Lost Classics? “Ask Me What I Am,” Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds’ star was shining very bright in 1973. He was nominated for Academy Award for his performance in the disturbing Deliverance, and he had a couple of more movies in the can (pun intended). Like most superstars with huge egos, Reynolds probably thought he could do anything. So why not make a record? The result is the painful Ask Me What I am.
My brother actually bought this collection at a used record shop as a joke, and we spent quite a bit of time listening to the tune “There’s A Slight Misunderstanding Between God and Man” and laughing our asses off. However, I don’t think Reynolds intended it to be a joke.
I think he fancies himself as a storyteller. “Childhood 1949” opens the record with a tale of the good old days gone sung by a man who sounds like he’s about to hang himself. Next is “Slow John Fairburn” where he tells us in a laughable Texas twang about some old douchebag in his tiny hometown. It just gets worse with “I Didn’t Shake the World Today,” and the Donny & Marie-infested “You Can’t Always Sing A Happy Song.” As Frank Barone would say “Holy Crap.”
Besides Reynolds inability to sing, the 11 songs were produced by Bobby Goldsboro, who had a big hit with the God-awful “Honey.” This combination is deadly and hilarious all at the same time. I have no idea how many people bought this piece of crap, but those who did also got a full length picture of Burt on the inside jacket in tight baby blue pants….….fabulous.
MP3: “There’s a Slight Misunderstanding Between God and Man”
30 Days Out 
June 25, 2008 at 10:54 am
I think there was a slight misunderstanding between Burt and reality! thanks for a morning laugh. He out Honey’ed Bobby Goldsboro on this one.
August 3, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I just bought this record today at a Habitat for Humanity construction discount store. I think it was 50 cents. Or maybe that was what the price was at the garage sale where it didn’t sell, written in Sharpie on the front cover, before it was “donated” to HFH. I haven’t listened to it yet, more out of embarrasment for what I’m expecting than anything. I bought it for the same reason your brother did. I looked at the cover and the first thing I said…out loud was “I don’t have to ‘ask you what you are’ Burt…the picture says it all. I have a fear of this album. The same way I feared the “Friday the 13th” movie poster at the Milaca Theater in 1980. I conquered that fear and shook with terror through the movie. I’m not sure I can do the same for my new old Burt record. Sit through it I mean, the shaking in terror I’m sure I could still manage.
September 23, 2010 at 12:06 am
Could someone re-upload the songs. I would love to hear them. Thanks.
May 2, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Ok, I purchased this as well yesterday and am currently sitting here listening to it for the first time while typing this. First, let me say that I collect vinyl, and whenever I’m browsing through a bin or somebody’s records that want to sell and I come across an album by Burt Reynolds, I buy it. I have to. It begs to be listened to. Secondly, I am 42, so I still remember growing up as a youngster in the seventies. That being said, I have to defend ol’ Burt here. It’s not as bad as you might think. I’m guessing that you have to be able to remember some of the music that was out at that time. It wasn’t all that you here on classic rock radio these days. There was another side of music back then that didn’t quite pass the test of time. So if you throw this in with those songs it holds it’s own. It’s definitely better than “Make My Day” by Clint Eastwood. Look that one up. Or how about Leonard Nimoy?