what Frank is listening to #72 – GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS – This Diamond Ring – (Liberty) – 1965
I commented on the "Gary Lewis & The Playboys" LP, "More Golden Greats" back in what is Frank Listening to #22. For some background on Lewis go back to that. Though I did say then in relation to Gary Lewis: "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 have no reason to deviate from that (apart from the fact that the covers outweigh the originals on this LP). 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 (WFILT #52 Hullabaloos, WFILT #55 The 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 – two #1s and five top 10s in two years – he was that popular!) was the wealth of talent in the playing, arranging, producing and writing. All sorts of people were floating through L.A. in the early 60s and many picked up a few bucks as session men and writers in the many West Coast recording studios or ended up doing similar work in Hollywood (in Elvis, beach, and teen films).
It's this access to talent that separates this from many other acts who were happy to ape the Brits.
Allmusic: "The hit single is everything a hit should be, and most anyone on the planet could have sang it with just as much success; the frosting of the production here is the cake, but for camp and cool no one could rain on the Gary Lewis parade which launched with this classic. And don't deny Leon Russell's brilliant arrangement its moment in the sun — the dark keyboards absolutely bring these blues home in their pop setting".
A bit rough on Gary's voice – the sheer neutrality of his voice allows the arrangement to shine I think (though there was some studio trickery – overdubs on the vocal track etc but hey that's pop). In any event its a great song. And its written by (the great) Al Kooper!!! Who would have thunk that? It was his first hit. Al, shortly after backing Dylan (on keyboards) on the maelstrom going electric and in your face English tours, which forever changed music, sessioned for everyone, put out solo albums and co founded the great "Blues Project" and "Blood Sweat and Tears". The guy is a legend :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Kooper
Similarly, Leon Russell who arranged the track (and the album – and also worked a lot with the producer Snuff Garrett and Gary Lewis) is another legend who sessioned for everyone before embarking on a successful, mainly country, career. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_russell
Chances are Glen Campbell played on this also.
Whilst referring to legends … Gary at first was also the drummer in the band … but really Jim Keltner played drums on most of the recordings and eventually on appearances … he guy has sessioned for everyone – including the Beatles solo etc: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wpfwxqe5ld6e~T1
The rest of the album never reaches the heights of the title track but is pleasant enough and quite relaxing. Does rock have to be about "rebellion", why cant it be about "conformity" and "security"? Or maybe it was? There was no rebellion on the Beatles first four albums was there? Or on "Herman's Hermits". In fact I suppose Herman's Hermits is the UK version of Gary Lewis and the Playboys, though not as good.
Snuff Garrett produced (as he did most Hollywood acts) … and the band play well enough … they may have had a hand up through Gary's father (Jerry) but they weren't slumming it … his band started in late 1964 and recorded their first album in 1965 (this was their third album … and it's still 1965!).
The music certainly isn't threatening but it is pleasant and breezy and would be perfect for a coffee bar or high school hop. It is heavy on covers of then recent hits.
The Tracks:
- This Diamond Ring – the best track – read above – #1 US for Gary Lewis.
- Dream Lover – The big Bobby Darin hit (#2) from 1959 – a passable version.
- All Day and All of the Night – yup the great Kinks track (#7 1965) … done as pop. I am partial to the Kinks of course. Any cover is good … I know a good number of you out there will say it's "lame" … but I dont think they were trying to out-rock The Kinks.
- Forget Him – Bobby Rydell's #4 from 1964. I don't know the Rydell track but this is extremely Beatles-y.
- Needles and Pins – The Searchers hit (#13) written by Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche – another great song regardless of who does it.
- Love Potion #9 – a hit for both the Clovers (#23 1959) and The Searchers (#3 in 1964) … and written by the great Leiber and Stoller.
- Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun) – the #9 Del Shannon track from 1964. A great track in the vastly underrated Shannon's hands, and a good track here.
- The Birds and the Bees – a hit for Jewel Akens ( #3 1965).
- Sweet Little Rock and Roller – the only real rocker – Chuck Berry naturally – #47, 1958.
- Go to Him – another original by gads … pleasant enough.
- The Night Has a Thousand Eyes – Bobby Vee's 1964 #3. Probably the best cover on the album. The poppy original lends itself to the Gary Lewis dynamic better than some of the faster numbers.
- The Best Man – Another "original" and a sequel to "The Diamond Ring" where the narrator ends up the best man to the 2-timing hussy of the first track. Actually quite a good song. Again a throwback to the pre Beatles era … though the guitar is decidedly mid 60s.
I said it regarding the other Gary Lewis LP and I'll say it again: I like 60s pop … I'll keep this.
Sound:
This Diamond Ring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPeUNxV4O1E
Dream Lover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvnVZJhs__c
All Day and All of the Night
attached
Forget Him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMcNYE-0DuA
Love Potion #9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzLA67ITBqo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK-btgI5yow
Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyP1qTbXNM4
Birds and the Bees, The
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYwBNHF7b-M
Night Has a Thousand Eyes, The
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGUK5y1ZrIU
The Best Man
attached
Website:
http://www.garylewisandtheplayboys.com/
Website
Al Kooper
http://www.alkooper.com/bio.html
other hits:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um8qeoV8Xd8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oXEQzb4s5c
Other Comments re Gary Lewis and the Playboys:
what is Frank Listening to #22
(originally posted: 08/08/2009)
