The MERRY-GO-ROUND A Band History featuring Emitt Rhodes |  

anyone who sings the praises of Emitt has seen the light. Emitt was a blessing to all of us who knew him and of him. Thank you for spending the word.

I was fortunate enough to meet Emitt and record at his house for a couple of records. RIP

Emitt Rhodes was a spectacular talent, criminally under-appreciated. I was lucky enough to have seen Merry-Go-Round in person.

Got the Rhino album back in the '80s. I've always been familiar with Emitt from his first single, Fresh As Daisy/You Take The Dark Out Of The Night. Brilliant artist.

Great show. I was raised in Southern California and remember radio station KHJ playing "Falling Sugar" and "Live". I have been a Emitt Rhodes fan since 1967 when It learned to play the song Live. I've collected all his stuff except the 2005 album. The record companies really screwed around.

I could never understand why "Live" was only a "regionally" popular song.. I love that song..

Emitt rhodes is amazing the fact he wasn't on the charts is insane, songs like somebody made for me, with my face on the floor, promises I've made to myself....... ugh he should of been up there lol

My guitar player grew up next door to Emitt in Hawthorne. He talked Emitt into producing some tracks for us back around 1982 -3. We spent a lot of hours in his garage-studio which you never would have thought it was a garage except you had to walk through his house and out the back door, through his back yard to get to it. I believe he was an A & R guy for A&M at the time. Thanks for the video!

Thanks for the info about The MGR. The comment about being Emitt Rhodes being unnecessarily compared to Paul McCartney is funny, as if every band that formed subsequent to the release of A Hard Day's Night wasn't modeled on the Beatles. Yes, Rhodes affects an English accent on Your a Very Lovely Woman. He wasn't alone.

I have the Emmitt Rhodes albums, never heard the merry go round stuff. What impressed me was the fact he plays all of the instruments. Very impressive.

Thanks so much for this! So much promise but ended up so sad and tragic. RIP Emitt Rhodes.

Live was in the top 20 in Vancouver , BC, back in May 1967 - I looked for it for years and now finally have the CD Listen, Listen 55 years later. My wife was into Emmitt Rhodes in the early 70s in Portland.

There are a lot of obscure rock bands from the 60's that didn't quite make it like the Merry Go Round and I really like listening to these lesser known bands from the 60's Thanks for your finding these lesser known bands and giving them a chance to be seen and heard for the first time since the 1960's Thank You.🎵🎶🎼🎼🎶🎵 🎵🎶🎼🎸🎸🎤🎼🎶🎵🎹🥁

Hey Matt, so I finally got to watch this video. I can only watch a little bit of this at a time as I still get emotional about Emitt. I miss him so much. The last time I saw him it was at his place in the late 90s or it was the early 2000s. My step sister and I went over to his place for the afternoon. We had met Emitt back in 67. I was 11 and my step sister was 15. My brother's girlfriend lived down the street from Emitts girlfriend Jackie, and we'd be sitting out in front of my brother's girlfriend's yard and Emitt would drive by real slow in his blue Camaro or I know it was a blue car let's put it that way it looked like a Camaro and my step sister and I would jump up and he would see us running and he would go a half a block to his girlfriend's house and run in the house and we're running down the street and we're knocked at the door. And Jackie would come to the door and then Emitt would come to the door and we would tell him how much we loved the merry go round. He was so nice. I think he was just 18 I believe. So we did that about three times where he would drive by real slow so we knew what he was doing. And then that came to an end. So move up almost 30 years and that was the last time we saw Emitt was at his place. He gave us a tour of the garage. We were telling him how much we love this song she's such a beauty from the first solo album and he says well come on let's give it a go. And we said no we can't sing, and he sat down behind that piano in the garage and we got to sing along with him to that song. I wish to God we would have recorded that somehow. The last time I spoke to him it was in 2007. I think one of the reasons him and I got on so well in the later years was we both suffered from anxiety and depression. I miss him.

Such a talent, "Fresh As A Daisy" is sublime. I wish his life had been easier. As always, thanks so much for another excellent video!

I was/am a big fan of Emitt Rhodes. I still have his first two solo albums on vinyl...the song "Fresh as a Daisy" still rolls around my mind at times...great upbeat song....cheers

An Emitt Rhodes compilation CD was also released in 1995, which featured some of the Merry-Go-Round singles. My own relationship to the band is this. I heard "Lovely Woman" on the radio a few times as a teenager, and saw the album containing it in a drug store. Not having any cash I didn't buy it. But I remembered the song, for 30 years. So, in the early years of the internet I looked it up, and was happy to find that the compilation had just come out. At last I could hear it again! It has almost been another 30 years now, and I see the compilation album can now be had for $60, if you can find a seller (not me!).

Correction: Emmitt Rhodes' solo hit Fresh A Daisy hit #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971

The Rev-Ola compilation is essential.

Great video and tribute to Emitt Rhodes and the Merry-Go-Round! An even more obscure band from the same era, would be the Millennium, their sole album Begin is a corker though; even though almost nobody bought it. Another sad tale with a brilliant soundtrack.

The Bangles did a great cover of LIVE in 1984, . Great songs and harmonies.

I was happy to see he got much needed recognition in the film THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS

I just added a few of their songs to my 60s Sunshine Pop mix. Hard choices, they’re all so good. I went with Lovely Woman, We’re in Love, and Time Will Show the Wiser. You can tell Emmitt learned his Rubber Soul, Pet Sounds, and Revolver lessons very well.

Love The Merry-Go-Round! I posted "Time Will Show The Wiser" on my channel a few months ago, just to help "spread the word" about this underappreciated band. I took it down after a week or so, due to the copyright issues. But yeah, I agree with you 100% that they (and Emitt) should be more well known.

Nice tribute to a great band and artist. Actually did you know the Merry Go Round played both nights of the The KFRC Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival held June 10 and 11, 1967 at the 4,000-seat Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre high on the south face of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California. At least 36,000 people attended the two-day concert, which was the first of a series of San Francisco-area cultural events known as the Summer of Love. And it was just weeks before Monterey Pop! Also there is a very good documentary about Emmitt called the One Man Beatles. I was hoping though you would feature my favorite MGR track Had to Run Around!

If you lived in southern California you heard the Merry-Go-Round.......part of my youth

Excellent bio. LIVE was my fav 1966-1967 tune, but the great haunting tune was "You're a very lovely woman"

Great job capturing the essence and history of the Merry-Go-Round. I purchased this album shortly after release and also his solo work. Many albums I played in the 60's and 70's have not passed the test of time, this one is an exception. I can still play this album and enjoy every song. So many albums just have one or two strong tracks, this is an exception - sad they were so unappreciated - if "Live" would have received more airplay across the U.S. I think things would been different. I enjoy songs from back then that were not over-played on AM radio - just under the radar.

Thank you. Always loved Emitt and his passing made this sad year even sadder. Facebook has a wonderful fan page, unseen photos and such...

Thank you so much for making this video. I was 4, 5 years old when my dad got me into them. He had The Best of Merry-Go-Round on cassette and I still own that same copy till this day, loved the song She Laughed Loud so much. I did eventually got a vinyl copy of that compilation as well as original pressing of their first album, and my dad gifted me that compilation CD Listen Listen. Emitt Rhodes was truly a gifted young man.

Wow. This was awesome. So strange they didn't become among the top bands.

Great voice . Liked all his music. RIP

excellent piece. It does have a Beatle flavor to it. Great band...

I still have my 45 of the Merry-Go-Round, LIVE!

Great history lesson. Merry-Go-Round must have been bigger in the market around Boston, as they definitely hit the top 10 with 'Live' and top 20 with 'Lovely Woman'. Saw them in concert one time shortly after 'Live' and they put on a great show. Thanks for this.

Hello! Linda Ronstadt did an awesome version of Emitt’s song; “A Very Lovely Woman” in 1971 as a non album single. You can find it on RU-vid;)

Always enjoyed their music.

Just found this band, Live is my favorite so far.

I had heard of this band vaguely, but I instantly recognized the song "Live" and remembered that it was covered by one of my favorite bands, the Bangles!

Just found your channel. I grew up with this music, and it means much to me. Spirit was another great group. Thank you for your channel.

Bill Rinehart mentioned in an old Blitz magazine article that he left the band because he felt that Emitt Rhodes was getting most of the attention, and that the rest of the band was not given a chance to contribute songs, which probably led to the two not seeing eye to eye on a number of things related to the band. The elder Bill did say, however, that Emitt was undeniably talented.

I saw Les Harris a couple weeks ago in San Antonio. He still sells vintage LPs!

Great album from the band. Made that on cd .Sounds very brilliant

Thank you for the history on the MERRY GO ROUND and Emitt Rhodes. I backed into their music through the Linda Ronstadt 45 of "Very Lovely Woman", which I bought in 1971. Later, I also found the Rhino LP which gave me the background on the band. Love Rhino.

You forgot to mention Mike Rice who also played bass with the MGR. His photo is on the back of the Rhino Record. Thanks for shining a light on the MGR, one of my favorite bands

I've always loved "Pardon Me." Beautiful song... but his first two "real" solo albums are seriously wonderful.

I know Emitt Rhodes from his song “She’s Such A Beauty” which I loved when it was released. I remember there was some buzz about that song because it was rumored that it was really Paul McCartney. I really enjoyed your video about Emitt’s earlier career. Those songs from his Merry-Go-Round days sound really good. I can see myself perusing eBay for them. I’ve subscribed to your channel.

I remember The Merry-Go-Round because I grew up around Los Angeles in the '60s, and enjoyed The Bangles' cover of "Live" in the '80s. What I didn't quite connect was the '70s ad in The Rolling Stone newspaper for an Emitt Rhodes solo album. Couldn't quite make the connection until the oughts.

Cheers for ths From Liverpool Much apppreciated

That was excellent. But then I knew it would be when I saw those racks of LPs behind you!

Listen was a great one

Thank you for this....❤

Thanks, Matt! The M-G-R and Emitt are favorites of mine.

This was EXTREMELY interesting. I never heard of these amazing fellows. I can’t believe I didn’t see this earlier as I thought I watched all your shows Matt. These guys had talent to spare and you are to be commended for bringing them to light.

I was a huge Beatles fan when "Live" was released. It was so easy to imagine John, Paul, and George were the backing band on the song. Why do you think it went to #1 in some markets? As for Emmit's solo album, heck yeah it sounds like Paul. Nothing wrong with that. Who wouldn't have done that if they could?

Linda Ronstadt did a version of a Merry Go Round song with the slightly altered title She's A Very Lovely Woman which made the US Top 100 in the late 60s.

I think Live Till You Die was a bigger hit than Fresh as a Daisy. I remember it on San Jose radio. I don't recall Fresh as a Daisy ever getting air play in the SF Bay area Personally I believe the first solo album is a complete gem. Every song is memorable. It ranks among my list of best debut albums of all time.

I've never heard of this group / singer before - sounds fantastic, thanks so much!

paid 10 cents brand new back in the 70's at zayre dept store in north attleboro in a bargain bin still have it. also have emitts first album as well fresh as a daisy

I was 16 in ‘67, living in Los Angeles, and vividly remember hearing “Live” and “You’re A Very Lovely Woman” on the local stations. When Emitt released his solo recordings, I never once thought oh he sounds like the Beatles. He had a wonderful unique voice and I too get tired of hearing the comparisons to the Fab Four. We were ALL influenced by them and everything else going on in music…you couldn’t escape it. Top 40 radio was heaven then…love your channel and the details of your research. I shared your Nazz episode today with Stewkey and he gave it a thumbs up. Keep doin’ what you’re doin’!

There are very few songs that I grew up listening to in the 60s that I didn't know the artists' name, but "She's A Very Lovely Woman" was always a mystery to me. I particularly loved it, especially because it sounded just like other British Invasion songs (he sounds British), but I didn't have the money to buy records and it didn't stay on the radio very long (this was in the L. A. area), so I either never figured it out or forgot. When I started listening to Linda Ronstadt a few years later, I liked her recording, but preferred the original. I just couldn't find it. Just in the last six months, I thought of it again, and most sources said that the original was by Noel Harrison. Now, I liked and remembered some Noel Harrison songs, and I was excited to FINALLY hear this wonderful song again. Except, his recording wasn't the right one either! Finally, maybe two months ago, I finally found it by the Merry-Go-Round. Now, tonight, RU-vid suggested some of your Beatles' videos, and I happened upon this one. Strangely, I don't recall "Live" at all. :) Thanks for the interesting history and for all your other videos.

Thanks for introducing me to Emitt Rhodes and the Merry Go Round! Amazingly enough I was familiar with two of the songs but couldn’t attribute them to a group.

When I collected albums back in 1995 or so , I bought from Les Harris! He use to advertise in Goldmine magazine.

The Merry Go Round had two charting hits on the Billboard Hot 100: Live(#63) and You're A Very Lovely Woman (#94), both in 1967. I heard these songs in 1987 and 1988, respectively.

Heard Fresh As A Daisy on the radio. My friend had the first solo album with that song on it, & turned me on to Emmitt. After that, I bought everything that had Emmitt Rhodes on it. FRICKEN GREAT STUFF!!!

I was into The Merry-Go-Round and Emitt Rhodes. I have “The American Dream” l.p. In my collection along with others and several 45’s. Linda Ronstadt later covered “Very Lovely Woman” which was also quite good 👍🏻

As I mentioned before I saw this band at the fifth estate club and just loved their sound. They were one of the first group to appear on the cover of a music magazine I published in Phoenix. A toss up between them and the rising sons another fave of mine along with kaladascope

I never heard of this band until a local New York City area AAA radio station played it on their 10 at 10:00 segment when they did 1967 the station was wxpk 1071 FM known as the peak

Thank you for alerting me to this band!

Very nice summary of Emitt Rhodes's work. I am a fan and knew a lot of the story, but I enjoyed your video, thanks!

Matt, I agree with you about Emitt's constant comparison to Paul McCartney....just don't hear it and this comparison gets in the way of one amazing talent. Thank you again for another highly enjoyable "pocket size" documentary.

Thankyou for posting this...such an underated band/ solo artist. I still own all the vinyl and CDS...Didnt know he passed away until i saw this post

Wow! Thanks for the introduction

Whoaaa! I do remember this group, however I never would have thought about them (again) or their songs if I hadn't watched your video! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, enjoyed it.

I only knew of the Merry Go Round from the Bangles.. Appreciate learning about them !

Thanks for posting this.....loves me some Emmitt Rhodes.

I never DID hear of this band until now. Thanks for sharing the info. I'll be ordering their songs on itunes.

Hello Matt. Another excellent video on great 60's music. Could you please do a video on the history of The New Colony Six ? They are one of my favorite 60's groups who were very unappreciated.

That was very interesting. I admit I had never heard of them before but the story you tell and music is outstanding. I am now going to listen to everything they did as well as Emitt's solo music. Thank you for doing these!

Hey Matt, luv ALL your stuff, GREAT channel, I grew up in So Cal at thee right time, love merry go round, have their 1st LP and Emitt's 1st ....more food for thought ... vids on the Seeds, Love, or my fave, Iron Butterfly ...original members are all gone EXCEPT, I think, Doug Ingle ...what's he up to today?? Me and Eric were friends in Hi school ... Thanx again ... B C ....

Thanks! This was really thorough. I heard "You're a Very Lovely Woman" on the radio in '67 and bought the album right away. In early '71 I got his first Dunhill album but didn't know about American Dream. Dunhill was a hit singles oriented label (Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night) and not really the place for him but his management, the Shaws, made the deal. One extra note, Lullabye was used in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tanenbaums.

I was surprised to find out that they performed ( uncredited ) the Beach Boys " California Girls " for a Herb Alpert & the TB TV special. But it makes sense , they were on A & M.

Cool. Good story.

In the late 1980s , I worked in a used record store. We had a "FOLK" section. The guy that was our manager - put EMMIT RHODES ..in the "FOLK" section. Thus ; I would not TOUCH it for YEARS . LOL. I mean, look at his album covers . They SCREAM "singer/song writer / folk music" , right ? I hated folk music was was too into obscure Psych-Pop and shoe gazers at the time. So one day a friend drops in and he's looking thru the bins , plucks out Emmit Rhodes and was all "Have you listened to this?" . I was all "No, I though it was Don McClean meets John Prine" or something along the lines of a Papa John Phillips solo album .. My buddy was all " No.......!!!!" Give it a listen.. Mind Blown in 27 minutes. How was this not MORE popular back in the day ? How did he not have 4 or 5 Number Ones on the Billboard Charts like The Raspberries ? WTF ????? Not only THAT -- Emmitt Rhodes did not even get the proper "grave diggers revival" that NICK DRAKE did ! Lastly ; Have you ever heard a modern day interview with Emmet ? He's totally obnoxious and weird. Maybe he was like that back then and pissed some of the right people off ?????

One of my all time favorites.

Thank you for turning me on to Merry-Go-Round and especially Emitt Rhodes. I listened to and love most of his songs and downloaded 9/10.

12:50 Yes, Herb Alpert was the "A" in A&M records.

very informative

I first heard an Emitt Rhodes song on The Bangles first album (Live). Years later, I stumbled upon an entry on him in the All Music Guide book (before their website) and got into his music. I really liked the book format as it allowed you to discover different bands by randomly reading through the listings. Anyway, thanks for this overview. You mentioned that the Listen compilation came out in 2005. I actually have a similarly titled compilation called “Listen, Listen The Best of Emitt Rhodes” released in 1995. It has 21 songs, including 5 by The Merry-Go-Round. That contract requiring 6 LPs in three years is pathetic. I can’t imagine the stress that put him under! Reminds me of the awful contract Badfinger had. One band I’d love an overview of is Love. Forever Changes remains one of my favorite albums.

Great job. Fascinating! and very sad like so many other horror stories many of these kids lived..Ask Badfinger or Tommy James...Thanks for all your terrific work. Keep it up.

Thsnks for another great story, Matt! Possibly I may never heard the Merry-Go-Round Singles but I was familiar with the stand out track on Fairport's first album "Time will show the wiser" With great guitar by Richard Thompson and later of course the lovely Bangles version of"Live". I noticed that his name Emitt is sometimes rendered as Emmitt or Emmett😮 what is right or is someone playing games like Arthur Lee who put his name down as Arthurly on "Out here"? 😂

Never thought san antonio would get a shout out but here we are! Lmao go san antonio 🤣

I could listen to this music all day. I would rather listen to this than the garbage that’s been out for the past 30 plus year’s. Most of the so called music has been absolute trash. These songs have something to say, a good melody, good instrumentation & good vocals. Emitt was so underrated as song writer!

Listen, Listen, what a great tune that is. I have loads of 1960s music but unfortunately not this group... Really have to check it somewhere,

Had to Run Around sounds like a 1967 Chris Bell. Sublime.

Seeing ABC Dunhill made me think of Three Dog Night. Though they’re primarily known as a 70s band, their first album came out in 1968, and their second album came out in 1969. So they qualify for your channel. Have you thought of doing a piece on them? That would be great, so people can know that there was more to them than just “Joy to the World”.

I always liked Emitt Rhodes. I found out about his band in the 69s about a year ago. I thought it was good

Another great video :) It urged me to finally check on the band which I had only been vaguely aware of thanks to Time Will Show the Wiser. So I listened to the debut extensively and I must say I am really impressed - great melodies, beautiful harmonies, inventive songwriting... Not much lacking actually, perhaps it's slightly underproduced? But it's a great find for me anyway. My favourite song is by far On Your Way Out, followed by Gonna Fight the War, but - as you said - the whole album is pretty even and solid, weaker tracks are perhaps easy to spot, but there isn't any *bad* song on it. And I really love the overall feel, very serene but with a touch of heavy melancholy lurking somewhere in the background... Great find, thank you, keep them vidoes coming :)

Great tribute to the Merry Go Round and Emitt ! What a talent! Cheers Matt PS...hey Matt if you're wondering why so many comments in a row from me...I binge watched some yesterday! Commenting just now! Ha!