Portrait Gallery is the fifth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1975.

Portrait Gallery
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 27, 1975
RecordedConnecticut Recording Studio, Bridgeport, Connecticut
GenrePop/rock
Length47:42
LabelElektra
ProducerPaul Leka
Harry Chapin chronology
Verities & Balderdash
(1974)
Portrait Gallery
(1975)
Greatest Stories Live
(1976)
Singles from Portrait Gallery
  1. "Dreams Go By"
    Released: September 1975
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rolling Stone[2]

History

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An early version of "Someone Keeps Calling My Name", done in a folk-rock vein reminiscent of The Byrds, appeared on the obscure 1966 album Chapin recorded with his brothers, Chapin Music!. The main guitar riff (and entire arrangement) in this version is strikingly similar to The Blue Things' equally obscure 1966 track "Doll House."[citation needed] Another version of the song was recorded for the 1972 album Sniper and Other Love Songs under the title of "City Sweet", but didn't make the final cut. It was later released in 2004 on the Heads & Tales / Sniper & Other Love Songs CD compilation.

The album artwork was designed and illustrated by Milton Glaser.

Record World said the single "Tangled Up Puppet "shows the lyricist at his incisive best."[3]

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Dreams Go By"4:46
2."Tangled Up Puppet (Harry Chapin/Sandy Chapin)"3:45
3."Star Tripper"4:19
4."Babysitter"4:36
5."Someone Keeps Calling My Name"6:30
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."The Rock"4:16
2."Sandy"2:48
3."Dirt Gets Under the Fingernails"3:48
4."Bummer"9:55
5."Stop Singing These Sad Songs"2:59

Personnel

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Charts

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Year Chart Position
1975 Billboard 200 53
Australian (Kent Music Report)[4] 88

References

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  1. ^ Chrispell, James. Portrait Gallery at AllMusic
  2. ^ Rolling Stone review
  3. ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. November 8, 1975. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 59. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.