Customer Reviews

Emitt Rhodes

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's been no less than 30 years since this album was released and most reviews continue to debate whether this artist derived too many of his musical ideas from Paul McCartney. Let's face facts, his musical abilities are so strong that a case could be made that practically every singer-songwriter who followed was influenced by McCartney to some meaningful degree. I say, why should we care? This is one of the few albums from the early 70's that I still regularly listen to. It's full of great songs that you will never tire of. I can't imagine anyone giving this album a fair hearing and not falling in love with it. No, it was not well received when it was first released. Why not, you ask? For the same reason, Mozart died miserable and broke, and was buried in an unmarked grave. Now, let's get over it, and just enjoy one of the best recordings of its time.

I can't believe no one has reviewed this album yet.
This was originally released soon after McCartney had done his first solo record, playing all the parts and producing himself, Emmit did the same, but many, myself included, feel that he did it better. McCartney (the album) had an off-hand charm that was intentional, but Emmit's album is a very polished piece of work, a masterpiece, in fact. Rhodes was at the top of his game, fresh out of his hit group The Merry-Go-Round and burning with talent. There's not a false note on the album, it's as exquisitely crafted as a Bentley Continental, everything working together to make the whole more than the sum of its decetively simple parts. It has the "inevitable" feel of all perfect works of art. Anyone who likes classic Beatles style power-pop done with melody, soul and grace will bless the day they bought this album.
Emmit, we miss you.

Thank God for the advent of CD's or we might have never seen the re-release of this great album. Here is one of the most talented artists that never made it, commercially- although he came close with the single "Fresh As A Daisy", which still sounds as fresh and melodic today as it did almost 30 years ago. Another reviewer here already stated that this was the album that Paul McCartney should have made but didn't and that reviewer was right on target. This is a must-have CD (along with the two compilation CD's) if you're a McCartney/Beatles fan or just a lover of great, melodic power pop. (BTW, for Rhodes fans, he is supposedly releasing a brand new CD around the first part of 2000!)

I'm not sanguine about the prospects of Emitt Rhodes ever having become a pop star. He was too good. Labels tend to release singles that represent the lowest common denominator of the artist, to appeal to the widest possible market. What you get is often musical plankton.
I wouldn't care for some of my faviorite artists if all I heard of them was from airplay. Fleetwood Mac would be represented to me by, "Don't Stop" (Thinking about Tomorrow), or is it "Don't Stop" (Thinking about the Democrats)? Three Dog Night, a great pop/rock band, would be known to me only by "Joy to the World", a bubblegum jam. Emitt Rhodes has no such banal hooks. He couldn't stoop to conquer.
What blows my mind is how intelligent,and lyrical, Emitt's music is, especially for his age during the time he had recording contracts. The chorus of "Tame the Lion" has one of the most addictive hooks in pop. His self titled album is a complete gem. How I would like to hear a sampling of his unreleased self recordings from these past thirty years. He did it mostly himself anyway.
Did Paul McCartney ever listen to Emitt Rhodes in the dark? I hope he did.

I had the first Emitt Rhodes album when it first came out in 1970(?) and until recently had almost forgotten this great overlooked pop artist. The samples on Amazon brought back all the memory I needed to realize I need to have this back in my collection. This stuff is GOLD. PLEASE somebody re-issue this wonderful record and thank you Emitt, wherever you are, for creating it in the first place.

This album is an absolute classic!!! This is pop music at it's very finest!!! Every song is great and many should have been top ten hits, but that did'nt happen, but who cares? This album is a true classic nonetheless!!! He played every single instrument himself!!! Just like Paul McCartney did!!!(And he sounds a bit like him too!)The song Lullabye from this album was featured in the film "The Royal Tenenbaums!!! A true seventies classic!!! Five Stars!!! A+

Emitt Rhodes has created some beautiful, fun, easy to listen to music. Unlike all pre-fabricated, computer-corrected garbage that is today's popular music [...], Emitt Rhodes is a true MUSICIAN, who can actually SING without the software adjustments to compensate for missing the notes. Not only can he sing, but he can actually PLAY instruments, [....] Not only can he play instruments, but he can WRITE great music. Gone are the days when artists were exactly that -- actual ARTISTS (i.e., Lennon, Dylan, Joplin), [....]Emitt's only sin was he tried to sound like Paul McCartney, another TRUE artist. (Come on, what would an Emitt Rhodes review be without the obligatory McCartney comparison?)And if you're going to try to imitate someone, why not imitate the best? He does a pretty darn good job. Buy this CD. Buy his other CD's. Listen to what music is supposed to be. If all you're interested in is the insincere whiny sounds of boy bands, or the endless chaotic scales of Mariah, et. al., [...] fine, admit what you are and buy their junk. However, if you like real MUSIC, real ART and want to hear a very talented performance, listen to Emitt Rhodes. Don't worry about all the McCartney comparisons. Fresh as a Daisy, Long Time No See, Promises I've Made, Somebody Made for Me, and Lullabye are GREAT songs. You'll listen to this CD and enjoy it for years to come.

If you're reading this review then you've either heard of or stumbled on to one of the great albums ever. Yes he sounds like Paul and he plays all the instruments but really who cares, the fact is you won't be able to get his songs out of your mind once you hear them. Don't know why he stopped making albums but this album is classic, you can buy the import "Emitt Rhodes Best Of Dunhill Years" which includes all of this first solo album and cuts from his 2nd and 3rd albums, that's the way to go. Then you can seek out his early cuts with the Merry Go Round which I found on .... It's all great timeless music (which holds up much better then Paul's solo stuff) you won't want to remove from your cd player. If you've never heard this then take a leap of faith and go for it now, you won't be disappointed.

The logical follow up to "Abbey road" everyone expected Paul McCartney to make after he left his well known Liverpool band. But he didn't ... . Emitt Rhodes did. He penned, produced, played and sang everything himself on this underated master-peice. A must-have for every fan of the fab four and everyone who likes a well-penned pop tune.

That is a good description of my emotion when I first heard this tune in 1970. To this day, this album continues to amaze me. There is not a bad song on it. What makes it all the more incredible, he does everything himself. Though this ultimately turned out to be his downfall, therefore robbing him and us of a long life listening to his new creations, there is no doubting his talent and desire. His earlier recordings with the Merry-Go-Round and the solo A&M effort prior to the Dunhill years, showed promise of the things to come. Rather than give you my impression of every song on this CD, listen to it yourself. If you are not blown away, then what I have to offer wouldn't matter. The music itself tells it all.

My advice is to obtain copies of all his CD's, especially the Dunhill releases before they disappear. The two 'greatest hits' packages are also worthwhile. Load them all into your CD changer and press play cuz if you appreciate good hooks, harmonies and emotion, Emitt displays them all on every song. Take a listen to the opening selection on this CD and you'll know what I mean. This is one of the CD's I will take with me to the hereafter!