Etzioni) [2:53]
  7. Give It All Up for You (A. Williams/D. Williams/V. Williams) [3:38]
  8. The Family Room [4:47]
  9. Shimmering (Etzioni/A.Williams/D. Williams) [3:58]
  10. The Big Machine (Stewart/A. Williams) [4:23]
  11. Everybody Gets a Second Chance [4:48]

Songs written by Andrew and David Williams unless noted otherwise.


Total Running Time: 39:54

Rating:

4.190 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)


Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album:

Unfortunately for the Williams brothers, they are more likely to be known, if remembered at all, as the nephews of famous singer Andy Williams. They might even be remembered for their guest appearance on an episode of The Partridge Family or their subsequent minor success as teen idols.

That’s a shame, because this album clearly separated the twins from the crooning style of their uncle as well as the teen idol pop they tried to create in the ‘70s. Their self-titled sophomore album is marked by “acoustic guitar, light rock-based tunes featuring smooth harmonies, uncluttered instrumentation, and thought-provoking lyricism.” AMG

The duo mined a similar territory as the likes of fellow underrated acts like Crowded House, but unlike that band, couldn’t even eke out a top 40 pop hit in their recording career despite having every bit as much pop sensibility. The closest the brothers came was the achingly beautiful Can't Cry Hard Enough, which stalled at #42.

It’s hard to understand why songs like the bouncy It’s a Wonderful Life or the lovely Miss This World couldn’t find an audience with adults seeking out songs with well-crafted pop hooks that weren’t being played to the point of exhaustion for the teen market. Chalk it up to marketing and being at the right place at the right time.

Resources and Related Links:


Other Related DMDB Pages:


First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 9/3/2021.

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