Emitt Rhodes RIP...album by album, track by track appreciation, 'bout time!

I hadn't heard about Emitt's passing 'till this morning. ****. The guy was an AMAZING Talent. The First Two Albums are two of my Very Faves.

I remember buying the first one after hearing a couple of Songs on KMPX or KSAN here in SF - I think "Fresh As a Daisy." And then "With My Face on the Floor" and possibly "She's Such a Beauty." They sounded like some weird Amalgam of McCartney and Harrison's Songwriting (and Definitely George's Guitar Playing). And then, not long after, I remember accidentally finding his "Mirror" album in a cut-Out bin Somewhere in Colorado, and it hadn't been out too long at all.

He helped usher-in all the great Multi-Instrumentalist/Songwriter Albums, along with McCartney's first, Todd Rundgren, Stevie wonder's "Music of My Mind" and others...

I have most of the Magazines with Article and Interviews that's he's done over the years. There wasn't that many. He really seemed like a crazy guy. There was one Interview where he made the Female Interviewer REALLY uncomfortable. It seems, when Interviewed, he always says some strange things.

Nevertheless, he was one of the most Talented Folks to ever live on the Planet (This One).

 

Promo poster for the LP:

 

The B Side of Tame the Lion was Golden Child of God.
Tame the Lion was also issued as a Mono/Stereo promo with sleeve & lyric sheet.

 

Lucky for me, I was working at a radio station at the time and managed to snag one of the latter. One of my prized possessions.

 

Another reason to always double check WIKI!

Thanks!

 

Wow! yes, a treasure indeed!

 

I've never actually seen a copy of "Farewell to Paradise" so all these images of the gatefold sleeve are new to me. Looks nice.

 

Same here...pretty cool.

 

Farewell To Paradise

AllMusic Review by Matthew Greenwald

This, essentially Emitt Rhodes' third and final album (1973), is once again a one-man-band affair. It does differ, however, from his earlier efforts. The record has a much more wistful, almost Harry Nilsson-like feeling, and this permeates most of the cuts. This album also finds Rhodes experimenting with other instruments, such as violin on "Warm Self Sacrifice," one of the album's standouts.

Although not as buoyant as his earlier efforts, Farewell to Paradise is still a very strong album, and further cements his reputation as one of the great (albeit long-lost) artists of the period.


EMITT RHODES – Farewell to Paradise – (Dunhill) – 1973
Posted on July 31, 2016 by Franko

EMITT RHODES - Farewell to Paradise - (Dunhill) - 1973, review, comment, Curt Boettcher ,The Merry-Go-Round | WHAT FRANK IS LISTENING TO

I have commented on Rhodes' other albums on this blog. There you will also find biographical detail on him.

He, like Nick Drake, has come to venerated after the fact. A cult hero for music hipsters to rally around. Unlike Drake, though, Rhodes lived to see the adulation (no matter how small) and even released a new album, "Rainbow Ends", earlier this year (2016).

Rhodes, when discussed in the press (an, errr here) will always have Paul McCartney mentioned somewhere in the discussion. It is clear that Rhodes was influenced by McCartney but to forever refer to him as some sort McCartney remora is unfair. Rhodes had progressed musically and was commencing, with this album, to break free of the McCartney descriptions. Apart from utilizing other instruments he is aware of what is happening around him musically. His song writing has moved into singer songwriter territory (though not exclusively) and there are some funky tunes, jazzy touches and a bit of everything else to go along with the pop orchestrations.

That doesn't mean this album is better than his earlier ones, just that Rhodes was exploring other territory.
But, it ended here. This was to be his last album for 43 years. As the armchair critics love to point out, even the album's title, "Farewell to paradise" is sort of prophetic.
Rhodes had had enough of the music industry and his personal life was unravelling. He called it quits.

Whether he had that state of mind at the time of writing or recording this album I do not know but there are enough signposts here to suggest that he wasn't the happiest camper though he wasn't morose either. In fact there is more than a little optimism (albeit melancholic optimism) on this album which people seem to ignore, probably because it doesn't fit in well with their already preconceived review.

Then again, the US in 1973 wasn't all fun and games with it's increase in urban violence, urban degradation, hurricanes, airplane crashes, the Watergate scandal, increased militancy of the American Indian Movement who occupy Wounded Knee, and its ongoing Vietnam War, which will end shortly though not before resumed bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong. Farewell to Paradise could be an observation on the external world not just the personal or internal one.

Oh, and "the whole album was written, arranged, produced, recorded, engineered and all instruments performed by Emitt Rhodes" at his home.
Of course, that wouldn't mean sh#t if the music wasn't good, but it is.

1. "Warm Self Sacrifice"
2. "See No Evil"
3. "Drawn to You"
4. "Blue Horizon"
5. "Shoot the Moon"
6. "Only Lovers Decide"
7. "Trust Once More"
8. "Nights Are Lonely"
9. "Bad Man"
10. "In Desperate Need
11. "Those That Die" (from "Tame the Lion")
12. "Farewell to Paradise"

 

track 1) Warm Self Sacrifice

A great opener and what a great song indeed.
Jazzy rockin' bluesy number. Nice sax, Emitt!

He could do it all! Still don't know how he did all this on this track
...even the "girl" singer background vocals!

That amazing piano intro is almost an ode and epitaph to Emitt, in my mind anyway, now that he has left us...way too soon.

Really ...quite amazing lyrics.




Want you near me, want you near me
Heavenly white lady lift my sorrowed heart
Ooo, assemble me when I'm far apart
Yes I need you, ooo yes I need you

Miracles are done but seldom done alone
You and I are twice as strong

Solemn somber faces
As hard, as cold as ice
We can surely melt them with warm self sacrifice

Yes I hear you, yes I hear you
Speaking from behind me very soft and low
Ooo by my side everywhere I go

Soft as a whisper she lays beside me
Cool as a river, she's here to guide me down
From the mountains to the sea

Want you only, want you only
Magic never works unless we both agree
So I'm asking you to please believe

Solemn somber faces
As hard, as cold as ice
We can surely melt them with warm self sacrifice

 

Yes, good song, I'll have more to say about this album later.

 

Another twofer day!

track 2) See No Evil

Funky gently swayin' & rollin' rocker. And of course more instruments explored.
Flutes! Strings! Fine guitar lines...all Emitt. Really!



Flame dancing, casting shadows on the wall
Room swaying hearts playing a single song
Now you tell me that you really love me, tell me how I can be sure
Well you say you have a blazing fever and you think that I might hold the cure

See no evil in the way you smile, sweet sensation sparks a raging fire
See no virtue in my self-denial, see no evil in my heart's desire

Night's fallen, for the moment were all alone
Souls merging, oozing rhythm in stereo
Never dreamed that you'd be so inviting, never thought that I'd be so amused
You make every movement so exciting, I'm uncertain just what steps you use

See no evil in the way you smile, sweet sensation sparks a raging fire
See no virtue in my self-denial, see no evil in my heart's desire

You've awoke emotions deep within me, I am naked in your eyes
No one's touched me so sincerely, and it's not because they haven't tried

See no evil in the way you smile, sweet sensation sparks a raging fire
See no virtue in my self-denial, see no evil in my heart's desire
Flame dancing upon the wall

 

Please do...see ya soon, Vangro!

 

Hey Mr. Lemonade Kid! I was curious if you wrote any of the Wiki Bio or Album entries for Emitt?

I've written some entries over there, and in fact, I did one this morning for the only Merry-Go-Round album. It charted, and so did a few of their singles, so assuming I won't run into the Wiki Gestapo, we'll have a nice entree for the album. I mostly copy&pasted from the Merry-Go-Round Band Article. Feel free to "Adjust" the Page as necessary!

I may be mistaken, but I have a vague memory of the Bangles or Hoffs doing another Rhodes cover. Maybe one that was supposed to be on Susanna's First Solo Album. I was best buds with their Producer at the time and I was privy to unreleased tracks and the sort. I'll check.

 

Thanks. No I haven't posted any there. Cool.

 

track 3) Drawn To You

Another wonderful piano intro to an amazing song...just beautiful. Love the wah-wah too.
God, such heavenly harmonies. And that sax! Emitt!
So fine, how do you do it?!



I might get angry and I might be bad
I haven't always treated you the way I should have
You might get frightened and threaten to leave
But I know you better and I'm seldom deceived

Cause you're drawn to me like I'm drawn to you
Yes you're drawn to me like I'm drawn to you

You can be gentle and you can be nice
But I won't be foolish and make the same mistake twice
I've seen the circus and I know all the tricks
Only one thing's for certain and you know what that is

Cause you're drawn to me like I'm drawn to you
Yes you're drawn to me like I'm drawn to you

If hurt your feelings, if I make you sad
You'll always forgive me and you'll never get mad

Cause you're drawn to me like I'm drawn to you
Yes you're drawn to me like I'm drawn to you

 

track 4) Blue Horizon

Banjo, strings, lovely guitar picking...again...all Emitt. Stunning song,
and so beautiful. Jeez, was that a harp?!



No lyrics but Emitt sings with such clarity we don't really need 'em.

 

So we'll end on this one with a brilliant hat trick today!



track 5) Shoot the Moon

Wicked good funky hard driving rocker! With a "Memphis" styled horn section and
killer lead guitar.



Just shoot the moon, just shoot the moon
How do you know if you don't try what you can do
Just shoot the moon

Well, subject matter, one tormented mind
Just won't let no sleeping dog lie
Sunny day can't seem to budge a smile
Faking just won't make it though I try

Just shoot the moon, just shoot the moon
How do you know if you don't try what you can do
Just shoot the moon

Well it's not hard but it's not easy to live from day to day
When the sky up above you has turned from blue to gray
Funny feeling hope it doesn't last
Been this way too long for me to laugh
Holy Jesus things have all gone wrong
Everything is spinning way too fast

Just shoot the moon, just shoot the moon
How do you know if you don't try what you can do
Just shoot the moon

 

Okeee... I think I worked-it-out.... Here's the Merry-Go-Round Wiki Page I created yesterday and this morning. Please feel free to correct anything I messed-up.

The Merry-Go-Round (album) - Wikipedia

 

track 6) Only Lovers Decide

A wonderful acoustic guitar opening...then the piano and vocal enters. The the violn.
Beautiful, lovely...touching and heartfelt. So fine. Too short...I want it to go on and on.

Hard to believe that this album never caught on?!
Such a wonderful and consistent series of LPs. Singular in their genius and quality.



Brave young soldier of fortune
Fair young maiden in white
Sharing rose-colored glasses
Counting stars in the night

Blessed union of spirit
Silver threads intertwine
Fabric so gently woven
Fashioned veil of sunshine

If you ask "Will true love abide?"
I'll reply "Some live, some die
Only lovers decide"

The Earth turns in many ways
So, some may sleep
While some may wake

Treasured moments of sweetness
Far more precious than gold
Loving arms, warm embraces
Shielding you from the cold

If you ask "Will true love abide?"
I'll reply "Some live, some die
Only lovers decide"

 

Beautiful baroque style cover by Mary Hopkin, probably my favorite Emitt Rhodes cover:

 

track 6) Trust Once More

I don'y know how this album just gets better and better with each track, but hen it is stunning start to finish.
Hard to pick a fave (like your children) but this is pretty close to being my fave for its deeper melancholy and heartfelt lyrics.

More acoustic beauty...god, how I love this one! Wonderful percussion and ...is that a harmonium. Lovey.




Tell me why you've been leaving so much of you behind
How can you help but seeing how it cuts me deep inside
Is it wrong for me to want to keep you to myself?
You mean so much to me I want to share you with no one else

Cause I believe in you, and I've been hurt before
I may just trust once more

Gray clouds of mixed emotion and you just break down and cry
I feel the same pain stronger hiding tears through thirsting eyes
It's much harder now, I've loved and been betrayed
All the broken dreams we thought so sturdy made
Now I've learned that love is faith

Dear heart please hold me tightly and time will heal my wounds
Burdensome bitter memories but they'll be forgotten soon
Dark skies should have me worried but we'll kiss and make them light
We'll wake to see tomorrow fall asleep tomorrow night

It's much harder now, I've loved and been betrayed
All the broken dreams we thought so sturdy made
Now I've learned that love is faith

Warm rain gently falling very soothing while it cleans
Soft vow of strong belonging now I'm Adam and you're Eve
Cause I believe in you, and I've been hurt before
I may just trust once more

What a wonderful and hopeful closing line.
I may just trust once more...

 

track 7) Nights Are Lonely

A nice little bluesy rocker! Oh yes...what fantastic guitar licks.