Emitt Rhodes

1964–1969: The Palace Guard and the Merry-Go-Round

Rhodes was interested in music from a young age.^[5] At the age of 14, he became the drummer of the garage band the Emerals,^[3] made up of friends from his high school.^[5] He became the drummer largely because his parents had a garage that the band could practice in. Rhodes attended the same school as the Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson (Rhodes was a freshman during Wilson's senior year) and joked that "[Wilson] borrowed my drums and broke a drum pedal and owes me one of those. I've yet to receive it."^[3]

By 1965, the band was known as The Palace Guard.^[4] They were musically influenced by the Byrds and the Beatles, and dressed in the red uniform of royal British guardsmen.^[4][7] The band regularly played two shows a night, six nights a week at the Hullabaloo on the Sunset Strip. Rhodes was given one solo spot per show—performing the Beatles song "Michelle", originally sung by Paul McCartney.^[3][8] In 1966, The Palace Guard released their single "Falling Sugar".^[3][1] The Palace Guard were briefly the backing band for Don Grady.^[7] Rhodes left the band after Russ Shaw, son of music publisher Eddie Shaw at A&M Records, caught Rhodes singing "Michelle" and convinced him to sign with A&M.^[3]

By the age of 16, Rhodes was the leader and primary songwriter of the psychedelic pop band The Merry-Go-Round, and signed a contract with A&M.^[1][5][4] The band was a West Coast take on British Invasion music.^[6] Their 1967 self-titled album, on which Rhodes wrote 10 of its 12 songs, charted at #190,^[7][8][9] and the single "Live", written by Rhodes, reached number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[7] They also had the top 100 hit "You're a Very Lovely Woman".^[5][7] The band featured on the ABC television variety show "The Hollywood Palace".^[7] Around this time, Rhodes appeared on The Dating Game.^[10] A&M left the band in 1969, and the group disbanded the same year.^[3][10]

1969–1973: Solo artist

Rhodes pursued a solo career.^[10] In 1969, he signed a contract with ABC/Dunhill Records which called for an album every six months for three years.^[5][4] Rhodes nor his parents showed the contract to an attorney before Rhodes signed it.^[3] With a $5,000 advance from A&M,^[6][3] Rhodes turned his parents' garage into a home recording studio^[a] and recorded his planned debut solo album, on which he played every instrument and sung every vocal part.^[10] His single "Fresh as a Daisy" (1970) reached number 54 on the pop chart^[12][7][13] and stayed there for nine weeks.^[7] To bank off its success, A&M released the album The American Dream (1970), a compilation of tracks Rhodes had recorded with studio musicians during his time in The Merry-Go-Round^[4][14] to fulfill his contract with A&M. Rhodes did not approve of the release and was allowed little input.^[6]

Rhodes's self-recorded album Emitt Rhodes released in 1970 to critical success.^[5][3][11] Billboard called Rhodes "one of the finest artists on the music scene today"^[5] and in 1996 called the album one of the "best albums of the decade".^[8] It reached number 29 on the Billboard charts.^[1][5][10] However, the near-simultaneous release of two albums credited to Rhodes confused record buyers and stunted his career momentum.^[4][14]

Rhodes's musical style was considered so similar to the Beatles and Paul McCartney that some listeners thought the album was a secret Beatles or McCartney record. He was later dubbed the "one-man Beatles". On comparisons, Rhodes stated in 2002: "It was really flattering. Those guys were my idols."^[5][10][12]

Prior to his first solo show Emitt broke in his new material with his backing band, Jim Leitch on bass and Lee Carroll on guitar, at high school sock hops around the San Fernando Valley. At one show the front of the stage was empty and hipsters sitting at the side were asked if they recognized the singer. Met with a blank stare they were asked if they remembered the Merry-Go-Round. One jumped up and went diagonally to the back of the gym, which lead to the buzz being spread, and the stage was packed by the next song.^{[citation needed]}

Rhodes opened for the week at the Troubadour nightclub on February 9, 1971 with Leitch and Carroll, concurrent with a large earthquake that struck the Los Angeles area. An ad that ran in Billboard said "That wasn't an earthquake, that was Emitt Rhodes opening at the Troubadour!" Dan Hicks was the opening act for the week.^{[citation needed]}

Despite his reluctance,^[6] Rhodes toured to promote the album,^[3] though he could barely tour anyway in the rush to record a second album to meet the demands of his contract.^[10] By May 1971, he was writing and demoing a follow-up solo album, using an eight-track recorder.^[11]

Rhodes's solo album Mirror released in 1971^[5] and reached the top 200 on the Billboard charts.^{[citation needed]} Rhodes toured the country to support the album.^[5] Rhodes's next album Farewell to Paradise released in 1973.^[5] Rhodes used an eight-track recorder for Mirror and Farewell to Paradise. The mixdown engineer on Farewell to Paradise was Curt Boettcher.^{[citation needed]}

Rhodes had signed away his songs' royalty rights "in perpetuity". Dunhill sued Rhodes for $250,000 and withheld royalties because of his failure to deliver albums on the timescale required by the contract.^[5][10] The schedule was one that Rhodes struggled to meet, due to writing all of the songs and recording each instrument and vocal individually by himself.^[5][4] Rhodes was a perfectionist, and Emitt Rhodes took nearly a year to record.^[4]

1973–2009

After Farewell to Paradise, Rhodes stepped away from performing.^[10][5][12] He later stated: "It was a Herculean task and it was impossible for me to do." He also stated: "There were lawsuits and lawyers and I wasn't having any fun anymore... Simple as that. I worked really hard and there was no reward."^[15]

He continued to record his songs in his studio, but they were unreleased except for the song "Isn't It So" on Listen, Listen.^{[16][better source needed]} He worked as a recording engineer and record producer for Elektra Records.^[5][12] Rhodes produced an album for the Canadian performer Bim, as well as the 1976 novelty single "Up Your Nose" by Gabe Kaplan.^[4] In 1978 Rhodes had begun work on a solo album for Elektra Records, but abandoned it after the A&R man he was working with was fired.^{[17][better source needed]} He rejected an offer to produce The Bangles in the 1980s.^[14] The Bangles covered "Live" and included it on their debut studio album All Over the Place (1984), though Rhodes did not make royalties from it.^[3]

Both "Falling Sugar" and "Live" were featured on the influential psychedelic rock compilation Nuggets.^[6][1][15]

The New York Times reported that "Rhodes's contract with a record label in 1999 "went belly up before he got to work".^[14] In 2000 he had completed a solo album for the Rocktopia label, but the label was shut down before they could release it.^{[17][18][better source needed]} He ran his own home studio for recording other acts.^[10][19] Rhodes's song "Lullabye" (from Emitt Rhodes) was featured in the 2001 Wes Anderson film The Royal Tenenbaums;^[10][1][5] actor Jason Schwartzman had introduced the song to Anderson.^[10] Due to his contract with Dunhill, Rhodes did not make royalties from the film's use of "Lullabye". According to journalist Matt Schudel in 2020, new agreements were ultimately made which allowed Rhodes to profit from his earlier work.^[5][12] The song's inclusion in the film introduced a new generation to Rhodes.^[6]

In January 2002, it was reported that Rhodes recorded "a few songs" with musician Ray Paul, but plans for a comeback album were cancelled when the record label closed.^[10]

2009–2012: The One Man Beatles and new solo recordings

Rhodes's four solo albums were released by Universal in 2009 as The Emitt Rhodes Recordings 1969 – 1973.^[7][15]

In January and February 2009, Italian director Cosimo Messeri shot a documentary film focused on Rhodes. The documentary, titled The One Man Beatles, was selected for the International Rome Film Festival 2009,^{[20][15][better source needed]} and it received standing ovations. In 2010, The One Man Beatles was nominated for David di Donatello Award as Best Documentary of 2010.^{[20][better source needed]} Its U.S. premiere was scheduled for May 29, 2010, at the Rhino Records Pop Up Store in Westwood, Los Angeles.^[21]

In 2009, Rhodes once again entered the recording studios with a new band and all-new material, joined by the co-founder of The Grass Roots and The Merry-Go-Round drummer Joel Larson, co-founder and former bassist for Counting Crows, Matt Malley, and guitarists Jim Rolfe and Dan Mayer.^{[citation needed]}

In 2010, Rhodes, along with Matt Malley, joined Iain Matthews on a new version of "Time Will Show the Wiser," arranged, produced and performed by Nick Vernier Band. This recording, initially released on Nick Vernier Band's Sessions album, marked Rhodes's first new release as a featured artist in almost four decades. Both Rhodes and Matthews recorded this Rhodes original early on in their careers, the song being starting points as well as signature works for the Merry-Go-Round and Fairport Convention respectively. The new version united the two singers in an Indian musical setting. Also in 2010, a tribute album titled Long Time, No See was released. It contained Rhodes's songs recorded by various artists.^{[citation needed]}

On November 3, 2011, Rhodes released three new songs on iTunes titled "Just Me And You", "What's A Man to Do" and "This Wall Between Us", featuring backup singing by Vicki and Debbi Peterson of The Bangles and guitar work by Richard Thompson. These were removed from sale shortly after release, by recording facility 201 Studios, due to litigation.^{[22][better source needed]}

2013–2020: Rainbow Ends

Musician and producer Chris Price approached Rhodes around 2007,^[5][19][6] and Rhodes initially turned down Price's offers to produce Price's music.^[19] Rhodes subsequently showed Price unrecorded songs he had written.^{[12][5][23][14][6]} In 2014, Rhodes and Price began on a full album of songs, recorded in his original home studio, intended as a stylistic follow-up to Farewell to Paradise.^[23][5] During these sessions, Rhodes recorded a cover of the Bee Gees hit "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" for a tribute album called To Love the Bee Gees, released in November 2015 by 80 Proof Records and Tapes. On April 18, 2015, the recording was released as a limited edition 45 rpm single on red vinyl, as a Record Store Day exclusive.^{[7][citation needed]}

On November 12, 2015, it was announced that Rhodes's first album in 43 years was to be released on February 26, 2016, through Omnivore Recordings. The album is titled Rainbow Ends and is produced by Price. It features contributions from Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., Jason Falkner, Aimee Mann, Jon Brion, Susanna Hoffs, Nels Cline, Pat Sansone, Taylor Locke,^[19] Fernando Perdomo,^{[citation needed]} Joe Seiders,^[5] Bleu, Probyn Gregory and Nelson Bragg.^{[citation needed]} The first single, "Dog On A Chain", featuring harmonies by Mann and a solo by Brion, was premiered by the Wall Street Journal's blog Speakeasy.^[19] Rhodes had written it in the late 1970s.^[19] Rainbow Ends was released to favorable reviews,^[5][12] including 4 star reviews from Mojo,^[24] All Music Guide,^[25] American Songwriter^[26] and a highly favorable review in The Washington Post that said "in a better world [it] would have topped the charts in 1978 or so."^[27] Rhodes described Rainbow Ends as a continuation.^[4]

After Rainbow Ends’s release, Rhodes cancelled all planned public performances, including a comeback appearance scheduled at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, as he was unwilling to travel far from his home.^[5][6] According to Price, there were efforts for Rhodes to perform live at an annual Wild Honey benefit show in Los Angeles, but it did not eventuate.^[7][15]

Studio albums

Singles

Collections

• Daisy-Fresh from Hawthorne, California (The Best of the Dunhill Years)^[34]

Daisy-Fresh includes all of the songs from Emitt Rhodes, six songs from Mirror, four songs from Farewell to Paradise, plus the single "Tame the Lion".^[34] Released in 1998 by Edsel Records (EDCD 569).

• Listen, Listen: The Best of Emitt Rhodes

Listen, Listen contains five songs from the Merry-Go-Round, one song from The American Dream, seven songs from Emitt Rhodes, four songs from Mirror, two songs from Farewell to Paradise, plus the single "Tame the Lion" and the previously-unreleased 1980 song "Isn't it So". Released in 1995 by Varèse Sarabande – VSD-5612, Varèse Vintage (VSD-5612).

• The Merry-Go-Round: Listen, Listen: The Definitive Collection

A nearly complete collection of Merry-Go-Round songs, almost all written and sung by Rhodes. The Merry-Go-Round (stereo version) and American Dream LPs are included in their entirety, as are the mono mix of "Time Will Show the Wiser" and a few non-album singles. Not included are the mono mix of The Merry-Go-Round and the unique single mixes of "Come Ride, Come Ride" and "'Til the Day After". Released in 2005 by Rev-Ola (cr rev 110).

• Royal Tenenbaums: Collector's Edition CD

"Lullabye" appears.

• The Emitt Rhodes Recordings (1969–1973)

A two CD Collection released in 2009 by Hip-O Select, A&M Records, Geffen Records (B0012926-02):

• CD 1: The American Dream (all thirteen songs from both versions) and Emitt Rhodes
• CD 2: Mirror and Farewell to Paradise, plus the single "Tame the Lion"