Willard's Wormholes

Emitt Rhodes Collection
McCartney’s One-Time Doppelganger

When their respective bands began to splinter in late ’69/early ’70 (The Beatles & The Merry-Go-Round), Paul McCartney & Emitt Rhodes both did the exact same thing - they took tape recorders home and made albums. Paul’s 1970 LP, McCartney, sounded like home demos, while Emitt’s 1970 LP, Emitt Rhodes, sounded, well… like Paul McCartney, and Rhodes has been saddled with the “sound-alike” tag ever since. And, while it’s true, Rhodes’ solo debut did sound exactly like 60s Sir Paul (similarly, he even recorded all the instruments himself) he was much more than that – as his two previous recordings (The Merry-Go-Round, The American Dream) and two follow-up LPs (Mirror, Farewell To Paradise) demonstrated. Rhodes final album was issued in 1973, though he continued for a few years in the A&R and production end of the business. Included here are his three, self-written, recorded & produced ABC-Dunhill solo albums, along with his A&M solo LP, The American Dream - recorded in 1969, but left sitting in the can until his success on Dunhill. We’ve also got some rare live recordings and a 1970 radio interview from The Barry Richards Show, who fuels speculation that Emitt Rhodes might somehow be connected with The Beatles (even while saying who it is, all along). The live recordings of “She’s Such A Beauty” and “Live Till You Die” come from a later Richards TV show and 1972′s “Love Will Stone You” is from The David Frost Show. The sound quality is not very good, but considering the rarity of these live tapes, it’s amazing they exist at all. We’ve also got a 1972 single, “Tame The Lion,” and Rhodes’ last released song, 1980′s “Isn’t It So.” Listen for yourself, and hear why Emitt Rhodes’ music is still cherished by fans over 40 years later. 2009′s 2CD set, The Emitt Rhodes Recordings (1969-1973) is the best package to seek out. It boasts all four solo releases. Rhodes re-issues don’t stay in print for long, so grab it while you can.

Emitt Rhodes (1970)
The debut album for Dunhill that, for better or worse, defines Emitt Rhodes to this day. Recorded at the same time as McCartney… and somehow it sounds more like McCartney than McCartney does. Relentlessly upbeat and poppy, even when it’s not, Rhodes’ enthusiasm is contagious and trumps any sound-alike complaints in the process. As is well known, Rhodes plays every note on the album. This isn’t the beginning of his career, but it’s the best place to start.

With My Face On The Floor
Somebody Made For Me
She’s Such A Beauty
Long Time No See
Lullabye
Fresh As A Daisy
Live Till You Die
Promises I’ve Made
You Take The Dark Out Of The Night
You Should Be Ashamed
Ever Find Yourself Running
You Must Have

Mirror (1971)
An able follow-up that finds Rhodes further developing his craft mere months after his debut. The material is nearly as catchy as his first and the quality of the recording is better, too, packing a little more punch (and variety) as ER takes to the home recording process like he was born to it. The material is moving ever-so-slightly away from the McCartney domination of Emitt Rhodes, but still retains the Beatlesque guitars and beats that makes his work so infectious. He even made a promo video, “Birthday Lady.”

Birthday Lady
Better Side Of Life
My Love Is Strong
Side We Seldom Show
Mirror
Really Wanted You
Medley: Bubblegum The Blues/I’m A Cruiser
Love Will Stone You
Golden Child Of God
Take You Far Away

The American Dream (1971)
With his success on Dunhill, A&M Records dusted off the album Emitt recorded in 1969, after the demise of Merry-Go-Round and just prior to Emitt Rhodes. It contains a reworking of M-G-R’s excellent “She’s A Very Lovely Woman,” and is Rhodes’ only solo album to contain other musicians (including hot shots like Hal Blaine and Larry Knechtel). A solid, if slightly scattered effort, not surprising as it’s comprised of older material and newer sessions. Since Rhodes was recording new material constantly in these days, his style was shifting quickly from the slightly psychedelic pop of the previous year to the McCartney-like phase he was entering. The American Dream captures Emitt mid-morph.

Mother Earth
Pardon me
Textile Factory
Someone Died
Come Ride, Come Ride
Let’s All Sing
Holly Park
Saturday Night
You’re A Very Lovely Woman
Mary Will You Take My Hand
The Man He Was
In The Days Of Old
‘Til The Day After

Farewell To Paradise (1973)
Emitt’s last LP, the prophetically titled Farewell To Paradise. It shows Rhodes growing past his debt to Paul McCartney and expanding his palatte, and not just compositionally, as Rhodes has also learned to play the saxophone and other instruments for this album. As a result, the overall style is less bubbly pop, more somber, and with introspective lyrics and themes. This sounds like a transitional album, but, with no follow-up, it’s impossible to know where he might have been transitioning to. After this, Rhodes dabbled in production for a few years (including this sad-but-true 45 for Gabe Kaplan (of Welcome Back Kotter fame), but ER pretty much disappeared from the radar… until recently.

Warm Self Sacrifice
See No Evil
Drawn To You
Blue Horizon
Shoot The Moon
Only Lovers Decide
Trust Once More
Nights Are Lonely
Bad Man In Desperate Need
Those That Die
Farewell To Paradise

1970 & 1997 Radio Interviews & Live Recordings
Here are a slew of audio rarities, including two non-LP tracks, some lo-fi TV show appearances and the radio material mentioned above. Also…Alan Haber’s March 20, 1997 interview with Emitt, discussing his albums, influences and post-recording career for the internet radio show, Pure Pop 24/7. It’s a good, clear recording and Haber does his best to pull answers from Rhodes, who’s friendly and upbeat, but seems at a loss to explain his past adventures. Rhodes loosens up by the end of the 40 minute interview and is even joined by his lovable mom.

Tame The Lion (1972 Single, Listen Listen: The Best Of Emitt Rhodes)
Isn’t It So (1980 Previously Unreleased, Listen Listen: The Best Of Emitt Rhodes)
Emitt Rhodes Radio Discussion Pt1 (1970)
Emitt Rhodes Radio Discussion Pt2 (1970)
She’s Such A Beauty (Live 1970)
Live Till You Die (Live 1970)
Love Will Stone You (Live 1972)
Emitt Rhodes Interview With Alan Haber (1997)

Here’s a very strange interview with Emitt Rhodes from Scram Magazine.
A recent public appearance and a documentary, The One Man Beatles.
Below is a rare Rhodes video for Mirror‘s “Birthday Lady.”