Record Review-Emitt Rhodes

Record Review

"Emitt Rhodes"-Emitt Rhodes

Sometime in the early 70's pop/rock singer-songwriter ,multi-instrumentalist,
co-producer,Engineer and composer Emitt Rhodes released his debut solo album.
At the time he became a minor sensation because he seemed to sound allmost
exactly like Paul McCartney.Just as McCartney had done on his 1st solo album
sans-Beatles,Emitt played every instrument on the album.Co-produced it and
Engineered it.Rhodes attracted much attention because not only did he sound
like Paul,but he composed his song's in a very simular fashion.
Back then i remember someone telling me that he had recorded the album
at a home-studio he had built.But today i see in the credits that it was recorded
at Sound City in L.A.-The most premier studio in L.A. and a legend itself.This
explains why the album had such great sound quality.The mystery is how did
Rhodes-Thou he had had some success in a band-but otherwise he was completely
unknown to the public and had yet to prove he could he could deliver hit's on his
own-get the money to finance the recording of this album at Sound City,which
at the time was the most expensive studio in L. A.-did the record label think
that the public would buy a McCartney-esk style artist.It's possible.But some
one had to put up the money and in those day's it was allmost allway's the Label.
However it happened Rhodes apparently got free riegn at Sound City
and since he was playing every instrument on the record-it must have cost
fortune !
The record Rhodes made is quite good and listening to it today he sounds
more like "Badfinger"than "McCartney" thou there are still plenty of
McCartnyisms to be found on the record.But it is definatly a first rate record-
there's no doubt about it.Whatever the label shelled out for this record if they
didn't get thier money back in sales they most definatly got it back in the form
of Emitt Rhodes incredible skills as an artist and as a performer who
seemed to be able to do just about anything.A one man band and a top-notch
Engineer.Emitt knew how to work the studio real good-he's one of the best.

Postscript:None of the several records Rhode's made around this time-
all pretty much in the same style-of which he continued to have excellent
skill at composing and at getting great performances down on Tape -sold
very well-but he did and i'm sure still does have a large cult following-
The Records pressed back in the 70's are very valuble today.A pristine copy
of this record could get hundreds and even possibly over a thousand dollars
from certain collectors-because they are extremly rare.Even a slightly
roughed up copy can still command a pretty high price-so if you see one
at a garage sale or a second hand store-buy it-it could be worth a small
fortune.Emitt's work now finally get's the respect and is valued at prices
That reflect the incredible amount of talent that went into making these
incredible records.

***** 5 out of 5 stars

Written by Pete Holly-2010-Copyright-All Rights Reserved