The Merry-Go-Round
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Psychedelic rock music |
The Merry-Go-Round was a Los Angeles-based American band known for its psychedelic rock style, consisting of vocalist and songwriter Emitt Rhodes, drummer Joel Larson, lead guitarist Gary Kato, and bassist Bill Rinehart.
History
The group originated in the summer of 1966 following Rhodes' departure from the Palace Guard. Soon after, they incorporated Rinehart, who had previously played with the Leaves, and Larson, formerly a member of the Grass Roots. Their demo recordings led to a signing with A&M Records.
In early 1967, their first single, "Live" backed with "Time Will Show the Wiser," achieved regional popularity and reached number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their next release, "You're a Very Lovely Woman," peaked at number 94. Due to these moderate chart results, A&M accelerated the launch of their debut album.
Released in November 1967, their only album, The Merry-Go-Round, attained a peak position of 190 on the charts. Shortly thereafter, Rinehart exited the band and was succeeded by Rick Dey of the Vejtables. Despite issuing additional singles throughout 1968, none managed to enter the charts.
The band appeared at the 1967 Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival, performing as the closing act on Saturday and near the end on Sunday. In 1968, members Dey, Rhodes, and Larson featured on The Dating Game, playing "Live" during the show's introduction. Although sessions for a follow-up album commenced, it was never finalized. Declining audience interest ultimately led to The Merry-Go-Round's dissolution in 1969.
Legacy
In 1971, Linda Ronstadt covered "You're a Very Lovely Woman," retitled "(She's A) Very Lovely Woman," releasing it as Capitol single 3021; it reached number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Bangles included a rendition of "Live" on their 1984 album All Over the Place, while Fairport Convention recorded "Time Will Show the Wiser" for their 1968 debut album. The song has since become a regular feature at their annual Cropredy Festival.
A compilation featuring 14 tracks was issued by Rhino Records in 1985. Later, in 2005, Rev-Ola Records released a CD combining their sole LP with bonus content, including a hidden track titled "California Girls." This track was originally part of a promotional television film called Beat of the Brass, featuring Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass trumpet performances.
Their only studio album was reissued in April 2010 by Sundazed Music, remastered from original analog masters and pressed on premium vinyl.
Discography
- The Merry-Go-Round (1967) – Peaked at No. 190 on the Billboard 200
Singles
- "Live" (1967) – Reached No. 63 on US Billboard Hot 100; No. 66 on Canada's RPM
- "Time Will Show the Wiser" (1967)
- "You're a Very Lovely Woman" (1967) – Achieved No. 94 on US Billboard Hot 100
- "She Laughed Loud"
- "Listen, Listen"
- "Til the Day After"
External links
- [ AllMusic profile of The Merry-Go-Round]
- Joel-Larson.com