I'm going to write about Emitt first. Thankfully, he's still around and needs the publicity.
Do you know who Emitt Rhodes is? No? And you call yourself a Pop Snob? Bah, you need some schoolin'!:
Some say Emitt Rhodes is the best Paul McCartney/Beatles imitator there ever was, some say he even surpassed McCartney, some say he's just a great power pop/bubblegum songwriter. I say (and, speaking as a Pop Snob, maybe you should listen up!) Emitt Rhodes is arguably the finest all-around solo artist to come out of the U.S. in the 70s. And I mean solo; he did it all!
- music composition, lyrics, arrangement, vocals, performance on every instrument, production, engineering* and, oh yes, magic**.
His early groups certainly did what they could to emulate The Beatles - check out ER's adorable John Lennon impression on Live and Listen, Listen - you'll get some Don Knotts out of it too! (skip to 1:10 if you're in a hurry)
His first official solo record,
Emitt Rhodes
(at 4:40 is my favourite song, Promises I've Made) - certainly would go in the same section as the Beatles in your record collection, if you're filing by genre and not alphabetically that is ha ha. But he quickly found his own voice and - ultimately - very unique style, locking himself away like a mad but brilliant musical scientist to create 3 records that will remain among my favourites for the rest of my days - I'll probably take them with me to the next place too.
I won't tell you Emitt's sad, frustrating, bewildering story because I'm hoping for a happy ending - he's recording again, things are happening for the first time in years - but a google search won't take you long to discover it. ;o)
While you're online, order yourself some used ER vinyl, or grab the The Emitt RhodesRecordings from Hip-O select, which just came out a couple of months ago.
For now, there's this very primitive (but perfectly charming) video showcasing his many talents, for another of my favourites, Birthday Lady from Mirror.
He's a little Nilsson-esque here, but he's so completely Emitt.
I love this guy.
Yours in Pop Snobbery,
The Pop Snob
* with some help in the early days
** by magic I mean that quality which is found in only the finest Pop and which makes out of one a Pop Snob, for whom only the best Pop will ever do. How's that for Snobbery?
Posts
8 comments:
Cool !
Welcome to the Blogosphere!!! Good for you! Thanks for enlightening me on the pronunciation of Emitt's name yesterday. I guess I'm not that much of a snob ;)
I have ALL of Emitt's recordings and the LPs are all autographed. He is one of my all-time faves. I hope you cover some of my other heros- Badfinger, Klaatu, Nilsson, Alan Parsons, Brian Wilson- oh the list goes on!
-Glen Banks
Very well written ... and thanks for not disclosing the initial story that "totally ruined a great musicians career for decades." I hate that record company anyway ... always did.
I met Emitt in 1973 while trying to find his "Farewell to Paradise" album in a Tower music store in Lawndale [next to Hawthorne], California. "Why don't you just go over to his house and ask him for a copy ...?"
Well guess what ? I did. And I got the pleasure of meeting his Dear mother: "Oh, Emitt lives across the street !"
Yes, finally and thank God ... Emitt is back in the studio and hopefully it will be a "Rainbows End."
ed benson
I knew some of the bad guys in his story. At least he out lived them. I'm so happy to see his music available again. Nice job on this and the Facebook page.
I never considered myself a pop snob, but since I have been an Emitt Rhodes fan since 1967 I guess I will embrace my pop snobiness (is that a word?) Emitt is an amazing singer, songwriter and musician. Thanks for the blog and the FB page
Great site.....right with you on Emitt. Other greats....Squeeze, Cotton Mather, Starbelly, Jellyfish, and Crowded House. Also, check out Apple Jam, local Seattle Beatles band.
Thank you for keeping Rhodes's name in the public eye. He is a brilliant musician and songwriter.
Post a Comment