Amongst the musical intelligentsia (if that isn’t an oxymoron) Tommy Roe is largely forgotten in relation to his musical contributions.
The one exception in this album.
And that exception is not a result of Tommy’s contributions but of Curt Boettcher.
Here his involvement is as vocal arranger, vocalist, percussionist and perhaps (probably producer).
Boettcher is, pretty much, a legend, especially amongst sunshine pop and 60s pop aficionados.
First sunshine pop … if there ever was a title which accurately described its contents …
“Sunshine pop originated in the American state of California in the mid to late-1960s, beginning as an outgrowth of the California Sound and folk rock movements. Rooted in easy-listening, advertising jingles, and the growing drug culture, the music is characterized by lush vocals and light arrangements similar to samba music. Most of the acts were lesser-known bands named after fruits, colors, or cosmic concepts who imitated more popular groups like the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, and the 5th Dimension. In some ways the genre is similar to baroque pop music through being elaborate and melancholic, though it also crossed into folk pop and Brill Building styles. It may be seen as a form of escapism from the turmoil of the times. The A.V. Club's Noel Murray writes: "sunshine pop acts expressed an appreciation for the beauty of the world mixed with a sense of anxiety that the good ol' days were gone for good." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_pop
Now, Curt …
Wikipedia: "Curtis Roy Boettcher (January 7, 1944 – June 14, 1987), sometimes credited as Curt Boetcher or Curt Becher, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer from Wisconsin. He was a pivotal figure in what is now termed "sunshine pop", working with the Association, the Millennium, Sagittarius, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Tommy Roe, Elton John, Gene Clark, Emitt Rhodes, Tandyn Almer, the Beach Boys, and others … The New York Times wrote of Boettcher: "If his life had gone just a bit differently, [he] might have been another Brian Wilson. … As it stands, Boettcher — a pop-music producer whose heyday was the late ’60s — now survives in rock history mostly as a liner-note credit. He could have been, but never was. Yet he enjoys a godlike status among a select group of music fans, for whom obscurity is more enticing than fame."" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curt_Boettcher
It was probably as a result of his successful chart placing work with The Association that he was given a producing gig (in 1966) with Tommy Roe, and he was 22 years old at the time (Tommy was 24).
In 1966, he “produced” two singles for Tommy, "Sweet Pea" and "Hooray for Hazel" which both did very well in the charts, #8 and #6 respectively. Production on both was credited to Boettcher's "Our Productions" partner, Steve Clark, but Boettcher later claimed that he himself produced these recordings.
Either way the following year, Boettcher produced (though Clark took the credit again) this album.
The liner notes indicate he was involved with a large part of the production of the album
Boettcher does bring his sizeable skills, arrangements and personality to the recording sessions as well as his friends and former and future bandmate members (Dotti Holmberg, Michele O'Malley, Sandy Salisbury and Lee Mallory) but this is still a Tommy Roe record and Tommy’s skills are substantial.
Check my other entries for background on Tommy.
This was his fifth album and the time, 1967, was right for some experimentation with the pop rock format he had become comfortable (and famous) with.
Tommy still writes (or co-writes) all of the songs as well as, no doubt, taking a hand in the record sounds.
Curt’s arrangements are wonderful and do add a lot but this record still sounds like Tommy Roe, which, often is called bubblegum pop, but is more rockier and grittier than that … like a super pop Del Shannon.
And, that is a good place to be.
His pop has an edge and grit which work (perhaps surprisingly) well with Boettcher’s lush sunshine pop.
Added is all the experimentation and adventuresome frolicking to be found in music circa 1967 … or 1966 when I suspect it was recorded.
Sound effects, loops, atmospheric sounds all filtered through a gently psychedelic gauze.
And, of course most of the tunes are written or co-written by Roe something he did on most of his albums. Clearly he wasn't a pre-packaged pop star, not that there is anything wrong with that (depending). These songs (according to the liner notes) were written over a three year period from 1964 but as a result of Boettcher's work they all sound 1967.
Ultimately whether this album is more Roe or Boettcher is probably irrelevant as both seem to have been coming from the same place both musically and in temperament.
This is super sunshine pop, as if The Monkees spent more time in the California street than in the studio, with big dollops of the Association as well as hints Lou Christie, and early Neil Diamond.
It's also not surprising that after one more psych-pop album, 1967's Phantasy, which failed to chart (with no significant singles) Roe went back to a straighter pop formula and pushed out a couple more hits before the turn of the decade, including "Dizzy"#1US, UK 1969 (and in a lot of places), "Heather Honey" #29 US 1969 and in 1970 "Jam Up and Jelly Tight" #8 US.
Tracks (best in italics)
Side One
- Leave Her – (R. Whitley, T. Roe) – wonderful. A great pop song and very 1967.
- Moon Talk – Mokees like and perhaps ahead of them a little, like something off " Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd" from late 1967. A song about love amongst potential moon landings …
- Aggravation – more Monkees with a touch of early Neil Diamond and as good as any above average filler on any of their albums.
- Golden Girl – Tiin Pan Alley bubblegum pop with links in the pre Beatles and late 60s.
- Misty Eyes – pumping drums with a "Bo Diddley" type of beat. Garage leanings, if your garage was full of female backing vocalists.
- Have Pity On Me – a slow blue eyed horn fuelled gentle soul song like Lou Christie or Len Barry.
Side Two
- Sing Along With Me – a happy sing a long song (err, look at the title) that sounds a little like television ad from the time
- Long Live Love – (B. Bowie, T. Roe) – very 60s, "love is the magic potion that can ease the troubled mind" …but catchy.
- Nightime – (R. Whitley, T. Roe) – a gentle mid-tempo pop. Full of good vibes as "troubles leave my mind".
- Cry On Crying Eyes – a dark slow pop song. So so.
- Sweet Sounds – (B. Bowie, T. Roe) – bouncy pop like the stuff Tommy made his name on but gussied up with some sunshine arrangements.
- It's Now Winter's Day – A magnificent atmospheric song, that reminds me of snowy days here in Queensland (okay, cold nights watching movies with snowy days). Apparently, according to Tommy, “The original title of my hit song ‘It’s Now Winters Day,” was “It’s Now Christmas Day.” My record label talked me into changing the title because they believed it would reach a larger audience. Although the mid sixties release charted for me in Billboard magazine as “It’s Now Winters Day” I have always wanted to re-record it as I wrote it”. (which he did later in the 2000s) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_p9ffAHd1U
Everyone is warm inside their houses in the snow
The mercury is dropping down to minus ten below
Outside it's chilling, but inside it's thrilling
With fireplaces burning and records that keep turning
And …
A wonderful album that lags a little at the start of the second side but gives ample rewards to the listener. Greatly undervalued…. I'm keeping it.
Chart Action
US
Singles
1967 It's Now Winter's Day #23
1967 Sweet Sounds (failed to chart)
1967 Sing Along with Me #91
Album
1967 #159
England
nothing
Sounds
Leave Her
mp3 attached
Moon Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il9ghO0ZpmQ
Aggravation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umVl1S91bn0
Golden Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UYTDiFNij8
Misty Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1f_Il6AH_w
Have Pity On Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_cj-jhMZKA
Sing Along With Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc0IR0zz5mw
Long Live Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsrp7o5xSVQ
Nightime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HhkBVpkcag
Cry On Crying Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjlAIj3Xk7M
Sweet Sounds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LDhc-G5hCs
It's Now Winter's Day
Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChiQNaIxTOI
live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_p9ffAHd1U
Others
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BwauaXAlc
Review
https://www.allmusic.com/album/its-now-winters-day-mw0000745404
https://popdiggers.com/tommy-roe-its-now-winters-day/
http://psychedelicobscurities.blogspot.com.au/2008/07/tommy-roe-1967-its-now-winters-day.html
http://akashaman.blogspot.com.au/2010/02/tommy-roe-its-now-winters-day-69-abc.html
Bio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Roe
https://sites.google.com/site/tommyroefanclub/
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tommy-roe-mn0000627337/biography
http://www.waybackattack.com/roetommy.html
http://www.popcultureclassics.com/tommy_roe.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curt_Boettcher
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_pop
Website
https://www.tommyroe.com/The_Official_Tommy_Roe_Web_Site/Home.html
https://www.facebook.com/tommyroeofficial/?rc=p
Trivia
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Personnel: Guitar, Vocals – Tommy Roe / Arranged By [Vocal Arrangements] – Curt Boettcher / Backing Vocals – Dottie Holmberg, Lee Mallory, Michelle O'Malley, Sandy Salisbury, Sharon Olsen / Bass – (future Elvis
