- Emitt Rhodes - vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums 

- The Merry-Go-Round

- The Palace Guard

Genre: pop

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Title:  Emitt Rhodes

Company: ABC Dunhill

Catalog: DS 50089

Year: 1969

Country/State: Hawthorne, California

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 3

GEMM catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $20.00

Music is such a difficult business; the quest for success leaving so many victims behind. One of the saddest stories has to be that of California's Emitt Rhodes. For a brief moment in the mid-1960s, singer/multi-instrumentalist Rhodes seemed poised on the brink of massive stardom. A former member of The Palace Guards and The Merry-Go-Round (see separate entries), Rhodes was blessed with movie star good looks and musical talent to burn. Sadly with a matter of years, it was all a memory.

By 1968 Rhodes had decided to disband The Merry-Go-Round in favor of a solo career. Retiring to his parents' garage, Rhodes rigged up a rough recording studio, spending the next several months recording material on a four track Ampex tape recorder. The results were enough for ABC Dunhill to sign him to a contract. 1970's cleverly-titled "Emitt Rhodes" was a true tour-de-force. In addition to co-producing with Harvey Bruce, Rhodes wrote all 12 tracks, played all of the instruments and handled arrangements. As on the debut, tracks such as "With My Face On the Floor", "Promises I've Made" and "You Must Have" were exceptionally commercial (Badfinger would've killed to have written something as catchy as "Fresh As a Daisy" (a modest radio hit), or the slide guitar-propelled "Somebody Made for Me"). Whether he intended it or not, Rhodes voice and performance mannerisms bore an uncanny resemblance to "White Album" era-Paul McCartney - we can't be the only folks who thank "She's Such a Beauty" bares at least a passing resemblance to "Rocky Raccoon". Having listened to this album for some twenty years I still find it hard to believe Rhodes wasn't from Liverpool - how could anyone from Southern California sound so English?  Propelled by a killer single in 'Fresh As a Daisy' b/w 'You Take the Dark Out of the Night' (ABC Dunhill catalog number 45-D-4267) the album proved a strong seller peaking at # 29 (it probably would have done even better if not for A&M's decision to release a competing LP). Dunhill also tapped the album for two follow-on singles:

- 'Live Till You Die' b/w 'Promises I've Made' (Dunhill catalog number D-4274)

  'With My Face On the Floor' b/w 'Somebody Made for Me' (ABC Dunhill catalog number D-4280)

"Emitt Rhodes" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) With My Face On the Floor   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
2.) Promises I Made   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
3.) She's Such a Beauty   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
4.) You Must Have   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
5.) Lullabye   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
6.) Fresh As a Daisy   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

(side 2)
1.) You Should Be Ashamed   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
2.) Someone Made for Me   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
3.) You Take the Dark Out of the Night  (Emitt Rhodes) - 
4.) Ever Find Yourself Running?   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
5.) Live Till You Die   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
6.) Long Time No See   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

In spite of the album's commercial success, Rhodes' suddenly found himself embroiled in a nasty and prolonged legal battle with ABC-Dunhill. Having signed a contract that called for a new album every six months (!!!), Rhodes found himself in breach of the contract given the debut had taken nine months to record.

Genre: pop

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  The American Dream

Company: A&M

Catalog: SP-4254

Year: 1971

Country/State: Hawthorne, California

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor ring wear; cut out hole

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4501

Price: $20.00

Cost: $66.00

Simply said, Emitt Rhodes' "The American Dream" has the distinction of being the best 'contractual obligation' album you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing. 

As you'd expect, the album has a rather tortuous history.  When the Merry-Go-Round collapsed in 1969, under their recording contract they still owed their label A&M Records another album.  As de facto band leader, it was left up to singer/songwriter/guitarist Rhodes to go back into the studio in an effort to cobble together a second album.  The end result consisted of a mix of previously completed Merry-Go-Round tracks, polished up demos and some new studio tracks.  Rhodes completed the project in mid-1969, but A&M management simply shelved the project.

Jump ahead and 1970 saw Rhodes solo career beginning to attract  considerable attention via his self-titled 1970 ABC/Dunhill debut.  More than willing to cash-in on Rhodes sudden commercial recognition, A&M wasted no time dusting off the earlier material.  Packaged as an Emitt Rhodes solo effort, the album had the misfortune of being released at the same time Rhodes' second Dunhill album hit the streets.

In spite of the fact it was a product of corporate indifference and greed, the album was simply great.  Easily as good as Rhodes' first two Dunhill solo effort, the collection effortlessly showcased Rhodes' knack for penning highly commercial, radio-friendly pop.  Tracks such as 'Mother Earth', ' Pardon Me', 'Holly Park' and 'In Days of Old' were full of Beatles influences (or at least McCartney influences), but in a good way ...  as opposed to being the product of a slavish imitator.  The album's also impressive for simply sounding so go.  Rhodes may have stitched the results together,  but you're hard pressed to tell.  Merry-Go-Round demos such as 'You're a Very Lonely Woman', 'Come Ride, Come Ride' and ''Till the Day After' sound right at home with his new studio material.  Elsewhere, A&M tapped 'You're a Very Lonely Woman' b/w ''Til the Day After' as a single (A&M catalog number 1254).  That drew the ire of former members of Merry-Go-Round who apparently muttered lawsuit under their collective breathes leading concerned A&M executives to stand their ground (ha) reissuing subsequent pressings of the LP without the song.  The company also elected to slap a new cover on subsequent releases (see below).  While hundreds of albums are labeled as 'lost classics', this one's truly deserving of that label.  

replacement LP cover 

"American Dream" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Mother Earth   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:29

2.) Pardon Me   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:46

3.) Textile Factory   (Emitt Rhodes) - 3:05

4.) Someone Died   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:04

5.) Come Ride, Come Ride   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:53

6.) Let's All Sing   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:40

(side 2)

1.) Holly Park   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:59

2.) You're a Very Lonely Woman   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:45

3.) Mary Will You Take Me Hand   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:21

4.) The Man He Was   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:58

5.) In Days of Old   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:13

6.) 'Til the Day After   (Emitt Rhodes) - 2:38

Genre: pop

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Mirror

Company: Dunhill

Catalog: DSX 50111

Year: 1971

Country/State: Hawthorne, California

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve; bullet hole

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $20.00

With Dunhill demanding another LP, Rhodes found himself forced back into the recording studio. Like the debut, "Mirror" was another true solo effort; Rhodes writing, producing and handling all of the instrumentation. Given the intense pressure he was under, Rhodes actually acquitted himself well. While the McCartney comparison remained apt (check out "Side We Seldom Show"), the set was actually more varied than the debut. While ballads such as "Love Will Stone You" and the title track boasted wonderful melodies, "Birthday Lady", "Really Wanted You" and "My Love Is Strong" demonstrated Rhodes was just as accomplished churning out rockers. Truth be told, this one's every bit as good as the debut, though peaking at # 182 it was a miserable seller. (The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)  I'm not sure if it saw an American release, but at least in Canada the album was tapped for a pair os singles:

- 'Really Wanted You' b/w 'Love Will Stone You' (ABC Dunhill catalog number D-4295)

- 'Golden Child of God' b/w 'Take You Far Away' (ABC Dunhill catalog number D-4303)

"Mirror" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Birthday Lady   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
2.) Better Side of Love   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
3.) My Love Is Strong   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
4.) Side We Seldom Show   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
5.) Mirror   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
6.) Really Wanted You   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

(side 2)

1.) Bubble Gum the Blues   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
2.) I'm a Cruiser   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
3.) Love Will Stone You   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
4.) Golden Child of God   (Emitt Rhodes) - 
5.) Take You Far Away   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

Genre: pop

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Farewell To Paradise

Company: Dunhill

Catalog: DSX-51022

Year: 1973

Country/State: Hawthorne, California

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor ring wear; small cut out hole bottom right corner; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4538

Price: $20.00

Curiously, 1973's "Farewell To Paradise" tends to get written off by the critics.  That's unfortunate since to my ears it's every bit as good as his earlier work.  In fact, I'd argue it's even more impressive given it was written and recorded while under intense personal and professional pressure from his record label (I wonder if that had anything to do with the album title).  Looking at the results strictly on technical terms the album's amazing, standing as a true example of one man virtuosity - Rhodes wrote all of the material, produced, arranged and played all of the instruments.  The first set to be recorded in a professional studio (remember most of his earlier work had been recoded in a home studio located in this mother's garage), this time around the album sports a much cleaner sound.  Tracks such as 'Warm Self Sacrifice', 'See No Evil' and 'Only Lovers Decide' (the latter being one of his prettiest ballads), aptly display Rhodes' endearing strengths; highly commercial melodies, mesmerizing harmonies and an endearing sense of enthusiasm for the music.  At the same time, many of the lyrics seem to betray a growing sense of sadness and resignation.  Virtually every one of the twelve tracks would have made a dandy single making it hard to pick the standout tracks.  Personal favorites include 'Drawn To You', the country-influence 'Blue Horizon' and the funky 'Shoot the Moon'.   Unfortunately, by the time the album was released Dunhill had all but lost interest in Rhodes.  The album was released with little promotion (why support an artist you'd recently brought suit against) and quickly vanished into cutout bins.  Dunhill subsequently dropped him from its recording roster and Rhodes' recording career effectively came to an end.  (Always wondered who the attractive young lady shown on the inner sleeve photos was.)

"Farewell To Paradise" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Warm Self Sacrifice   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

2.) See No Evil   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

3.) Drawn To You   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

4.) Blue Horizon   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

5.) Shoot the Moon    (Emitt Rhodes) - 

6.) Only Lovers Decide   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

(side 2)

1.) Trust One More   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

2.) Nights Are Lonely   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

3.) Bad Man   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

4.) In Desperate Need   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

5.) Those That Die   (Emitt Rhodes) - 

6.) Farewell To Paradise   (Emitt Rhodes) -  

For anyone interested, there's a fantastic Rhodes website at:

http://www.emittrhodesmusic.net/