Emitt Rhodes - Farewell To Paradise

Emitt Rhodes (Farewell To Paradise) LP Dunhill 5022 - 1973

Tal vez el menos conocido, "Farewell To Paradise" es probablemente el disco más oscuro del luminoso Emitt Rhodes. Cuando fué publicado finalmente en 1973, tras más de un año de trabajo, nuestro hombre era ya un más que experimentado músico que se las había visto con los destellos del éxito, y con los tortuosos desencuentros con el mundo discográfico.

Este disco tiene una atmosfera especial y un tanto crepuscular que lo diferencia del resto de su producción. Como si Rhodes fuera consciente de que este sería el último. Mezclado por el legendario Curt Boettcher y grabado en su casa con un cacharro de 8 pistas, absolutamente toda la instrumentación, voces y producción están hechas por el propio Emitt, como solía ser su costumbre. Aún sabiéndolo, es difícil de creer que todo lo que se oye en este album haya salido de la misma persona.

"Farewell To Paradise" no tuvo apenas repercusión y no hubo ningún single que lo promocionara un poquillo. Un disco quizás un poco dificil, pero que engancha y aumenta adicción a cada escucha. Nocturno por excelencia, nunca ha sido reeditado.


Nacido en Decatur, Illinois, en 1950, pero criado y residente en Los Angeles, Emitt Rhodes era ya en 1965 el batería de The Palace Guard con quienes grabó media docena de singles. Después monta su propio grupo, The Merry Go Round, y conoce el éxito con canciones como "Live", "Listen Listen" o "You're A Very Lovely Woman". Unos cuantos singles y un LP después, inicia su corta carrera en solitario en 1969.

Tras la publicación de "Farewell To Paradise", revelador título por cierto, un viejo de 24 años recién cumplidos llamado Emitt Lynn Rhodes decide jubilarse definitivamente y dedicarse a las anónimas labores de técnico de sonido, grabador todoterreno y pructor de oficio, cosa que sigue haciendo actualmente en su estudio en Hawthorne, California.


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Probably his least known, "Farewell To Paradise" surelly is the darkest album by the luminous Emitt Rhodes. When it was finally released in 1973 after more than one year in the works, our man already was a more than experienced musician who had lived the flashed of success and also the winding disappointments from the record industry.

This album has a special and crepuscular atmosphere which makes it quite different from the rest of Emitt's records. Just as if he was being conscious that it would be his last one. Mixed by the legendary Curt Boettcher and recorded at home with an eight track machine, Emitt himself played all instruments, sang all voices and produced, as he usually did. And even knowing this, it's hard to believe that absolutely everything heard in this album comes from the very same person.

There wasn't any single lifted from "Farewell To Paradise" and consequently, airplay was almost non existent, as logically were its sales. It probably was a bit of a "difficult" album, but also a natural grower after each and every listen. An openly nocturnal record, it has never been re-released.

Born in Decatur, Illinois, in 1950, but grown an resident in L.A., Emitt Rhodes already was in 1965 the drummer of The Palace Guard with whom recorded half a dozen singles. Then he made his own band, The Merry Go Round, and found success with songs like "Live", "Listen Listen" or "You're A Very Lovely Woman". A few singles and an LP later, he started his short solo career in 1969.

After the release of "Farewell To Paradise" (revealing title, by the way), an old man with a recent 24th birthday, called Emitt Lynn Rhodes, definitively waved goodbye to the pop world and retired to anonimous jobs as a sound engineer, amphibious recording technician and freelance producer. Occupations he still seems to be doing at his Hawthorne, California studio.



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