Complete collection of '60s Brit-influenced baroque-folk-roc
hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 12/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Rev-Ola's 29-track collection pulls together everything that was released by this Southern California band, along with the solo LP that group leader Emitt Rhodes waxed before heading off to record for Dunhill. This includes the whole of the band's eponymous 1967 LP (tracks 1-12), the 1971 Emitt Rhodes LP "The American Dream" (tracks 13-24), and five A- and B-sides from singles. For good measure, the CD includes a bonus track of the band playing the Beach Boys' "California Girls" with their A&M label head Herb Alpert on trumpet.
The debut album shows the band to have merged its West Coast background (Palace Guard, Leaves, Grass Roots) with a substantial British Invasion influence (Beatles, Badfinger, Zombies). There's also a helping of the ornate baroque-rock brought to the charts by Michael Brown and the Left Banke. These influences stayed with Rhodes as the band members peeled off and left him to record solo sides with session players from the Wrecking Crew. Unsurprisingly, the later sides show influence of later Beatles work - particularly the Magical Mystery Tour era Paul McCartney.
Nothing you can do or say, when the band begins to play...
Paul '66 | Stockton, ca United States | 07/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is so long overdue!!! I have been waiting decades for a definitive Merry Go Round collection. Rev-Ola, a fantastic reissue outfit from the UK, has done a class job here. Great sound, complete track listing (29 songs plus a hidden track, historical, just check the liner notes to avoid confusion!) and excellent notes and photos. The core of this collection are the 14 songs that Rhino had issued in 1985 on LP, including the hits Live and You're a Very Lovely Woman, as well as the lesser known but exquisite Listen, Listen, On Your Way Out and the signature tune Come Ride, Come Ride, which in my opinion is a masterpiece of baroque pop psychedlia. There are some duff tracks, but this is fine considering the ages of the group members, and the rushed nature of their recordings. An incredible release, and highly recommeded to fans of great 60s pop, think Beatles, Left Banke and Zombies... not to mention Three O'Clock and Bangles!!!"
A Happy Accident for me: The Merry-Go-Round!
Robert Alan Bryan | Waldorf, Maryland USA | 07/14/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I discovered this band totally by accident either while surfing here at amazon or on allmusic.com. I had never heard of them.
Not a word. Then I read the review on allmusic and heard the 30 second samples.
Amazing! How did this get ignored back in 1967 or 1968?
It's very very good. Very Beatle-esque but not in a bad way.
It's also a tad folky or Byrds-ish which is a plus!
Emmitt Rhodes was born in Hawthorne, CA according to allmusic.com. While I've heard British groups sound American this is the most British I've ever heard an American Group sound.
Track 2 features backwards and sped up guitars. Track 12 features fuzzed out guitars.
Remember that Utopia album, Deface The Music? It was Todd Rundgren doing the Beatles.
Remember the Rutles and how Beatles-like they sounded?
This band beats both of them hands down. Of course they have an advantage. They're not writing pun-filled opposite titled tracks like Utopia and the Rutles did.
I hear elements of folk: think Peter, Paul and Mary but in a real good way. There's California Pop: imagine the best Mamas and Papas tracks but just the guys on vocals.
The first 12 tracks represent the one album The Merry-Go-Round recorded. The next batch is an Emmitt Rhodes solo album with session men.
The tone of the music changes from the Beatle-esque pop to a collage of styles but Mr. Rhodes song writing is very solid.
Track 14 reminds me of Eric Carmen. Track 18 starts out like a lost Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds a-side.
Tracks 26-29 are from Merry-Go Round singles and "Listen, Listen" really rocks out. The guitars really ring loud. I love this song.
As a hidden bonus during track 29 the band starts doing "California Girls" [not Good Vibrations] with Herb Alpert on trumpet at 2:35 in.
None of this is bad.
You will listen to this over and over. It's a repeat disc.
A rare find these days.
I haven't described every song. I want you to discover them on your own. Enjoy.
This is a great re-issue of a lost treasure.
"
Early Emitt Rhodes!
Morten Vindberg | Denmark | 10/17/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Merry-Go-Round, led by singer and songwriter Emitt Rhodes, only achieved to release one album. This album "Live-You're a Very Lovely Woman", named from their first AM single released in 1967, has until recently been fairly easy to find at second-hand record stores. The band released a couple of more singles during their short lifespan. They officially disbanded in 1969, but the band had been in ruins months before, due to internal problems . Some of these AM Records recordings were in fact Emitt solo projects, and when Rhodes left for Dunhill Records in 1969-70, AM Records decided to release these later Merry-Go-Round recordings in Rhodes' name as "The American Dream". This obviously did not help Rhodes' solo career that two albums appeared almost simultaniously on the market bearing his name. He did have a minor hit with his first Dunhill single "Long Time No See", though. A paradox it is that both records are in fact pretty outstanding; especially his first Dunhill album is a classic. Rhodes only released 3 albums before he stopped his recording career.
The Merry-Go-Round album is a typical 1960's release, obviously greatly inspired by the Beatles, but still very American in sound - a bit like Buffalo Springfield or early Jefferson Airplane. It contains some great songs like "Time Will Show the Wiser" ( covered by Fairport Convention on their 1967 album ), "On Your Way Out", "Had to Run Around", "Gonna Leave You Alone" and the single-tracks "Live" and "You're a Very Lovely Woman".
During 1967-68 Rhodes' songwriting and singing style became even more Beatles-influenced and these songs sound very much like The Beatles "Magical Mystery Tour" recordings. He even sings with a British accent. For fans of the Beatles ( especially McCartney ), Badfinger or Left Banke this CD release is highly recommended. It contains the complete AM Records releases + a few previously unreleased tracks. Enjoy tracks like "Saturday Night", "Man He Was", "Pardon Me" and "Till the Day After" - and if you feel like more of the same, look out for Rhodes solo-releases."
Emitt Rhodes shines early in career
T. H. Hammond | Australia | 11/12/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It is so easy to be disappointed when tracking down a singer or group but "Listen, Listen: The Definitive Collection" delivers big time! File under Emitt Rhodes and truly appreciate the genius of the man who is one of the "great unsung talents" of the past 40 years (you can put Dwight Twilley right alongside him). I came to this compilation through the Emitt Rhodes solo albums on Dunhill, and didn't know what to expect. After all, The Merry-Go-Round featured a teenage Emitt early in his career. Apart from the catchy minor 1967 hit "Live" (covered note-for-note nearly twenty years later by The Bangles), what else did he have to offer? The answer is - plenty. Uncharacteristically for an album from a new group at the time, A&M allowed The Merry-Go-Round to record entirely original material! And Emitt wrote ten of the twelve tracks from their self-titled album, sharing co-writing credit on another. The album is included in its entirely in this collection. And the good news - no the great news - is the songs are consistently strong. And they grow on you with each playing. In addition, "The Definitive Collection" has all the tracks off Emitt's last album for A&M "The American Dream" (recorded before he made the move to Dunhill and his self-titled 1970 "Emitt Rhodes" masterwork). Also included are additional singles from The Merry-Go-Round - standouts like "Listen, Listen" and "She Laughed Loud". In fact, the whole package is so strong (yes, there are one or two less successful tracks) that it leaves you thinking about how music history might have played out differently.