I opened for them once in 1968 in San Bernardino at the Swing Auditorium. It was a March Of Dimes Dance. I was in a band called the Y.B. Blues Band. Peace, Lynn
Merry go round got airplay in Miami, but not enough. Myself and the other musicians I knew felt that this group was hugely under-appreciated. Thanks for the memories
a fantastic song. the merry go round are a very underated group.fairport convention thought enough of this song to have it be the 1st song on there 1st lp. greatness
I was born in 1968, I would not have mind being born in 1958. No matter the consequences of aging. I could have been playing guitar in a band at a young age in this era.
I just researched and it looks like he crowd funded it and the crowd funding is over..........Does anyone have a copy that they'd want to sell to me? I'll match the price by sending the same amount to his PayPal for what it's worth.
If you want a physical copy, there appear to be plenty of copies available on Amazon and eBay, both CD and vinyl. Amazon also offers mp3 downloads and an online streaming version of the album.
The version you have is the stereo mix that appeared on the 1967 album. The version here is the 45 single mono mix. Both mixes were included on the 2005 CD The Merry Go Round - Listen Listen: The Definitive Collection. :)
I don't know where some of them are, but the "Burger Chef" @ 1:56 was taken in Granada Hills, Ca., I think, and the A&W Root Beer Drive-In @ 2:03 and BIG DONUT DRIVE-IN @ 2:06 were both taken in Reseda, Ca. I ate at both many times, back in the day. All 3 are gone now. I guess all good things must come to an end, what a drag. For all you who were born from the mid-60's on, I feel bad for you, I really do. Because no matter how crazy it was in the 60's, it was incredible. May God help us all now!
1970 or so, walking into Pennyfeathers, the mall's sanitized version of a head shop. The longhair at the register also controls the turntable. Heard Paul McCartney playing, but unfamiliar. I knew the "Maybe I'm Amazed" solo album, but hadn't really paid attention to RAM or the first few Wings albums. "Which McCartney album is this, I don't recognize it?" The clerk pointed to the cover, Emmit Rhodes, staring through a screen porch door. Rhodes did McCartney better than McCartney on that first solo album, kinda like fresh Tom Jones was better than fat Elvis or Neil Innes surpassed some of Lennon's weaker solo works.
i PLAYED THIS ALBUM OVER AND OVER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. WISHING I HAD A GIRLFRIEND. I STILL HAVE THIS ALBUM, AND STILL WISH I HAD A GIRLFRIEND. LOVE THIS SONG, THANKS FOR THE UPLOAD. I AM NOT WEIRD, JUST SHY. GOD BLESS ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN I NEVER KNEW....
@groovymusicman yes it's a great song. fairport's version is also great, but i imagine their record company or producer were the ones who decided the track order on the record.
I bought this 45 when in came out and blew me away, in Cleveland where I grew up and where the Merry Go Round singles were big hits - (flip side "You're a Very Lovely Woman", another example of the writing and recording genius of much 60s music). I've loved it ever since, along with many other Emmit Rhodes records. This record has the same can't-be-faked feel, style & production, otherworldly fantastic vocal qualities and intricate affecting chord changes as the hits of The Left Banke - not that they sound alike. I never heard of a Fairport Convention version of this song till this 2013. Some people raved on RU-vid so I went and listened. It is NOT in the same UNIVERSE as the Emmit Rhodes version: dumbed down chord progression, insipid sloppy vocals, mushy guitar playing and no magic, as if Reverend Tim-Tom's weenie-roast group had a strum-along at the hayride.
I never liked the F C version either, this version is the definitive version of this Merry-Go-Round Classic. Emitt Rhodes shares a birthday with George Harrison. When his 1st solo LP on Dunhill came out in 1970 some Boston DJ was hyping it as the new Paul McCartney solo LP. He had 3 solo LP's then went into production and engineering work until he released a new album a few years ago, a day after his birthday on Feb 26 2016 - Rainbow's End. He's still brilliant - check around RU-vid for the newer songs, worth a listen.
