When you read articles this month about "celebrities we've lost in 2020," you'll rightfully find familiar musician names such as Charley Pride, Eddie Van Halen, and Little Richard, but it will be the rare list that mentions Emitt Rhodes. That's a shame.
I first heard of Emitt Rhodes back in 2017 after the release of his Rainbow Ends album. I was immediately hooked and thought this compilation would be a good look back at his earlier releases. (Admittedly, I had heard his song Live covered on The Bangles' All Over The Place album, but never put that together until recently.) This compilation contains five songs from The Merry-Go-Round (1967), one song from The American Dream (1970), seven songs from Emitt Rhodes (1970), four songs from Mirror (1971), two songs from Farewell to Paradise (1973), plus the single Tame the Lion (1972) and the previously-unreleased Isn't it So (1980). The CD is a wonderful tour through well-crafted pop music that didn't get the sort of exposure and success such good music deserves.
Rhodes's solo contract with the Dunhill label required him to deliver an album every six months for three years. It would be tough for any artist to meet those demands, much less someone like Rhodes who wrote all his own material and recorded each instrument/vocal individually by himself at a home studio. The recording industry chewed him up and spit him out.
When Rhodes died earlier this year, I was led to the heartbreaking documentary on his life, The One Man Beatles, which I caught before it was removed from streaming services. If you can find it, it is recommended viewing just as his music is recommended listening.
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Tracks: All 21 tracks are worth your time. Every dang one of 'em. To me, the music of The Merry-Go-Round lies somewhere at an intersection of The Association, Nick Drake, The Monkees, and The Mamas & The Papas. Rhodes' solo work progresses into Badfinger-ish/Big Star-ish power pop. And 1980's Isn't It So finds Rhodes headed in the direction of the nearest yacht marina.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: none
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