I commented on the Gary Lewis & The Playboys LP "More Golden Greats" back in what is Frank Listening to #22 so for detailed background on Gary Lewis go back to that.
I did say this about him though, "Most of his albums were 1/2 originals( some written by him) and 1/2 covers of recent(ish) hits. Regardless, whether original or cover, Lewis seemed to have hit after hit. I suspect cause the records are well recorded, tightly played pop rock with a consistent musical personality throughout all …… Gary had a limited vocal range and was a bit gawky looking – like some sort of uber nerd but what he had was sass and good backing. He does what he does best, allows his voice to be pushed into the background or chorused with backing vocals or a multitude of instruments. The result is a romantic, lush pop rock with lyrics that are very mid 60s California – fun, sun, happy and optimistic"
I went on to say in what is Frank Listening to #72 when commenting on another Gary Lewis LP, "I have no reason to deviate from that ( apart from he fact the covers outweigh the originals). Interestingly though, given this album is from 1965, there is more of a nod to the British Invasion than on some of his later albums. As I have said elsewhere (#52 Hullabaloos, #55The Blue Things) there were a number of responses to the British Invasion of 1964-66. Gary Lewis (born 1945) was in the right place at the right time to accept the British Invasion and just make it part of his sound. There is certainly a lot of British invasion influences but the music is really post Elvis/pre Beatles pop rock. What makes it stand out ( and no doubt gave Gary Lewis the hits – 2 #1s and 5 top 10s in 2 years – he was that popular!) was the wealth of talent, playing, arranging, producing and writing. All sorts of people were floating through LA in the early 60s and many picked up a few bucks as session men and writers … why wouldn't you there were recording studios everywhere and also Hollywood (writing for Elvis, beach, teen films). Its this access to talent that separates this from many other acts who were happy to ape the Brits".
All this remains more or less the same in relation to this album.
Read enough and you will see that Gary has often been criticized for his vocal ability, ie: Check out this review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hvfixqq5ldae. I can't say the review is wrong but it may miss the point. As I have said in the past the "neutrality" of Gary's voice lends itself to the arrangements. In a lot of ways he becomes the singing everyman. Not striving for artistic recognition and not putting himself above anyone else. What he has is taste, a knowledge of his limitations and a lack of pomposity. And when you surround that with good songs and good musicians it may be enough. If you want art pick up a paintbrush.
Again, here, Lewis is teamed with the legendary Leon Russell arranging, and Snuff Garrett producing. See what is Frank Listening to #72 for more detail on them.
This album, which is his third, steers away from British Invasion and tends to mine the AE/PB years (After Elvis/Pre-Beatles …. 1960-64 ). It's an easy way to describe this era which was dominated in the charts by "pop rock". Of course, like all definitions, there are shades of grey – the Beatles were certainly around before 1964, and Elvis had truckloads of hits in the 1960-1964 period but mainly in the softer rock mould. Still this was the era when the majors got hold of rock 'n' roll and streamlined it – singers sang, songwriters wrote, session men played. Many tracks were churned out – there is a lot of sameness but much like the Hollywood Studio System in the 1930s and 1940s the product was always of good quality and every now and again you would get some magic.
The Tracks ( the best in italics)
- Everybody Loves a Clown – Leslie, Lewis, Russell – a mid-tempo pop tune. This is dumb but great fun but about four years too late … the bridge in the middle is nice though.
- Mr. Blue – Blackwell – a great lullaby of a song. A #1 for The Fleetwoods in 1959 – ably done.
- Chip Chip – Barry, Crofford, Resnick – a nonsense song – the Gene McDaniels song from 1962 (US#10).
- I Gotta Find Cupid – Boyce, Hart, Leslie, Russell – written by the great Boyce and Hart (who wrote for the Monkees later). In melody it's a lot like Del Shannon's "Keep Searchin".
- Let Me Tell 'our Fortune – Crofford – filler?
- I Kissed You – Don Everly – a great track by the Everly Brothers. This is done well.
- Tossin' and Turnin' – Adams, Rene – a cover of the the Bobby Lewis track from 1961 (a #1). This is an attempt to join pop rock with Brit Beat and a pleasant dance floor filler. I will give it a whirl in the lounge later and see what happens.
- My Special Angel – Duncan – the Bobby Helms song from 1957 (US#7). More romantic balladry akin to "Mr Blue" etc
- We'll Work It Out – Geld, Udell – big pop MOR mid 60s sound. Enjoyable.
- Sha La La – Mosely, Taylor – The Manfred Mann song (US#12) from 1964. A good version. Not as good as MMs but still a good foot tapper.
- Time Stands Still – Leslie, Lewis, Russell – another co-write for Lewis and very weird … not great and the nasal singing halfway through the track reminds me of something else. Sonny and Cher did it in "Podunk" I think and didn't the Monkees do it somewhere also? It seemed to be a popular gimmick in late 60s songs when they trying to evoke the 20s or 30s.
- Dreamin' – Devorzon, Ellis – a great soft version of the US#11 1960 Johnny Burnette hit. The regional accent (Burnette was Southern, from Memphis) has been watered down but the song is a good one. And there is a touch of the mini teen opera lushness in this version.
And …
I said it regarding the other Gary Lewis LP and I'll say it again: I like 60s pop … I'll keep this.
Chart Action
The album went to #44 and "Everybody Loves a Clown" went to #4 on the singles chart.
Sound
Everybody Loves a Clown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__vZAjrJsFw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um8qeoV8Xd8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcRg5YLsWow
My Special Angel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_lX7X8EnOU
Sha La La
attached
Dreamin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK-7lasa_oE
other clips:
an oddity for Beatles fans – watch it through:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGSPRTK7ke8&feature=related
Website
http://www.garylewisandtheplayboys.com/
Other Comments
what is Frank Listening to #22
what is Frank Listening to #72
(originally posted:16/09/2009)
