Eddie Rambeau, "I Just Need Your Love" c/w "I'm The Sky," DynoVoice 217 (rel. 2/1966)
Producer Bob Crewe was riding high in early 1966; his productions with The Four Seasons had racked up numerous hits and he would soon get a major instrumental hit with his shopping-center-friendly "Music to Watch Girls By," released as by The Bob Crewe Generation.
His production style had settled down somewhat from the cartoonish excesses of the late 1950s, when he made some of the most exciting teen rock 'n' roll releases of their day. His DynoVoice imprint had a big hit with Norma Tanega's memorable "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog." It was an unacknowledged union of non-heterosexuals: the gay Crewe and lesbian Tanega, whose long relationship with UK pop star Dusty Springfield was an open secret for several years.
Though Crewe's songwriting dominated his releases, he recognized something new and authentic in Tanega's introspective, playful approach and did what he could to get her a second success. Enter clean-cut pop singer Eddie Rambeau, who'd been recording since 1962 and got a pop hit with an overbusy cover version of "Concrete and Clay," the timeless urban pop song created and recorded by UK band Unit Four + Two. Arranger Charles Callelo, a key agent in the Crewe sound, got a bit overwrought on that recording but it out-performed the British original in the States and its success allowed Rambeau entree into the pop world.
Rambeau was a good songwriter; his credit appears on many Crewe recordings of the era. His first release of 1966 offers a fascinating blend of sounds. Charles Callelo is the arranger on "I Just Need Your Love." It's a clear nod to the UK beat-group sound, with the singer sounding like Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, although he breaks out into more soulful blurts from time to time. Callelo's arrangement is quieter than normal, with deft electric 12-string guitar, orchestral bells and a standard rhythm section, augmented with an occasional vocal chorus.
It's an appealing, light song typical of the period. Rambeau's vocal is winning and it's no the throwaway one might think most B-sides are. (We know better, but many people still dismiss B-sides.)
Cash Box passed on a review of this release, though they did other Rambeau singles; Billboard tipped this 45 for Top 60 success and gave it a thoughtful👍.
His production style had settled down somewhat from the cartoonish excesses of the late 1950s, when he made some of the most exciting teen rock 'n' roll releases of their day. His DynoVoice imprint had a big hit with Norma Tanega's memorable "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog." It was an unacknowledged union of non-heterosexuals: the gay Crewe and lesbian Tanega, whose long relationship with UK pop star Dusty Springfield was an open secret for several years.
Though Crewe's songwriting dominated his releases, he recognized something new and authentic in Tanega's introspective, playful approach and did what he could to get her a second success. Enter clean-cut pop singer Eddie Rambeau, who'd been recording since 1962 and got a pop hit with an overbusy cover version of "Concrete and Clay," the timeless urban pop song created and recorded by UK band Unit Four + Two. Arranger Charles Callelo, a key agent in the Crewe sound, got a bit overwrought on that recording but it out-performed the British original in the States and its success allowed Rambeau entree into the pop world.
Rambeau was a good songwriter; his credit appears on many Crewe recordings of the era. His first release of 1966 offers a fascinating blend of sounds. Charles Callelo is the arranger on "I Just Need Your Love." It's a clear nod to the UK beat-group sound, with the singer sounding like Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, although he breaks out into more soulful blurts from time to time. Callelo's arrangement is quieter than normal, with deft electric 12-string guitar, orchestral bells and a standard rhythm section, augmented with an occasional vocal chorus.
It's an appealing, light song typical of the period. Rambeau's vocal is winning and it's no the throwaway one might think most B-sides are. (We know better, but many people still dismiss B-sides.)
Cash Box passed on a review of this release, though they did other Rambeau singles; Billboard tipped this 45 for Top 60 success and gave it a thoughtful👍.
Norma Tanega's acoustic guitar kicks off Rambeau's evocative version of "I'm the Sky," arranged by Herb Bernstein, another frequent Crewe associate. Strings, brass, a muted vocal chorus and the evocative sound of the Musette (an accordion popular in French music) make this a folk-rock opera in one act.
Its positive, hopeful words are stirring and Rambeau's earnest voice is an ideal vessel for this haunting, ambitious song that can be heard on Tanega's excellent DynoVoice LP, named after her hit. (Said album, once found in dollar bins, now fetches three figures for top-condition copies; it's an excellent and challenging album loaded with memorable songs.)
I hope Ms. Tanega was pleased with the results; it's a majestic treatment of an excellent piece of pop music that embraces the innovation and expression of a peak year in records. It didn't get onto the charts; DynoVoice didn't do much to promote it. It's the easy winner in Eddie Rambeau's catalog and I hope you enjoy this unusual pick for today.
Its positive, hopeful words are stirring and Rambeau's earnest voice is an ideal vessel for this haunting, ambitious song that can be heard on Tanega's excellent DynoVoice LP, named after her hit. (Said album, once found in dollar bins, now fetches three figures for top-condition copies; it's an excellent and challenging album loaded with memorable songs.)
I hope Ms. Tanega was pleased with the results; it's a majestic treatment of an excellent piece of pop music that embraces the innovation and expression of a peak year in records. It didn't get onto the charts; DynoVoice didn't do much to promote it. It's the easy winner in Eddie Rambeau's catalog and I hope you enjoy this unusual pick for today.
Tomorrow: Link Wray and His Ray Men. All you need to know. Be here!
Two au courant song sounds from 1966. "I Just Need Your Love" is as you say a Herman's Hermits wannabe. "I'm The Sky" reminds me of those odd rambling "poetic" songs like Bob Lind's "Elusive Butterfly" or Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park" that surfaced during this mid 1960's period.
ReplyDeleteOh, I really like these sweet tunes. Thanks for sharing 'em.
ReplyDelete