I'm going through a Gary Lewis stage … I've already commented on three other LPs and I have more.
The guy was nothing if not prolific and I'm nothing if not sporadically obsessive.
OK, so its not taxing stuff … but, if Gary didn't have the chart success there would be no recordings. Record companies rarely like throwing away money.
In the past I have said, "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"
Again I have no reason to deviate from this. The musianship is solid, the arrangements (Leon Russell) are inventive, the production (Snuff Garrett) highlights the best aspects of the music. The only things to consider from album to album is:
•What is the number of originals to covers?
•Are the covers AE/PB (After Elvis/Pre-Beatles) pop rock, British beat or both?
•Do any of the songs transcend their origins and become part of the 60s pop zeitgeist?
Gary has often been criticized for his vocal ability and his "nerdish" persona: Check out this review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gvfixqq5ldae.
My response: Whatever they say he was never as bad as Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits.
And anyway, so what? Maybe the guy invented nerd rock … now that's something!
This album, which is his second, steers away from British Invasion and tends to mine the AE/PB years (After Elvis/Pre-Beatles 1960-64 ). Otherwise, it follows the first album pretty closely – in fact the first four albums are pretty much interchangeable. There is nothing wrong with that, is there? The Ramones made a career out it, didn't they? Gary Lewis LPs sink or swim on the strength of their individual tracks. Most of his albums have one or two hit singles so its the non-hits that count, when looking at his album as a whole.
There is a distinctive Lewis style sound I have described above as – "a romantic, lush pop rock with lyrics that are very mid 60s california – fun, sun, happy and optimistic" – and there is nothing wrong with that, and that must be remembered when listening to Lewis.
The Tracks ( the best in italics)
- Count Me In – Glen D. Hardin – A great pop single and total fluff. Written by Glen Hardin who was Elvis' piano player live and in the studio for most of the 1970s.
- Travellin' Man – Fuller – Ricky Nelson's #1 from 1961 … a great song regardless of who does it.
- Concrete and Clay – Parker-Moeller – a recent cover of the Unit 4+2 #28 US hit.
- Walk Right Back – Cutis – the Everly Brothers #7 from 1961.
- For Your Love – Gouldman – the Yardbirds #6 from 1965. Written by Graham Gouldman, later of 10CC. Lewis takes a fair stab at it … it's not rock any more but it's pleasant enough.
- Save Your Heart for Me – Geld-Udell – this song is way out of place in 1965 – total cheese it is. But it went to #2 so who can argue with that.
- Palisades Park – C. Barris – a #3 for Freddy Cannon from 1962. Written by Chuck Barris of "Gong Show" fame.
- Without a Word of Warning – Leslie-Russell-Lewis – an original and a excellent song. I have noticed the Gary Lewis originals aren't too bad – in fact they are good. This song is quite haunting it its own way and it reminds be a bit of the Sunnyboys "Alone with You" from 1981 … quite a bit. Compare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOfUPITRZ9M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtatMnwLFps
- Voodoo Woman – Goldsboro – Bobby Goldsboro's #27 from 1965.
- Free Like Me – Glen D. Hardin – I love the organ … it reminds me of a mini "Telstar".
- Little Miss Go Go – Leslie-Russell-Lewis – another original. A cash-in on the beach-surf-hot rod sound, and a hoot, though I have always been a sucker for surf music.
She can find her fun most anyplace,
Stayin' at home or goin' to a hot rod race.
The guys are standin' in line to take her out,
She knows what to do when the band plays "Twist And Shout",
Little miss go-go, little miss go-go,
Ooh, well, look at her go,
Well, look at her go.
- Runaway – Shannon-Crook – A cover of Del Shannon's magnificent #1 from 1961. Very, very respectable but nothing can compete with Del's version not even Elvis' magnificent live version from 1969. A organ of some sorts here substitutes for the musitron keyboards of Del's original … and its really up front – it hops up out of the player and hits you over the head before retreating again.
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 #18 …. a very respectable position for a singles band. The album also had two Top 10 singles – "Count Me In" and "Save Your Heart for Me" both went to #2.
Sound
Count Me In
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsdtjdvt1ko
Save Your Heart for Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEiguksC60c
Without a Word of Warning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOfUPITRZ9M
Free Like Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NAMpi0-iQg
Little Miss Go Go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GSPhnGlkDo
Runaway
attached
Del Shannon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TLLcvWeiKw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSkV9pdzLgo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSuztm8G9TY&feature=related
Elvis' "Runaway" from 1969 – he introduces Del Shannon at the end
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GVdAlHIkKg
Website
http://www.garylewisandtheplayboys.com/
Bio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Lewis_%26_the_Playboys
Other Comments
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(originally posted: 04/10/2009)
