Gates, Grills & Railings
Gates, Grills & Railings is the nineteenth studio album by American singer Bobby Vee, released in March 1969 by Liberty Records. His final album for the label, it features one single, " Someone to Love Me". Dallas Smith arranged and produced the album.
It features originals and covers such as "One", "Younger Generation", and the early recordings of "I Just Can't Help Believing". It also includes songs by John Sebastian, Harry Nilsson, David Gates, and Mark Marvin, along with a number of self-penned songs.
Vee also covers Cliff Richard's album track "London's Not Too Far"; Marvin was the lead guitarist of Richard's backing band the Shadows.
The album was released on compact disc by Beat Goes On on August 7, 2006 as tracks 1 through 12 on a pairing of two albums on one CD with tracks 13 through 23 consisting of Vee's 1972 album under His Birth Name Robert Thomas Velline, Nothin' Like a Sunny Day.
Singles
" Someone to Love Me" made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 28, 1968, eventually spending one week at number 98 during its three-week stay, number 92 on the Cashbox singles chart, and number 84 in Canada. This marked Vee's last album to featured a charting single.Reception
Billboard selected the album for a "Pop Special Merit" review, and stated that "an attractive foldout cover should help make it a commercial success."Cashbox called it "a change of pace album", and stated that Vee "finds the usually teen-oriented songster performing in a slightly heavier vein."
Record World referred to as "soft, thoughtful album" and notes "The recurring themes are love, loss of love, youth, change."
The Honolulu Advertiser believed that he "probes the richly sensuous songs of the times".
The Missoulian stated it that "has nothing to do with railroads. It used to be that singing groups copped crazy names but albums decided to move in on the action."
Charts
Singles| Year | Single | Chart | Peak |
| 1968 | " Someone to Love Me" | US Billboard Hot 100 | 98 |
| 1968 | " Someone to Love Me" | US Cash Box | 92 |
| 1968 | " Someone to Love Me" | Canada Top Singles | 84 |