what Frank is listening to #56- LEE DRESSER – El Camino Real – (Amos) – 1969
I bought this record a long, long time ago, played it once and put it aside to have another listen, which I didn't, till now.
I'm not sure what to make of this record (contemporaneous notes):
- is it a popular musician (aka Sinatra, Dean, Bing etc) doing rock material?
- is it a rock musician doing rock music in a popular style?
- or, is it just MOR rock?
Dresser was clearly aimed at the same (affluent) crowd as Trini Lopez and Johnny Rivers and the record was even recorded live in Hollywood.
Initially I though Dresser may have been picked up in one of the numerous LA clubs where middle aged hipsters (like us) went out to see the "new" acts. But, there is a energy and edginess in his voice and guitar that removes him from that AO MOR (adults only middle of the road) scene.
As it turns out, and I'm slightly surprised I could find anything on him, he was in a rockabilly band out of Missouri in the late 50s, The Krazy Kats (who still play today on that small but fanatical rockabilly circuit in the US). This he did before being drafted, going to Vietnam, returning, and getting work as a guitarist and harmonica player for Danny Thomas, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard and the Oak Ridge Boys. In the meantime he put out this, his first album.
This album, recorded live (like many Lopez and Rivers albums) is solid though not individual. The songs are a mixture of originals (three) and covers (nine). The covers are pretty unsurprising but they are sung with aplomb. I can't help thinking that Elvis saw this guy whilst he was in living in LA making all those films in the 1960s or, more than likely, this guy saw Elvis in Vegas in 69 (a superficial google search reveals nothing). The pacing and choice of material certainly can be linked to Elvis' first Vegas concerts in the late 60s, and, also bears more than a passing resemblance to Bobby Darin's late 60s output. In fact, I would be surprised if Dresser himself didn't do the Vegas circuits, though not the MGM International like Elvis or the Flamingo like Darin).
Dresser's backing band is Glen Hardin (later Elvis' pianist live and in the studio) and Jerry Allison, both from Buddy Holly's band. The record is produced by Jimmy Bowen who is no slouch (though a "rock" kid born in 1937 he acted as producer for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin,Sammy Davis, Jr. and later did lots of country including Hank Williams, Jr., The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Garth Brooks). Bowen also owned the short lived label, Amos, that this album is on.
Best Tracks:
- El Camino Real – a great finger popping number, and very evocative of time and place (or the way I think of that time and place).
- If I were a Carpenter – the Tim Hardin number popularised by the great Bobby Darin.
- Abraham Martin and John – Dion's great "protest" song.
- Baby the Rain Must Fall – Glen Yarbrough's great title song to the film of the same name.
- A Place in the Sun / This Land is Your Land – a medley – the first track is the Roger Miller track whilst the latter is, of course, the Woody Guthrie song …. and it works – works in a MOR , darkly lit, nightclub in LA where everyone is trying to out-hip the next person. It is sung with enough conviction to bring some light in the difficult year that was 1969.
If you are in the right mood with the right amount of alcohol this album swings though it really should have come out in 1965 not 1969. Maybe I'll keep it and play it at the 60s themed cocktail parties I intend to have (none of you are invited).
Sound:
attached
Krazy Kats
Lee Dresser info:
Krazy Kats info:
(originally posted: 02/07/2009)
