Listen Listen: Definitive Collection [Import, Original recording remastered]

The Merry-Go-Round | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Rev-Ola
• ASIN: B0007XTO5M
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,465 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #65 in Music > Pop > Oldies > Baroque Pop

Track Listings

1. Live

2. Time Will Show the Wiser

3. On Your Way Out

4. Gonna Fight the War

5. Had to Run Around

6. We're in Love

7. You're a Very Lovely Woman

8. Where Have You Been All My Life

9. Early in the Morning

10. Low Down

11. A Clown's No Good

12. Gonna Leave You Alone

13. Mother Earth

14. Pardon Me

15. Textile Factory

16. Someone Died

17. Come Ride, Come Ride

18. Let's All Sing

19. Holly Park

20. Mary Will You Take My Hand

See all 29 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete collection of '60s Brit-influenced baroque-folk-rock, December 21, 2005

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Listen Listen: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

Rev-Ola's 29-track collection pulls together everything that was released by this Southern California band, along with the solo LP that group leader Emitt Rhodes waxed before heading off to record for Dunhill. This includes the whole of the band's eponymous 1967 LP (tracks 1-12), the 1971 Emitt Rhodes LP "The American Dream" (tracks 13-24), and five A- and B-sides from singles. For good measure, the CD includes a bonus track of the band playing the Beach Boys' "California Girls" with their A&M label head Herb Alpert on trumpet.

The debut album shows the band to have merged its West Coast background (Palace Guard, Leaves, Grass Roots) with a substantial British Invasion influence (Beatles, Badfinger, Zombies). There's also a helping of the ornate baroque-rock brought to the charts by Michael Brown and the Left Banke. These influences stayed with Rhodes as the band members peeled off and left him to record solo sides with session players from the Wrecking Crew. Unsurprisingly, the later sides show influence of later Beatles work - particularly the Magical Mystery Tour era Paul McCartney.

The Merry Go Round's album is superb, from the well-known "Live" (covered popularly by The Bangles) and the brilliantly produced follow-up "Time Will Show the Wiser" (covered by Fairport Convention on their own debut) to the minor-key "You're a Very Lovely Woman" (covered by Linda Ronstadt in 1971). Rhodes' songs were more than good enough to garner covers by other artists, they convinced his label to let he and the band write their entire debut album. His writing became increasingly sophisticated as he recorded his contractual obligation follow-up for A&M, and though the session players give the album a less organic quality, their playing is top-notch. This is a must-have for Emitt Rhodes fans, as well as anyone who loves late-60s/early-70s West Coast pop-rock. [©2005 hyperbolium dot com]

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nothing you can do or say, when the band begins to play..., July 15, 2005

By 

Paul '66 "Paul '66" (Stuck in Lodi (again...)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Listen Listen: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

This is so long overdue!!! I have been waiting decades for a definitive Merry Go Round collection. Rev-Ola, a fantastic reissue outfit from the UK, has done a class job here. Great sound, complete track listing (29 songs plus a hidden track, historical, just check the liner notes to avoid confusion!) and excellent notes and photos. The core of this collection are the 14 songs that Rhino had issued in 1985 on LP, including the hits Live and You're a Very Lovely Woman, as well as the lesser known but exquisite Listen, Listen, On Your Way Out and the signature tune Come Ride, Come Ride, which in my opinion is a masterpiece of baroque pop psychedlia. There are some duff tracks, but this is fine considering the ages of the group members, and the rushed nature of their recordings. An incredible release, and highly recommeded to fans of great 60s pop, think Beatles, Left Banke and Zombies... not to mention Three O'Clock and Bangles!!!

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Happy Accident for me: The Merry-Go-Round!, July 14, 2006

By 

Robert Alan Bryan "JettBlackBerryX" (Waldorf, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Listen Listen: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

I discovered this band totally by accident either while surfing here at amazon or on allmusic.com. I had never heard of them.

Not a word. Then I read the review on allmusic and heard the 30 second samples.

Amazing! How did this get ignored back in 1967 or 1968?

It's very very good. Very Beatle-esque but not in a bad way.

It's also a tad folky or Byrds-ish which is a plus!

Emmitt Rhodes was born in Hawthorne, CA according to allmusic.com. While I've heard British groups sound American this is the most British I've ever heard an American Group sound.

Track 2 features backwards and sped up guitars. Track 12 features fuzzed out guitars.

Remember that Utopia album, Deface The Music? It was Todd Rundgren doing the Beatles.

Remember the Rutles and how Beatles-like they sounded?

This band beats both of them hands down. Of course they have an advantage. They're not writing pun-filled opposite titled tracks like Utopia and the Rutles did.

I hear elements of folk: think Peter, Paul and Mary but in a real good way. There's California Pop: imagine the best Mamas and Papas tracks but just the guys on vocals.

The first 12 tracks represent the one album The Merry-Go-Round recorded. The next batch is an Emmitt Rhodes solo album with session men.

The tone of the music changes from the Beatle-esque pop to a collage of styles but Mr. Rhodes song writing is very solid.

Track 14 reminds me of Eric Carmen. Track 18 starts out like a lost Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds a-side.

Tracks 26-29 are from Merry-Go Round singles and "Listen, Listen" really rocks out. The guitars really ring loud. I love this song.

As a hidden bonus during track 29 the band starts doing "California Girls" [not Good Vibrations] with Herb Alpert on trumpet at 2:35 in.

None of this is bad.

You will listen to this over and over. It's a repeat disc.

A rare find these days.

I haven't described every song. I want you to discover them on your own. Enjoy.

This is a great re-issue of a lost treasure.