Emitt Rhodes

Emitt Lynn Rhodes (February 25, 1950 – July 19, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer. A cult figure of baroque pop and power pop, he is best known for his solo albums, released from 1970 to 1973, on which he played every instrument and pioneered home recording techniques. He was nicknamed the "One-Man Beatles" due to his musical and vocal style.

At the age of 14, Rhodes began his career as the drummer of the Emerals (later renamed the Palace Guard). He then formed the band The Merry-Go-Round for which he was the leader and primary songwriter on the band's only album, The Merry-Go-Round (1967). In 1969, Rhodes left the band and began a solo career. His self-titled 1970 album, recorded in his parent's garage and on which he played all instruments, was acclaimed upon release. After its first single "Fresh as a Daisy" reached #54 on the Billboard pop charts, A&M Records released an album of Rhodes's The Merry-Go-Round songs as The American Dream (1970), credited solely to Rhodes and released without his input.

Rhodes recorded and released two more albums, Mirror (1971) and Farewell to Paradise (1973). However, he could not meet demands required by his contract with ABC/Dunhill Records and quit performing after 1973 to work as a recording engineer and producer. In 2014, Rhodes began working with producer Chris Price on new music. Rainbow Ends (2016), his first album in 43 years, features Rhodes accompanied by a backup band; it received positive reviews.

Early life Emitt Lynn Rhodes was born on February 25, 1950, in Decatur, Illinois. Around the age of four, he moved with his parents to Hawthorne, California. His father, a machinist, At the age of 14, he became the drummer of the garage band the Emerals, Rhodes attended the same school as the Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson (Rhodes was a freshman during Wilson's senior year) and joked that "[Wilson] borrowed my drums and broke a drum pedal and owes me one of those. I've yet to receive it." After a bicycle accident left Rhodes with a broken arm and leg, he fell behind in his studies and eventually dropped out of school in the ninth grade to pursue a music career. The band regularly played two shows a night, six nights a week at the Hullabaloo on the Sunset Strip. Rhodes was given one solo spot per show—performing the Beatles song "Michelle", originally sung by Paul McCartney. In 1966, The Palace Guard released their single "Falling Sugar". The Palace Guard were briefly the backing band for Don Grady. and the single "Live", written by Rhodes, reached #63 on the Billboard Hot 100. and stayed there for nine weeks. Billboard called Rhodes "one of the finest artists on the music scene today" and in 2002 called Beatles comparisons "really flattering. Those guys were my idols." He admitted in 2015 that his contracted recording schedule "was a Herculean task and it was impossible for me to do." Rhodes's first solo music since Farewell to Paradise—the song "Isn't It So" (1980)—was released on Listen, Listen: The Best of Emitt Rhodes.

Rhodes performed at the 1998 Poptopia Festival.

In 2009, Rhodes once again entered the recording studios with a new band and all-new material, joined by the co-founder of The Grass Roots and The Merry-Go-Round drummer Joel Larson, co-founder and former bassist for Counting Crows, Matt Malley, and guitarists Jim Rolfe and Dan Mayer.

In 2010, Rhodes, along with Matt Malley, joined Iain Matthews on a new version of "Time Will Show the Wiser," arranged, produced and performed by Nick Vernier Band. This recording, initially released on Nick Vernier Band's Sessions album, marked Rhodes's first new release as a featured artist in almost four decades. Both Rhodes and Matthews recorded this Rhodes original early on in their careers, the song being starting points as well as signature works for the Merry-Go-Round and Fairport Convention respectively. The new version united the two singers in an Indian musical setting. Also in 2010, a tribute album titled Long Time, No See was released. It contained Rhodes's songs recorded by various artists.

In 2010, Rhodes recorded four songs with Richard Thompson and Bangles members Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson. Rainbow Ends received critical acclaim, AllMusic, and American Songwriter. Pablo Gorondi of The Washington Post stated that said "in a better world [Rainbow Ends] would have topped the charts in 1978 or so."

After Rainbow Ends’s release, Rhodes cancelled all planned public performances, including a comeback appearance scheduled at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, as he was unwilling to travel far from his home. The band Field Music tweeted "His 1st album is a gem - self-recorded in his garage in 1970 - the precocity of Todd Rundgren and oodles of McCartney melodicism. Sometimes talent doesn't translate to success. I hope he found some peace before he died". 54

Released: 1971 Cashbox No. 108

Released: 1972 Record World No. 138

"This Wall Between Us", "What's A Man To Do" and "Just Me And You" Released on iTunes, November 3, 2011 (removed from sale); Re-released on iTunes, February 20, 2015.

B-side: "Please Read Me" by Chris Price Limited edition release for Record Store Day, April 18, 2015. Collections Daisy-Fresh from Hawthorne, California (The Best of the Dunhill Years) Daisy-Fresh includes all of the songs from Emitt Rhodes, six songs from Mirror, four songs from Farewell to Paradise, plus the single "Tame the Lion". Released in 1998 by Edsel Records (EDCD 569). Listen, Listen: The Best of Emitt Rhodes Listen, Listen contains five songs from the Merry-Go-Round, one song from The American Dream, seven songs from Emitt Rhodes, four songs from Mirror, two songs from Farewell to Paradise, plus the single "Tame the Lion" and the previously-unreleased 1980 song "Isn't it So". Released in 1995 by Varèse Sarabande – VSD-5612, Varèse Vintage (VSD-5612). The Merry-Go-Round: Listen, Listen: The Definitive Collection A nearly complete collection of Merry-Go-Round songs, almost all written and sung by Rhodes. The Merry-Go-Round (stereo version) and American Dream LPs are included in their entirety, as are the mono mix of "Time Will Show the Wiser" and a few non-album singles. Not included are the mono mix of The Merry-Go-Round and the unique single mixes of "Come Ride, Come Ride" and "'Til the Day After". Released in 2005 by Rev-Ola (cr rev 110). Royal Tenenbaums: Collector's Edition CD "Lullabye" appears. The Emitt Rhodes Recordings (1969–1973) A two CD Collection released in 2009 by Hip-O Select, A&M Records, Geffen Records (B0012926-02): CD 1: The American Dream (all thirteen songs from both versions) and Emitt Rhodes CD 2: Mirror and Farewell to Paradise, plus the single "Tame the Lion"