Not covers; not parodies. But, more than capable rockers taking their fandom of Brian Wilson and his Hawthorne, California bros and creating their own sun-drenched beach frenzy of girlz, carz & fun!🌞
Super toons, Dave....thanks! Certainly familiar with Flash. A vague memory seems to recall hearing about Ol '55, but not hearing anything. I like both songs, preferring, slightly, "Summer's NIght."
I had the "Sons of the Beaches" LP back in the day (1975). Of course, that album's first song is "Summer Means Fun" (which I had forgotten they'd done). Even had I remembered, I think I woulda still included Bruce & Terry's. I believe, around '73, The Legendary Masked Surfers also did "SMF"--The LMS was Dean Torrance and Johnston with Terry Melcher producing...and, as I recall, they did "Summer Means Fun."
As I think I mentioned elsewhere here (and longtime readers know the story!), I sold my 2,000 LP collection on eBay at the turn of the century! So, I rely, now, on simply the memory of my collection's pieces! I looked up that Flash album (not recalling Johnston's production credit), and indeed, the album was produced (and arranged) by Toxey French.
What album, produced by Johnston, might you have been thinking of? That same year, Bruce (along with David) produced David Cassidy's first post-Partridge album for RCA, an album well-represented and covered here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/in-a-houston-penthouse-with-david
You're right about the Paley Bros (Hi, Jonathan!---a Facebook friend)! I knew I'd forget many, and fellow readers have reminded me of several of those "many"! I actually dropped the needle on their debut for this piece, but nothing flew off the grooves for me for this Playlist.
Earle Mankey produced that album; he was guitarist on the first couple of Sparks albums, and became a busy engineer and producer (mainly for several power pop bands, late '70s/early '80s).
In fact, he engineered a couple of late '70s Beach Boys albums, "Love You," and "The M.I.U. Album." He also engineered my former junior high girlfriend, Lisa Hartman's debut album (produced by Jeff Barry) on Kirshner/CBS Records in 1976! That story's here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/video-to-vinyl-1976-lisa-hartman
Couple of great tracks on that Flash Cadillac album are 'Time Will Tell' - although it borrows maybe a bit too much from 'I Can Hear Music' - and 'Rock'n'Roll Menace'.
Finally getting around to this, Dave.....thanks! Beautiful track, "Time Will Tell," written by founding Flash keyboardist, Kris Moe---I'll let him answer to Spector/Greenwich/Barry for his mirroring, a bit, "I Can Hear Music"! One could certainly cop from a worse song! Wonderful harmony arrangements, and its ending, too, would make for a closing track on the Playlist, which is where I'll put it!
"Menace" is good, too (another Moe composition), but "Time Will Tell" is far more evocative and a better fit on the Playlist, IMO! I can tell, although I had it in '75, I clearly didn't listen to it with the frequency it deserves! There were so many records pulling, it seems, for my attention! Not complaining, mind you!!😁But, being 20 and in radio, it seems the sounds were endless! Thanks again, Dave for these!
Hi Brad, yeah, don't where I got that false Bruce fact from - always had that in my mind, so good to be corrected. The Paley Bros anthology CD that Real Gone put out about a decade or so ago has vastly superior mixes (assumedly remixes?) of the album, and about an album's worth of extras, many of which are better than most of the album material. And Brian guests on backing vocals on a couple of tracks. Of course Andy went on to have a long and close musical relationship with Brian too. Fantastic blog Brad!
I'll have to check out that Paley anth. I know they recorded with Spector (which they hated). I wonder if that made it onto that CD. Make sure, Dave, you check out our recent dive into the life and career of Tandyn Almer, good friend of Brian's, and composer of "Along Comes Mary," as well as co-writes on 2 BB songs!
There's precious little on the 'net about Almer, so I'd like to think we've composed the definitive all-encompassing Tandyn post online (even so far as uncovering family members and former co-workers)! It's here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/toytown-psychedelia-songwriter-tandyn
Dig your perspective and input, Dave....please don't be a stranger! You're welcome behind the FR&B velvet rope line anytime!😁👍
On the Paleys CD, check out the incredible 'Boomerang', with Brian on bv's, and the pre-album single 'Rendezvous', a tune which dates back to Andy's earlier band the Sidewinders, and which, with a great Jimmy Iovine production, is very Wilson/Spector. And yep, the CD closes out with 'Baby, Let's Stick Together' recorded at Gold Star in '78 with Spector.
You're making me so nostalgic about my long-departed record collection! That Flash Cadillac "Beaches" album I used to have, and now the Sidewinders, which I had forgotten all about! Before I looked it up, I remembered it was on RCA. I remembered Andy was on it, though!
They're (and John) are probably a band I should dedicate an article on! I'd love to see what John's been up to in the past half-century!
The Paleys' "Boomerang" must be on their compilation. I don't have that, and I can't find it on Spotify. I know Brian and the bros have worked together. The Sidewinders' "Rendezvous" (written by Andy and 'Winders guitarist Eric Rosenfeld) sounds eerily similar (the chorus, anyway) to The Hudson Bros.' "Rendezvous" a couple years later. But, THAT one was written by Mark, Bill, and Brett Hudson, with Bruce Johnston!
Hudson Bros. (1975): I have it as a YT video in this article.
As for the Spector "Baby," I don't think I've ever heard that....Just now heard it on a YT vid! As a commenter on the vid said, the '78 or '79 recording may be the last session the Wrecking Crew played on before Gold Star burned down.
Interesting: A song written by Jeff Barry and Spector, but no Ellie Greenwich. I realize she and Jeff hadn't been married since the '60s, so I'm guessing that was a rather recent Barry/Spector collab (late '70s).
Thanks Brad. I was unaware of Tandyn's stuff until hearing him on your playlist so already started digging but looking forward to reading your deep dig. All the best, Dave
I neglected to mention a Jeff Barry reference when I responded to your "Time Will Tell" track (now beautifully wrapping up our Playlist at #20)! Singer/songwriter/guitarist, Stephen Michael Schwartz (an album for RCA Records in 1974 when he was 20) has written 20 articles for FR&B, all in his own words, many with exclusive, never-before-seen photos, and even unheard song demos!
In the late '70s, Stephen wrote several songs with Jeff Barry, and even recorded some fully-produced demos with him! Here's one of those Barry co-writes, with the never-before-heard demo, produced by Barry:
A couple of more modern bands that remind me of the Beach Boys are:
New Pornographers - Mass Romantic (the vocals more than the instrumentation), High Llamas (many songs), Linus of Hollywood, and especially The Explorer's Club.
I put together a quick playlist of a few songs I think fit the criteria (with a slight looser definition)
Thanks for these, Steve! My first reaction to each: New Porns: Don't think I've ever heard a note (certainly heard OF them)...I like the approach, and yes, the vocals are harmony-rich (nice couple of vocal breaks).
Cut Copy: oooooh....getting bumpies. Daddy likey. They're Australian, I'm reading. They make me want to hear more to see what else they vocally do. In that way, they seem very creative and sophisticated, even.
XTC....had not heard Nonsuch or this song, but we all know XTC and their vocal prowess. I was only on their Dukes LP and Oranges & Lemons. I know enough about Partridge to know he's a Brian fan. This "Wrapped" song is a good example of a "mid-period" BB (not surf hit, and not oldies caravan)...this might've fit on Wild Honey, Sunflower, or Surf's Up, say.
High Llamas (another heard-of, never heard): Cutely Brian-esque. This is the first one where I'd guess they intentionally wanted to wander onto the Wilsons' Hawthorne street! Banjo, trombone, odd percussion, string quartet...mercy. High Llamas? High Marks, I'd say! Again, I'm curious to discover the writer's intent, here.
The Explorers Club: Two words: Game changa! Anything more I say here will only take away from what, apparently, will be my next article! Bingo, Boobie! Brad out!
Yeah - I thought of Explorers Club first, but only because I discovered them two months ago when we talked about this theme! So I don't know much about them. They felt a bit too on the nose; I tend to like "inspired by the Beach Boys/Brian Wilson." "Wrapped" by XTC really sounded like that mid-period era like you said. Cut Copy are for sure worth exploring -- it's only a couple songs that are strong Beach Boy-esque. They really are musical chameleons, able to play any style or genre of music. High Llamas has a ton of great stuff to explore. Sean O'Hagan (who is essentially High Llamas) has played with a ton of other artists and worked on movie soundtracks.
I echo your Explorers Club thoughts and their possible motivations/inspirations. "Forever" is as much a blatant Spector nod as it is a BB celebration. Two great tastes in one....like Reese's PB Cups! I, too, was trying to lean away from overt Xerox copies of the BB approach in my song choices (which is why I prefaced the piece with "no parodies"). In my case, though, I've had decades to weigh "my" songs' lives and lasting power (beyond pure aping, I mean).
With that said, I'd extract Explorers Club from this list, but extreme curiosity begs me to explore them, separately, for what they did here, and dig deep into what motivates them/inspires them. It seems like a definite love for Brian (and, by extension, Spector, whom Brian idolized!), but it'd be cool to uncover that, first hand. Let's see what happens!
Neat playlist - not familiar with many of these songs. Two others that come to mind are 'She's Just My Style' by Gary Lewis and the Playboys (to me, it sounds like how it may have sounded if Brian Wilson produced an Elvis record in the mid-60s) and 'New York's A Lonely Town' by the Tradewinds.
🌟No more calls, we have a winner!! Both those songs are SO spot on to this Playlist, and shoulda been on here, not gwine-a lie!! I adore both songs (and have for decades), Robert, and I WILL add both to the Playlist! I don't think any "Lonely Town" covers are on Spotify, but that won't stop me! I'll add a YT vid, now that I don't have e-mail length to worry about!
"Lonely Town"--such a great Anders/Poncia song and arrangement! I had their '69 WB album (I was 14...you know the story....again, a Dad promo!), which I appreciated more in the early '70s when I began discovering more about Spector, his prods, as well as more of what V&P were doing. Then, I slowly realized what a find and forgotten treasure their '69s album was!
Of the couple "Lonely Town" covers available, I like Dave Edmunds' '76 (single which I had at the time) version, and Jeffrey Foskett's '03, although his drags just a hair. Foskett, as you may know, is/was a member of The Wondermints, a BB-leaning outfit, and has been a longtime member of Brian's backing band for studio and live perfs.
Even over a wonderful Tradewinds arrangement/production, gotta go with Edmunds! For a Brit, especially, giving such love to an American production is cool, but he's the only one to do what he did to the word, "boy," in the chorus! Now, I can't hear ANY version of it without wanting it there, and singing it into existence!!! Plus, his so completely balls-out Spector-ized arrangement (extra points for his bitchin' bridge section!)
The Lewis song I used to sing in karaoke a decade ago! That alone tells you my love for the song (my fave of his, frankly)! Amazing writing credits, this: Leon Russell (L.A. session keys player at the time....he later recorded a cover himself), Snuff Garrett, Al Capps, and Lewis. This was also the first ever session for drummer, Jim Keltner! Good 👂, my good man! Lewis, himself, said in '13 that......
......."That's exactly what we were going for too. Even before we started writing it we said 'Let's go for The Beach Boys thing; a little rock and roll with a lot of harmony and I was really happy the way we pulled it off."
Per the song's Wiki....he had apparently just arrived to H-wood from his Oklahoma home. A YT video interview was mentioned where he related that. The notes on the song's Beach Boys influence (from a Lewis interview) I hadn't known before.
I love the fact that, without knowing that, I was attracted to it just on its own merits...that, and you bringing it to the table on this BB-focused Playlist! Musical serendipity is my favorite!🎶👍
The break on the tune (when Lewis & co. sing "so fine...") seems a variation on the Beach Boys' 'The Little Girl I Once Knew' but not sure if that song was out before 'She's Just My Style' was. More likely, it seems like a natural choice given Brian Wilson's proclivities.
We might actually be talking minutes here! "She's Just My Style" has a 1965 release year for the single. The album from whence it came has a 1966 release date. "The Little Girl" was recorded during 10 days, mid-October 1965, and released a month later, on Nov. 22, '65. Short of diving deeper, it seems likely Lewis might have recorded "Style" slightly ahead of "The Little Girl," but VERY late in '65 wouldn't be out of the question!
The "don'tcha know" bass voice on "Style" smacks of BBs, too, as does what sounds like the Spector-ish sleigh bells throughout!
Glad you dig, hodad Andy (btw, the guitarist of The Dictators used to call himself Adny Shernoff! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Shernoff Don't know why I did that; guess I can't help myself! My middle name is "Threads"......apparently)!
I hear ya, bruh! "Sweet and a bit cringey!" Don't think I haven't heard THAT by some dates!😁
Their "Celebremos" is a perfect example of how I do what I do (for those who might be curious): I had direct access (I owned, in other words!) to so many records I no longer own, that my memory leads to much of our content! I KNEW K&TG's Spanish version existed because I used to have it!
If you don't know it ever existed, it's doubtful you'll think to Google "Kool & the Gang Spanish Celebrate"! Same with Capt & Tennille's Spanish album, which I had! Sans the vinyl, my long-term memory will have to suffice (while I still have THAT)!
It's a convo that's come up recently a few times.....both in person and online! Obviously, I'd love to be able to still access my entire collection, but after selling it all on eBay at the turn of the century, this is how I've got to maximize the incredible access to all that music "virtually no one else heard" because it wasn't "popular" or got airplay!
So much of my writing simply starts with me picturing my collection and pieces therein!
My "Disco Lucy" Note of a few days ago is a good example: Who in the world would know there was a red, ❤-shaped, late-'70s disco version of the "I Love Lucy" theme record unless you actually had it?!? This is why I'm so obsessed, if not possessed, with squeezing all this wrting out now while my long-term memory is still intact! Google ain't got nuthin' on me! It's in my noggin!
Great stuff. Also check out Australia's answer to Flash Cadillac, Ol'55 - two brilliant hit singles on par with anything on the first Rubinoos album:
Stay (While The Night is Young) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI4OiPgRy3k
(Feels Like A) Summer's Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqF5MSfrbaI
and of course Flash Cadillac's great Bruce Johnston-produced Sons of Beaches LP!
And the Paley Brothers!
Super toons, Dave....thanks! Certainly familiar with Flash. A vague memory seems to recall hearing about Ol '55, but not hearing anything. I like both songs, preferring, slightly, "Summer's NIght."
I had the "Sons of the Beaches" LP back in the day (1975). Of course, that album's first song is "Summer Means Fun" (which I had forgotten they'd done). Even had I remembered, I think I woulda still included Bruce & Terry's. I believe, around '73, The Legendary Masked Surfers also did "SMF"--The LMS was Dean Torrance and Johnston with Terry Melcher producing...and, as I recall, they did "Summer Means Fun."
As I think I mentioned elsewhere here (and longtime readers know the story!), I sold my 2,000 LP collection on eBay at the turn of the century! So, I rely, now, on simply the memory of my collection's pieces! I looked up that Flash album (not recalling Johnston's production credit), and indeed, the album was produced (and arranged) by Toxey French.
What album, produced by Johnston, might you have been thinking of? That same year, Bruce (along with David) produced David Cassidy's first post-Partridge album for RCA, an album well-represented and covered here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/in-a-houston-penthouse-with-david
You're right about the Paley Bros (Hi, Jonathan!---a Facebook friend)! I knew I'd forget many, and fellow readers have reminded me of several of those "many"! I actually dropped the needle on their debut for this piece, but nothing flew off the grooves for me for this Playlist.
Earle Mankey produced that album; he was guitarist on the first couple of Sparks albums, and became a busy engineer and producer (mainly for several power pop bands, late '70s/early '80s).
In fact, he engineered a couple of late '70s Beach Boys albums, "Love You," and "The M.I.U. Album." He also engineered my former junior high girlfriend, Lisa Hartman's debut album (produced by Jeff Barry) on Kirshner/CBS Records in 1976! That story's here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/video-to-vinyl-1976-lisa-hartman
Thanks again, Dave!
Couple of great tracks on that Flash Cadillac album are 'Time Will Tell' - although it borrows maybe a bit too much from 'I Can Hear Music' - and 'Rock'n'Roll Menace'.
Finally getting around to this, Dave.....thanks! Beautiful track, "Time Will Tell," written by founding Flash keyboardist, Kris Moe---I'll let him answer to Spector/Greenwich/Barry for his mirroring, a bit, "I Can Hear Music"! One could certainly cop from a worse song! Wonderful harmony arrangements, and its ending, too, would make for a closing track on the Playlist, which is where I'll put it!
"Menace" is good, too (another Moe composition), but "Time Will Tell" is far more evocative and a better fit on the Playlist, IMO! I can tell, although I had it in '75, I clearly didn't listen to it with the frequency it deserves! There were so many records pulling, it seems, for my attention! Not complaining, mind you!!😁But, being 20 and in radio, it seems the sounds were endless! Thanks again, Dave for these!
Cheers Brad.
Hi Brad, yeah, don't where I got that false Bruce fact from - always had that in my mind, so good to be corrected. The Paley Bros anthology CD that Real Gone put out about a decade or so ago has vastly superior mixes (assumedly remixes?) of the album, and about an album's worth of extras, many of which are better than most of the album material. And Brian guests on backing vocals on a couple of tracks. Of course Andy went on to have a long and close musical relationship with Brian too. Fantastic blog Brad!
I'll have to check out that Paley anth. I know they recorded with Spector (which they hated). I wonder if that made it onto that CD. Make sure, Dave, you check out our recent dive into the life and career of Tandyn Almer, good friend of Brian's, and composer of "Along Comes Mary," as well as co-writes on 2 BB songs!
There's precious little on the 'net about Almer, so I'd like to think we've composed the definitive all-encompassing Tandyn post online (even so far as uncovering family members and former co-workers)! It's here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/toytown-psychedelia-songwriter-tandyn
Dig your perspective and input, Dave....please don't be a stranger! You're welcome behind the FR&B velvet rope line anytime!😁👍
On the Paleys CD, check out the incredible 'Boomerang', with Brian on bv's, and the pre-album single 'Rendezvous', a tune which dates back to Andy's earlier band the Sidewinders, and which, with a great Jimmy Iovine production, is very Wilson/Spector. And yep, the CD closes out with 'Baby, Let's Stick Together' recorded at Gold Star in '78 with Spector.
You're making me so nostalgic about my long-departed record collection! That Flash Cadillac "Beaches" album I used to have, and now the Sidewinders, which I had forgotten all about! Before I looked it up, I remembered it was on RCA. I remembered Andy was on it, though!
A Lenny Kaye production, I just noticed, when he was also a rock journalist! Another rocker/rock critic? John Mendelsohn of Christopher Milk, who had a couple early-'70s albums on Warner Bros. This is the one I remember most (from '72): https://www.discogs.com/master/735423-Christopher-Milk-Some-People-Will-Drink-Anything
They're (and John) are probably a band I should dedicate an article on! I'd love to see what John's been up to in the past half-century!
The Paleys' "Boomerang" must be on their compilation. I don't have that, and I can't find it on Spotify. I know Brian and the bros have worked together. The Sidewinders' "Rendezvous" (written by Andy and 'Winders guitarist Eric Rosenfeld) sounds eerily similar (the chorus, anyway) to The Hudson Bros.' "Rendezvous" a couple years later. But, THAT one was written by Mark, Bill, and Brett Hudson, with Bruce Johnston!
Sidewinders' "Rendezvous" (1972): https://open.spotify.com/track/4dPx28DO7PB4Us9bLHyjq7?si=28bec3c23fb64cd1
Hudson Bros. (1975): I have it as a YT video in this article.
As for the Spector "Baby," I don't think I've ever heard that....Just now heard it on a YT vid! As a commenter on the vid said, the '78 or '79 recording may be the last session the Wrecking Crew played on before Gold Star burned down.
Interesting: A song written by Jeff Barry and Spector, but no Ellie Greenwich. I realize she and Jeff hadn't been married since the '60s, so I'm guessing that was a rather recent Barry/Spector collab (late '70s).
That Hudson Bros LP is what I was getting mixed up with the Flash Cadillac album in regards to a Bruce J production!
Here's 'Boomerang' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSyDV5lM4kM
and another lost classic unearthed on the cd - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyGdR3QInSw
and a nice recent interview with Andy -
https://aquariumdrunkard.com/2022/06/30/andy-paley-the-aquarium-drunkard-interview/
Thanks Brad. I was unaware of Tandyn's stuff until hearing him on your playlist so already started digging but looking forward to reading your deep dig. All the best, Dave
I neglected to mention a Jeff Barry reference when I responded to your "Time Will Tell" track (now beautifully wrapping up our Playlist at #20)! Singer/songwriter/guitarist, Stephen Michael Schwartz (an album for RCA Records in 1974 when he was 20) has written 20 articles for FR&B, all in his own words, many with exclusive, never-before-seen photos, and even unheard song demos!
In the late '70s, Stephen wrote several songs with Jeff Barry, and even recorded some fully-produced demos with him! Here's one of those Barry co-writes, with the never-before-heard demo, produced by Barry:
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/stephen-michael-schwartz-off-the-6a1#details
Enjoy!
A couple of more modern bands that remind me of the Beach Boys are:
New Pornographers - Mass Romantic (the vocals more than the instrumentation), High Llamas (many songs), Linus of Hollywood, and especially The Explorer's Club.
I put together a quick playlist of a few songs I think fit the criteria (with a slight looser definition)
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0snaZSf4RWCDZ2Xsoat4sL?si=dedec1737da54ad5
Thanks for these, Steve! My first reaction to each: New Porns: Don't think I've ever heard a note (certainly heard OF them)...I like the approach, and yes, the vocals are harmony-rich (nice couple of vocal breaks).
Cut Copy: oooooh....getting bumpies. Daddy likey. They're Australian, I'm reading. They make me want to hear more to see what else they vocally do. In that way, they seem very creative and sophisticated, even.
XTC....had not heard Nonsuch or this song, but we all know XTC and their vocal prowess. I was only on their Dukes LP and Oranges & Lemons. I know enough about Partridge to know he's a Brian fan. This "Wrapped" song is a good example of a "mid-period" BB (not surf hit, and not oldies caravan)...this might've fit on Wild Honey, Sunflower, or Surf's Up, say.
Besnard Lakes: Pretty dang gorgeous, that. Nice chord changes, and beautiful vocal arrangements.
High Llamas (another heard-of, never heard): Cutely Brian-esque. This is the first one where I'd guess they intentionally wanted to wander onto the Wilsons' Hawthorne street! Banjo, trombone, odd percussion, string quartet...mercy. High Llamas? High Marks, I'd say! Again, I'm curious to discover the writer's intent, here.
The Explorers Club: Two words: Game changa! Anything more I say here will only take away from what, apparently, will be my next article! Bingo, Boobie! Brad out!
Yeah - I thought of Explorers Club first, but only because I discovered them two months ago when we talked about this theme! So I don't know much about them. They felt a bit too on the nose; I tend to like "inspired by the Beach Boys/Brian Wilson." "Wrapped" by XTC really sounded like that mid-period era like you said. Cut Copy are for sure worth exploring -- it's only a couple songs that are strong Beach Boy-esque. They really are musical chameleons, able to play any style or genre of music. High Llamas has a ton of great stuff to explore. Sean O'Hagan (who is essentially High Llamas) has played with a ton of other artists and worked on movie soundtracks.
I echo your Explorers Club thoughts and their possible motivations/inspirations. "Forever" is as much a blatant Spector nod as it is a BB celebration. Two great tastes in one....like Reese's PB Cups! I, too, was trying to lean away from overt Xerox copies of the BB approach in my song choices (which is why I prefaced the piece with "no parodies"). In my case, though, I've had decades to weigh "my" songs' lives and lasting power (beyond pure aping, I mean).
With that said, I'd extract Explorers Club from this list, but extreme curiosity begs me to explore them, separately, for what they did here, and dig deep into what motivates them/inspires them. It seems like a definite love for Brian (and, by extension, Spector, whom Brian idolized!), but it'd be cool to uncover that, first hand. Let's see what happens!
Neat playlist - not familiar with many of these songs. Two others that come to mind are 'She's Just My Style' by Gary Lewis and the Playboys (to me, it sounds like how it may have sounded if Brian Wilson produced an Elvis record in the mid-60s) and 'New York's A Lonely Town' by the Tradewinds.
🌟No more calls, we have a winner!! Both those songs are SO spot on to this Playlist, and shoulda been on here, not gwine-a lie!! I adore both songs (and have for decades), Robert, and I WILL add both to the Playlist! I don't think any "Lonely Town" covers are on Spotify, but that won't stop me! I'll add a YT vid, now that I don't have e-mail length to worry about!
"Lonely Town"--such a great Anders/Poncia song and arrangement! I had their '69 WB album (I was 14...you know the story....again, a Dad promo!), which I appreciated more in the early '70s when I began discovering more about Spector, his prods, as well as more of what V&P were doing. Then, I slowly realized what a find and forgotten treasure their '69s album was!
Their Spector co-write, "Do I Love You" made it onto our GBE #14, here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/grow-bigger-ears-14i-love-you-songs
Of the couple "Lonely Town" covers available, I like Dave Edmunds' '76 (single which I had at the time) version, and Jeffrey Foskett's '03, although his drags just a hair. Foskett, as you may know, is/was a member of The Wondermints, a BB-leaning outfit, and has been a longtime member of Brian's backing band for studio and live perfs.
Even over a wonderful Tradewinds arrangement/production, gotta go with Edmunds! For a Brit, especially, giving such love to an American production is cool, but he's the only one to do what he did to the word, "boy," in the chorus! Now, I can't hear ANY version of it without wanting it there, and singing it into existence!!! Plus, his so completely balls-out Spector-ized arrangement (extra points for his bitchin' bridge section!)
The Lewis song I used to sing in karaoke a decade ago! That alone tells you my love for the song (my fave of his, frankly)! Amazing writing credits, this: Leon Russell (L.A. session keys player at the time....he later recorded a cover himself), Snuff Garrett, Al Capps, and Lewis. This was also the first ever session for drummer, Jim Keltner! Good 👂, my good man! Lewis, himself, said in '13 that......
......."That's exactly what we were going for too. Even before we started writing it we said 'Let's go for The Beach Boys thing; a little rock and roll with a lot of harmony and I was really happy the way we pulled it off."
Pure gold, Robert! Many thanks!
No problem - had no idea that 'She's Just My Style' was Keltner's first session.
Per the song's Wiki....he had apparently just arrived to H-wood from his Oklahoma home. A YT video interview was mentioned where he related that. The notes on the song's Beach Boys influence (from a Lewis interview) I hadn't known before.
I love the fact that, without knowing that, I was attracted to it just on its own merits...that, and you bringing it to the table on this BB-focused Playlist! Musical serendipity is my favorite!🎶👍
The break on the tune (when Lewis & co. sing "so fine...") seems a variation on the Beach Boys' 'The Little Girl I Once Knew' but not sure if that song was out before 'She's Just My Style' was. More likely, it seems like a natural choice given Brian Wilson's proclivities.
We might actually be talking minutes here! "She's Just My Style" has a 1965 release year for the single. The album from whence it came has a 1966 release date. "The Little Girl" was recorded during 10 days, mid-October 1965, and released a month later, on Nov. 22, '65. Short of diving deeper, it seems likely Lewis might have recorded "Style" slightly ahead of "The Little Girl," but VERY late in '65 wouldn't be out of the question!
The "don'tcha know" bass voice on "Style" smacks of BBs, too, as does what sounds like the Spector-ish sleigh bells throughout!
Such a cool playlist concept! Let me grab my sunglasses 😎
Glad you dig, hodad Andy (btw, the guitarist of The Dictators used to call himself Adny Shernoff! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Shernoff Don't know why I did that; guess I can't help myself! My middle name is "Threads"......apparently)!
That's what GROW BIGGER EARS is all about! A place to explore a Playlist format! Here's one you may have missed...GROW BIGGER EARS #9: "English Hits Sung in Spanish by the Original Artists!": https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/grow-bigger-ears-9-english-hits-sung
Muchas gracias! Sounds like a lot of fun. I had no idea about Kool & The Gang’s “Celebremos”. I find it sweet and a bit cringey at the same time 😆
I hear ya, bruh! "Sweet and a bit cringey!" Don't think I haven't heard THAT by some dates!😁
Their "Celebremos" is a perfect example of how I do what I do (for those who might be curious): I had direct access (I owned, in other words!) to so many records I no longer own, that my memory leads to much of our content! I KNEW K&TG's Spanish version existed because I used to have it!
If you don't know it ever existed, it's doubtful you'll think to Google "Kool & the Gang Spanish Celebrate"! Same with Capt & Tennille's Spanish album, which I had! Sans the vinyl, my long-term memory will have to suffice (while I still have THAT)!
This is amazing. Vinyl as the starting point, and not the other way around (as is often the case nowadays). I find that fascinating.
It's a convo that's come up recently a few times.....both in person and online! Obviously, I'd love to be able to still access my entire collection, but after selling it all on eBay at the turn of the century, this is how I've got to maximize the incredible access to all that music "virtually no one else heard" because it wasn't "popular" or got airplay!
So much of my writing simply starts with me picturing my collection and pieces therein!
My "Disco Lucy" Note of a few days ago is a good example: Who in the world would know there was a red, ❤-shaped, late-'70s disco version of the "I Love Lucy" theme record unless you actually had it?!? This is why I'm so obsessed, if not possessed, with squeezing all this wrting out now while my long-term memory is still intact! Google ain't got nuthin' on me! It's in my noggin!
Absolutely! Please keep doing that. Your words are, if you’ll pardon the pun, “music to my ears” 🎶🎼🎵🎹🎤📀🪩🕺