Terri Gibbs - Over Easy

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Over Easy, the fourth studio album from American country singer Terri Gibbs. This 1983 release, her final non-compilation one on the MCA record label, went to number 32 on the US Billboard Country Album chart.


Side one begins with “Anybody Else’s Heart But Mine”. As the first single from the album, it went to number 17 on both the US Billboard Country and the Canadian Country charts.

“Steal Away” was first recorded by American R&B singer Jimmy Hughes in 1964; his version went to number 17 on the US Billboard chart. Gibbs’ cover starts off with a slow rhythm which is fitting for this one about slipping away to meet up with a secret lover.

“I Can’t Resist” is next. Roseanne Cash recorded a version a few years earlier on her 1981 album Seven Year Ache.

“Tell Mama” was co-written by Clarence Carter and recorded by Etta James. Gibbs’ version was released as the second single from the album, reaching number 65 on the US Billboard Country chart and number 28 on the Canadian Country chart. I like the energy of this one; it is very bouncy and sassy, and Gibbs gets very soulful in her vocal delivery.

“Bells” is a hauntingly moving ballad about a young woman who loses her first love to another.

Side two begins with the title track “Over Easy”, a song about getting over someone after a break up. Musically, the song reminded me of her earlier hit “Somebody’s Knocking”.

Roger Miller wrote the next track “I Just Don’t Love You, That’s All”.

“Every Home Should Have One”, written by Dominic Bugatti and Frank Musker, was first recorded in 1981 by Patti Austin on the album of the same name. Gibbs does her take on it here on this song about how every home should have a loving woman.

“You’re Going Out of My Mind” was written by Wayland Holyfield and John McBee. Gibbs recorded it here, but T.G. Sheppard later had a top 10 country hit with it in 1985.

The last track on the record, “What A Night”, was also the B-side to the first single.

As when I reviewed her 1982 album Some Days It Rains All Night Long (click here for that review), the tracks from Over Easy were equally difficult to locate for a listen. Those that I did manage to find in the recesses of the Internet were enjoyable listens. If you are into vinyl, I saw quite a number of copies (some even sealed) up for sale on eBay.