The Forum
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1966-67) - Riselle Bain (aka Rissy Bain) -- vocals - Phil Campos (RIP 1987) -- vocals - Renee Nole -- vocals
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- Rissy Bain (solo efforts) - Phil Campos (solo efforts) - Les Baxter's Balladeers (Riselle Bain, Phil Campos and Renee Nole) - Phil and Paul (Phil Campos)
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Genre: sunshine pop Rating: *** 3 stars Title: The River Is Wide Company: Mira Catalog: MLP
3014 Country/State: Los Angeles, California Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: mono pressing Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $20.00
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I'll admit to having a weakness for '60s sunshine pop. I know it's not good for me, or my wallet, but there's something about the genres' dated, calculated sweetness that just gets under my skin. Add a little fuzz guitar, harpsichord and lysergic touches and it's all over for me ... On the other hand I never thought I would own anything affiliated with schlock-meister Les Baxter. Seriously - buy an album by one of the kings of American easy listening and exotica? Never !!! Well, witness this 1966 album billed to The Forum and I was obviously wrong.
Forget the group name. The Forum was nothing more than a short-lived studio offshoot of The Les Baxter's Balladeers. Phil Campos had been one of The Balladeers lead singers. He'd previously released an unsuccessful 1960 solo single for Tony Hilder's Los Angeles based Impact label. The Forum pairing him with a pair of attractive female vocalists in Riselle Bain and future wife Rene Nole.
With Norm Ratner producing, as The Forum the trio made their debut with a 1966 single on Pat Boone's Penthouse label (yes it's a ironic label name for someone as religious as Boone).
- 1966's 'The River Is Wide' b/w 'Fall In Love (All Over Again)' (Penthouse catalog number PH 504)
While
the 45 did little commercially Randall Wood's Mira Records purchased
distribution rights, remixing the track and releasing it nationally.
The label also decided to release a supporting
album. Largely written and produced by Baxter, I certainly wasn't
expecting much from "The River Is Wide". Given those
low expectations, I'm surprised to say the album was far better than one
"The River
Is Wide" track listing: 1.) The River Is Wide (Billy Admire - Gary Knight) - 2:45 rating: *** stars With Campos handling lead vocals, the ballad 'The River Is Wide' has always reminded me of a mash-up of Phil Spector producing something for The Righteous Brothers. That big Spector-esque "Wall of Sound" was prominently featured. Campos and company had to give it their all to avoid being swallowed by the arrangement. Interesting the Mira remix is quite different from the original 45 - the opening is far less dramatic and Bain and Nole's vocals are pushed further up in the mix. I've gone back and forth with respect to which version I prefer, but as I'm writing this I'll go with the Mira update.
- 1966's 'The River Is Wide' b/w 'Girl Without a Boy' (Mira catalog number 232) 2.) I Like What I See (John Degatino) - 2:03 rating: **** stars Yes, 'I Like What I See' was hopelessly MOR, but their harmonies were impeccable; the music screaming mid-'60s "California hip ness". This time out Bain and Nole simply buried Campos. Powered by a great bass line and closing with a great Farfisa powered tango melody, it was one of my favorite performances.. 3.) Girl Without A Boy (Les Baxter) - 3:00 rating: ** stars Not sure whether Bain or Nole handled lead on 'Girl with a Boy' (think it was Nole), but to my ears this saccharine ballad was written with a ear to commercial airplay. The tack piano powered melody was actually pretty good, but it was a bit on the sickly sweet side. Guess that explains why it was released as the album's third 45:
- 1966's 'Girl Without A Boy' b/w 'Go Try To Put Out The Sun' (Mira catalog number 248)
4.) Trip on Me (Les Baxter - Paul Hanen) - 2:20 rating: **** stars Complete with "happening" lyrics, fuzz guitar and various sound effects, 'Trip on Me' was the album's most daring performance. Not exactly acid soaked, but about as close as a guy in a tuxedo and two ladies in evening dresses were going to come to the genre. With Campos on lead vocals, it was surprising cool. Love the way the ladies repeated the title time after time while Campos shifted into a growl. It also sounded like Baxter and company had somehow managed to mistakenly co-mingled two songs. The track was tapped as the LP's sophomore single:
- 1966's 'Trip On Me' b/w 'It's Sunday' (Mira catalog number 243) #45 Billboard top-100 pop chart
5.) It's Sunday (Les Baxter) - 2:16 rating: *** stars The Mamas and the Papas-styled ballad 'It's Sunday' served to showcase the nice interplay between Campos and the two ladies. The harpsichord backing was a nice touch, but ultimately couldn't salvage the song from also-ran status. The song also appeared as the "B" side on their 'Trip On Me' 45.
(side
2) Showcasing Bain and Nole, the cute and sappy 'We Can Make It' was the album's best slice of sunshine pop. It' would not have sounded out of place on a Fifth Dimension album. 2.)
Look the Other Way (Wally Holmes) - 2:45
rating: **** stars 3.) The Time Is Now (Wally Holmes) - 2:15 rating: *** stars Another effort with Campos on lead; 'The Time Is Now' added harpsichord, a touch of fuzz guitar and "happening" lyrics to their patented sunshine pop sound. Campos' vocals reminded me a touch of Frankie Valli with a sneering edge. 4.) World of Illusion (Les Baxter) - 3:15 rating: *** stars Baxter's folk-rocker 'World of Illusion' featured some surprisingly dark lyrics while while again showcasing their lovely blended voices. 5.) I'm Alright Now (John Degatino) - 2:23 He's a complete unknown to me, but two of the album's strongest tunes were penned by John Degatino. Sporting one of the album's best melodies, 'I'm Alright Now' was an adult-contemporary ballad with a touch of Sergio Mendes sophistication added to the mix. The song was also interesting for showcasing a tougher, raspier side of Campos voice.
Mira never bothered to release a follow-up album. Bain struck out in search of a solo career which seems limited to a 1972 Japanese language single under the name "Rissy Bain":
- 1972's 'Harbor Light' b/w 'Return To Me' (Columbia catalog number P-180).
By 1968 Campos and Nole (now his wife - the blonde lady shown on the LP's back cover) were playing Nevada casinos as Phil Campos & the Forum. Career wise it went downhill from there, though they seem to have enjoyed a long and successful marriage which included several children.
Only 54, Campos passed on in 1987. His son Ted has a small website devoted to his late father at: https://www.philcampos.com/
© Scott R. Blackerby April, 2025
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would
have expected. Nothing here was going to be mistaken for a
breakthrough rock and roll collection. All three singers had strong voices
and Baxter's arrangements did a nice job of blending their voices.
There certainly wasn't any sign of originality here with Baxter and company
spending most of their time mimicking then popular and not-so-popular
musical trends. Exemplified by performances like the remixed title
track, 'Girl Without A
Boy' and 'I
Like What I See' about half of the album was given over to MOR-polished pop
tracks that would have appealed to a generation of older listeners who grew
up listening to Baxter's soundtracks and exotica albums. Girl groups, Mamas
and the Papas, The Fifth Dimension-styled soul; it was all mixed in these
grooves. Still, there were some interesting and unexpected detours. The
album's creative highlight, 'Trip
on Me' actually gave a nod to pop-psych, though in a fun, non-threatening
fashion. Almost as entertaining was the weird beatnik funk-meets spy
soundtrack 'Look the Other Way'. A strange little album that you can still
find on the cheap and is worth a quick spin.
