I can find next to nothing on-line regarding John Randolph Marr.
Likewise the texts I have reveal nothing.
His voice (unless he is doing a John Fogerty who is Californian) would suggest he is form the south or south-west.
Snippets of news seem to suggest he worked, in the late 60s, around Las Vegas and Los Angeles doing jazz, then did a stint with Louis Prima before landing this album deal.
I bought this because of the Harry Nilsson link.
“A Nilsson House Production.”
“Recording sessions for John Randolph Marr began in 1969 with Nilsson at the helm. He produced backing tracks for two of the songs that would eventually appear on the record: a cover of his own “1941” and Marr’s haunting “Pity the Man.” But when trying to get vocal performances out of Marr, Nilsson became frustrated and gave Gary Osborn a shot. Pleased with the results, Nilsson passed the project on to Osborn who produced the remaining ten tracks with Hank Cicalo on board as engineer. The album was released on the Warner Brothers label in 1970 with album design by Dean Torrence (of Jan and Dean)”. http://www.popgeekheaven.com/music-discovery/lost-treaures-john-randolph-marr
And, I can see why Nilsson would like Marr.
Marr is not straight. There is a lot going on and it’s not “straight down the line” pop and rock.
And, that is quirky.
And, that is Nilsson.
And, that is admirable.
And, that was perfect for it's time (and would be welcomed today).
Marr hops many genres and there is an avid sense of musical history with a experimentation that one now only finds (seems to) in underground or indie music.
There is no doubt that the sounds here are radio friendly but they are arranged and developed in a way that makes them off kilter.
For comparisons, think the aforesaid Harry Nilsson, as well as Randy Newman, Biff Rose and Joe South.
There is a fair bit of country funk (southern white country and pop laced with black funk and blues) in the sound, as we as some baroque pop, white soul, sunshine pop and psychedelic pop.
There is, also, a carnival revival feel to the album, which was something popular in the late 60s with The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and others. Guitars are dominated over by horns and strings on the rock songs which just adds to the carnival, revival meeting tone of celebration and jubilation.
It is certainly southern style.
Think Tony Joe South or Jerry Reed crossed with Nilsson.
Nothing I have said is bad. It is all good.
Everything Marr likes I like.
Vocally Marr’s voice has touches of Ray Charles, Randy Newman, Joe South, Delaney Bramlett, and David Clayton-Thomas.
And, importantly, he was around at the right time. There was something in the air (and in the recording studios) of the South in the mid-to-late 60s where mostly white southern musicians brought up on rock n roll, gospel and country but with a taste for R&B, soul and funk began to mix everything up and create a unique sound loosely described swamp pop or swamp rock.
He was given a shot.
He recorded one album only.
This one.
Tracks (best in italics)
Side One
- Hallelujah – (Johnny Caswell) – Johnny Caswell was the vocalist for Crystal Mansion. A late 60s early 70s pop and rock band. This track appeared on their self-titled debut album from 1969. This has a gospel, swamp-funk feel with strong horn sections, much like Delaney & Bonnie.
- 1941 – (Harry Nilsson) – First release by Nilsson (1967). It’s a little like Blood Sweat & Tears' 1968 hit, "Spinning Wheel". This is baroque pop southern style, with lush orchestration and detailed arrangements.
- I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now? – (Frank Adams / Will M. Hough / Joseph E. Howard) – a great trad pop tin pan alley song done by everyone. It pre-empts Nilsson’s own foray into trad pop standards a few years later on “A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night” (1973). It is a beautiful, bittersweet and heartfelt rendition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Wonder_Who%27s_Kissing_Her_Now
- Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham – (Delaney Bramlett / Mac Davis) – I don't know how Delaney and Mac Davis hooked up but both were southern boys, working as songwriters for pop, rock and country acts. So, it is inevitable. The first version of this song was first released by an Scotsman (with an American disposition) Alex Harvey on his on Roman Wall Blues (1969) album. There were four other versions released in 1970 apart from Marr. Pop queen Nancy Sinatra, British blues rockers Juicy Lucy, American psych blues rockers Blue Cheer, girl group Eve (formerly Honey Ltd) and Mac Davis himself. There is a discussion of the song here; http://funky16corners.com/?p=4271 .This has a swamp-funk feel with strong horn sections and a harpsichord intro!
- Pity the Man – (John Randolph Marr) – mid tempo, strident and topical. Not too bad but very familiar and not too dissimilar from Blood Sweat and Tears.
Side Two
- We Had Something – (John Randolph Marr / Gary Osborne) – I assume co-wrietr (and producer) Osborn is the English songwriter (and Elton John, Albert Hammond and Jeff Wayne collaborator) but I don't know for sure. This is guitar-driven boogie pop song somewhere between Badfinger and the early Doobie Brothers. An interesting place to be. Quite catchy and even memorable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Osborne
- Sarah – (John Randolph Marr) – strident and deliberate.
- One Shot Lady – (John Randolph Marr) – a southern novelty song, like a relative of Jerry Reed’s “Amos Moses” (released October 1970)
- Raggedy Ann – (John Randolph Marr) – This is baroque pop, with detailed arrangements. A great song.
- Free – (Chris Andrews) – English singer and songwriter who wrote quite a few hits. "We gotts be free" … a very familiar theme circa 1970. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Andrews_(singer)
And …
Not perfect but interesting enough to be a keeper, so … I'm keeping it.
Chart Action
Nothing nowhere
Sounds
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmYrprQyLvw
Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF3Fg38gFx8
Raggedy Ann
mp3 attached
Others
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnkS8HFkdkE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9-PtHP7Jq4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCblYlAkv4M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuCV5OCVNes
Review
http://www.popgeekheaven.com/music-discovery/lost-treaures-john-randolph-marr
http://www.zeroto180.org/?cat=705
http://intorelativeobscurity.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/john-randolph-marr-raggedy-ann.html
http://playitagainmax.blogspot.com.au/2007/01/john-randolph-marr-john-randolph-marr.html
Bio
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Website
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Trivia
- Arranged by Ian Freebairn Smith – A1, A3, A4, B4, B5. Arranged by George Tipton – A2, A5, B3. Arranged by Mike Melvoin – B1, B2. Producer: Gary Osborne (uncredited Harry Nilsson)
- From The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas · Wednesday, June 17, 1970, “"I used to have contests with Bill Medley (formerly one of the Righteous Brothers) to see who sounded the most like Ray Charles," says Randy, "and I always won." He still does sound like Ray a bit, but he's starting to sound more like Randy Marr and that's good’.
- He seems to have done musical theatre in the 80s as Randy Marr in "Tom Foolery Show"
