Emitt Rhodes - The Emitt Rhodes Recordings (1969 - 1973)
CD Edition limited to 5000 non-numbered limited edition copies

SITE PRE-SALE DATE: 5/15/09
SITE SHIP DATE: 5/22/09




Among the cult legends that populate the margins of contemporary popular music, the story of Emitt Rhodes remains one of the most compelling.


Compared by fans and critics favorably to the likes of Paul McCartney, Emitt Rhodes was arguably one of the most overlooked and underappreciated pop-rock singer-songwriters of the ‘60s/’70s.

Finally getting his due, Hip-O Select is proud to release The Emitt Rhodes Recordings, a newly remastered, two CD, 48 song collection features the four albums Emitt Rhodes released between 1970 and 1973 - the three ABC/Dunhill albums Emitt Rhodes, Mirror and Farewell To Paradise, and his one A&M album, American Dream, along with the non-LP single “Tame The Lion,” all showcasing Emitt’s intricate melodies, harmonies, and arrangements.

In the years since their release, these long-out-of-print recordings have taken on a mythic status among pop collectors.
That mystique is, to some degree, a reflection of the sense of mystery that surrounds their creator. But the real source of the enduring fascination with Rhodes is the music itself!

Emitt, who went on to be an engineer and producer, still lives in Hawthorne, California, where he grew up, and is very philosophical about his bout with near-recording stardom. As Steven J. Hyden says in the online magazine Perfect Sound, “Most cult heroes are cult heroes by design. Either his or her music is too esoteric to be accepted by the mainstream or his or her personality is too weird… Then there’s Emitt Rhodes, who’s a cult hero for no good reason whatsoever.”

As this Hip-O Select collection proves.

Disc 1A: THE AMERICAN DREAM (A&M SP-4254, 1971; Recorded 1969)
1. Mother Earth
2. Pardon Me
3. Textile Factory
4. Someone Died
5. Come Ride, Come Ride
6. Let's All Sing
7. Holly Park
8. Saturday Night
9. You're A Very Lovely Woman
10. Mary Will You Take My Hand
11. The Man He Was
12. In The Days Of The Old
13. 'Til The Day After
Disc 1B: EMITT RHODES (ABC/Dunhill DS-50089, 1970)
1. With My Face On The Floor
2. Somebody Made For Me
3. She's Such A Beauty
4. Long Time No See
5. Lullabye
6. Fresh As A Daisy
7. Live Till You Die
8. Promises I've Made
9. You Take The Dark Out Of The Night
10. You Should Be Ashamed
11. Ever Find Yourself Running
12. You Must Have
Disc 2A: MIRROR (ABC/Dunhill DSX-50111, 1971)
1. Birthday Lady
2. Better Side Of Life
3. My Love Is Strong
4. Side We Seldom Show
5. Mirror
6. Really Wanted You
7. Medley: Bubble Gum The Blues / I'm A Cruiser
8. Love Will Stone You
9. Golden Child Of God
10. Take You Far Away
Disc 2B: FAREWELL TO PARADISE (ABC/Dunhill DSX-50122, 1973)
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 One More
8. Nights Are Lonely
9. Bad Man
10. In Desperate Need
11. Those That Die (From Tame The Lion)
12. Farewell to Paradise
Disc 2C: Non-LP single (ABC/Dunhill 4315, 1972)
1. Tame The Lion
Price: $29.98
Pre-Sale Item!


http://hip-oselect.com/scr.public.produ ... 1FB05D2D98

Done. Thank you.

I remember seeing his records when I was a kid, but I have never heard him. Is he REALLY that good? Just curious because I usually hold Hip-o Select releases in high regard.

The Merry-Go-Round was a great act, and you can get a career compilation on one of the Cherry Red labels. Emitt Rhodes' solo work might warrant some downloads before making a big purchase like this. It's kind of lite. That blurb from Hip-O is pretty weird; there are very well-known reasons (both personally and professionally) for how Rhodes ended up as just a cult hero.

there is a single CD best of on varese (although it might be OOP) that has both merry-go-round tunes and solo tunes. over 20 tracks if i recall correctly.

excellent set if you can get it.

That's the one I have. Judging from Amazon, it is OOP and prices range from high to ridiculous.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000014WA/?tag=imwan-20

[lilred]Disc 1B: EMITT RHODES[/lilred] is really that good, yes. That album and his Merry-Go-Round recordings do live up to the hype/legend. But the [lilred]American Dream[/lilred] album is just a hodgepodge of demos and leftovers that A&M released without his approval, and his work after the self-titled album is sort of diminishing returns. Thing is, virtually all his CDs are out of print and go for collectible prices ... it's actually cheaper to buy this Hip-O set even if you only end up liking one of the albums included in it.

Done here too. Thanks for the heads up. By the way, how are Hip-o re: sound? I haven't heard any of their CDs before.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

All is right with the world.

I don't know if it's still available or not but Edsel released a really nice single disc compilation back in 1994. It contains the entire first album, half of the second, and three or four from American Dream and the later single. It's called Daisy Fresh from Hawthorne, California. Really a treat. Linda's right on American Dream --- kind of a hodge podge but the first two records are both excellent. Strangely, the American Dream record is included in its entirety on Rev Ola's Merry Go Round - Listen, Listen: The Definitive Collection from 2005.

And FWIW, I've been a Hip-O Select fan since it started. I've always thought the sound qualtiy was great. Can't wait to get this one.

Hip-O sound (remastering) is excellent. I have quite afew from this label and happy with everything I have purchased.

Rick A.

Thanks. I can't wait to hear this one. I'm wondering though how long it will last, given that it's a 5000 copy limited edition. After all, Steve Hoffman is already claiming that School's Out (5000 copies) is sold out. I know Alice is more well known, but Emitt's quality of music, especially on s/t is superior (not IMHO either!), even though I like Alice.

$30 is a little steep, even for something this eccentric.

That's what I said to myself when the Annette Peacock Aura 2 CD set came out in 2004. Why oh why? At least I have my vinyl.

This just arrived in my mailbox today. So far I've heard American Dream and its better than I remembered. The notes also clear up some confusion over the order in which the albums were released, how American Dream relates to the Merry Go Round and typical record company cash in attempts. So far, a very nice set. Recommended. And, good work on the parts of Hip-O Select, WMG, and the fulfillment house for handling this so nicely.

I concur.

Just got my CDs. They sound really nice and the tone of the self-titled album is very, very close to the original vinyl pressing. And no hard limited was done during mastering if that sort of thing concerns you. It certainly beats the sound of those Japanese CDs from a few years ago and the of the self-titled CD on One Way will probably be retired from my collection. It was the reigning king but it's difficult to complete with master tapes and sensible mastering.

Really nicely done. I can't believe a company would even release an Emitt Rhodes set in 2009 much less do such a stellar job with it. Glad to see his music has finally gotten the attention it deserves.

Thanks Jamie, Earl and Murdog. Having the import comp, vinyl and even the Merry Go Around discs your reviews say this goes on the "to order list". I have afew of the HipO issues and happy with all purchased (especially the Head East two-fer).:}

Thanks for the posting!
Rick A.

Anyone the least bit interested in this Emitt Rhodes set please read on:

Fans of Emitt Rhodes' wonderfully Beatles-inspired anglo-pop containedon the 3 ABC/Dunhill LP's and the one A & M LP should look into obtaining thisextremely limited-edition 2 CD release from UMG's mail-order onlyimprint "Hip-O Select".

Emitt Rhodes' debut ABC release was briefly available on CD from One-Way Records with un-remarkable mastering, and as an over-priced importfrom Japan.Mirror & Farewell To Paradise --both ABC/Dunhill-- were released ashigh-end imports from Japan as well. American Dream was an A & M setwhich was part of the Cherry Red/Rev-Ola cd by The Merry-Go-Roundtitled: Listen Listen:Definitive Collection.

If you tried to get all these cd's from an on-line source now, youwould need to apply for government bail-out funding.Some vendors wereasking and getting triple digit figures for these cds.

Hip-O Select is asking $29.98 for these four complete albums (plus a non-lp B-side) compiled on 2 cd's. This is a great investment for a "complete collection" released inlimited numbers.

Owners of Emitt's ABC debut on vinyl should remember the "recorded athome" imprint stamped into the record's take up groove. If you do,stop what you're doing. This is a no-brainerYou're an Emitt Rhodes fan.

I've listened to these cd's 3 times now and am completely happy with the mastering. I do want to comment about the sound and material on the 3rd ABC/Dunhill album "Farewell To Paradise". This is suppose to be the weak link of the collection. The one most of us rarely listened to, or even bought on vinyl.

I must say I am completely blown away by the listening experience of this one now. Guitars are a now a little edgier than what we heard on the two previous albums. The instrumentation is also much more adventurous. Drums were recorded better this time around. This album generally doesn't sound dated. Sonically it's very impressive.

There is a ballad right after Shoot The Moon that would've fit nicely on an Ian Matthews or Joan Armatrading album..This is a "more mature" collection of songs which fit nicely alongside my Traffic cd's as well as Paul Weller's Wildwood.

Anyone sittin' on the fence about this one - I hope this was helpful.

Hip-O Select is on the web at http://www.hip-oselect.com.
---
Regards, Howard "Dusty Keg" Kagebine

I'm not a huge Emitt Rhodes fan, but I got this and it's really good. Nice job. And it sounds so good, I've got to spend some more time with it.

I've got an old vinyl Rhino 14 song Merry Go Round best of that I assume cherry picks the best of the s/t album and the first Emitt Rhodes lp. I also have "Emitt Rhodes" and "Mirror" on vinyl. My question, do I really need this?

Need is a strong word. I'd say if you really like any of the material, consider yourself an Emitt Rhodes fan, and prefer well-mastered CDs to vintage vinyl pressings (or at least consider them equal), you need this.