- Terry Melcher (aka Terrence Jorsen, aka Terry Day) (RIP 2004) --

   vocals, keyboards

  backing musicians (1974)

- Hal Blaine -- drums, percussion

- Michael Clark -- drums, percussion

- Ry Cooder -- guitar

- Doris Day (RIP) -- backing vocals

- Michael Deasy -- guitar

- Chris Hillman -- bass

- Jim Horn -- horns

- Slyde Hyde -- horns

- Bruce Johnston -- backing vocals

- Jim Keltner -- drums, percussion

- Jackie Kelso -- horns

- Chuck Kindle -- horns

- Larry Knechtel -- keyboards

- Sneaky Pete Kleinow -- pedal steel guitar

- Apnaky McFarlane -- backing vocals

- Tim Martin Jr. -- guitar

- Spooner Oldham -- keyboards

- Joe Osborne -- bass

- Clarence White -- guitar

- Bruce and Jerry

- Bruce and Terry

- California Music

- City Surfers

- Freeway

- The Hot Doggers

- The Rip Chords

- The Rogues

Genre: pop

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Terry Melcher

Company: Reprise

Catalog: MS 2185

Year: 1974

Country/State: New York, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $25.00

Cost: $66.00

There's plenty of biographical information on the web about the late Terry Melcher.  I won't spend a lot of time rehashing that information.

People usually recognize Terry Melcher for one of three reasons. 1.) The fact he's the son of the late Doris Day and musician Al Jorden. 2.) His connection with the infamous Charles Manson Family (Melcher's former house was where the Manson Family killed actress Sharon Tate and others). 3.) His four decades as a producer/songwriter having worked with such acts as The Byrds, Bobby Darin, Paul Revere and the Raiders and the legendary Rising Sons. While few folks outside of the collecting arena realize it, over the years Melcher's also managed to create an extensive recording catalog. His catalog includes a number of early-'60s collaborations with Bruce Johnston (of Beach Boys fame) including Bruce and Terry, The Rip Chords and The Rogues, as well as solo performer where he's released singles under the names Terry Day and under the adopted Terry Melcher nomenclature.

For all his success, Melcher's first solo album didn't appear until 1974. Anyone hearing "Terry Melcher" for the first time could probably figure out why he waited so long. The owner of a thin, whiny voice, Melcher wasn't much of a singer. Judging by the four original songs (including one co-written with Bruce Johnston), he also wasn't much of a writer.  That said, the expansive cast of L.A. sessions players and his production and arranging talents provided the album with a couple of tracks that warranted at least a quick spin.  The first of two Bob Dylan covers, '4th Time' was actually quite likeable with a killer mandolin cover - Ry Cooder?  His cover of Jackson Browne's 'These Days' wasn't horrific and it featured his legendary mother on backing vocals.  His collaboration with Johnston on the biting attack on the Southern California lifestyle (which he epitomized in many ways) - 'Dr. Horowitz' was at least funny. Unfortunately, Melcher spent way to much effort on forgettable singer-songwriter moves ('Arkansas' and 'Old Hand Jive.'   Equally irritating were the country-rock numbers like 'Beverly Hills' and 'These Bars Have Made a Prisoner Out of Me.'  There really wasn't a lot to enjoy, or to recommend and in the end the album was all but ignored by radio and the buying public.  Reprise didn't even bother to float a single.

"Terry Melcher" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms (traditional - arranged Terry Melcher) - 3:14  rating: ** stars

The first time I heard 'Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms' I thought I was listening to a Don McLean performance.  I like Don McLean so that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, though the horn-powered opening track didn't do a great deal for me.  Pushing the bluesy vibe didn't do much for me either.
2.) These Days (Jackson Browne) - 4:32 rating: *** stars

The mid-'70s found Jackson Browne the musical flavor-of-the-month so it shouldn;t have come as a surprise to find a Browne cover on the album.  Accompanied by a pretty string arrangement, Melcher's arrangement of 'These Days' was nice, though it didn't surpass the original (found on Browne's 1973 "For Everyman" LP).  The song's most interesting facet was the fact Melcher's mother Doris Day provided background vocals.
3.) Dr. Horowitz (Bruce Johnston - Terry Melcher) - 2:49 rating: *** stars

Co-written by album producer and Beach Boys Bruce member Bruce Johnston, the bouncy, horn-powered 'Dr. Horowitz' was a cutting (and funny) look at the Southern California lifestyle.
4.) Beverly Hills (Terry Melcher) - 3:24  rating: ** stars

Country-rock's popular so why not take a stab at the genre?  Yeah, based on 'Beverly Hills' that was not a good idea for Melcher.  Life's apparently tough when you're Southern California royalty.  Somewhat unexpected fadeout ...
5.) These Bars Have Made a Prisoner Out of Me (Spooner Oldham - Dan Penn) - 2:05  rating: ** stars

I'm a big Oldham-Penn fan, but the faux-country ballad 'These Bars Have Made a Prisoner Out of Me' was simply horrible,  

(side 2)

1.) Arkansas   (Damon Black) - 3:20  rating: ** stars

Maybe it's just me, but there was something odd hearing an urbanite like Melcher singing a tribute to the rough life of a farmer ...  Hard for me to get over the weird disconnect.
2.) Stagger Lee (Harold Logan - Lloyd Price) - 2:35  rating: ** stars

Slowing 'Stagger Lee' down into what was almost a dirge didn't do the song any favors.  This wasn;t gonna make you forget the Lloyd Price original.
3.) 4th Time Around (Bob Dylan) - 2:31 rating: *** stars

The first of two Dylan covers (a seeming requirement for every self-respecting mid-'70s album), '4th Time' was actually one of the album's best performance.  Again, you probably weren't going to turn to this one over the Dylan original, though the mandolin solo was tasty.  
4.) Just a Season (Jacques Levy - Roger McGuinn) - 3:16  rating: ** stars

I had high hopes for his Byrds cover, but it wasn't be.  Competent, but hardly better than the original ... McGuinn's dry voice and patented 12-string were sadly missing.   By the way the original was on 1970's "The Byrds (Untitled)" and also the flip side of their 'CHestnut Mare' 45.
5.) Medley: Halls of Justice/Positively 4th Street. (Bob Dylan - Terry Melcher) - 3:57 rating: ** stars

Hey why not do an impression of The Byrds doing a Dylan cover?  On second thought maybe that's not a great idea.
6.) Old Hand Jive (Terry Melcher) - 1:55 rating: ** stars

Geez, another dirge arrangement.  Yeah this one's down and depressing.

Genre: country-rock

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Royal Flush

Company: RCA Victor

Catalog: BEL1-0948

Year: 1976

Country/State: New York, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring wear; gatefold sleeve; promo stamp on back cover

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 2387

Price: $20.00

Cost: $66.00

Released by Terry Melcher's own RCA Victor's affiliated Equinox label, to my ears, his sophomore solo album has always been a challenging project. 1976's "Royal Flush" was apparently intended as a concept piece built around a Western theme which included gambling, girls and Mexico. Co-produced with Tony Martin Jr., like the debut, the album featured a mixture of outside covers and Melcher originals; three co-written by L.A. sessions drummer Coy House.  This was mid-'70s Texas "desperado" country-rock, with the emphasis on country (and a lot of Mexican folk influences - horns, mariachi rhythms).  For goodness sakes, there were three songs with "Mexico" in the title.  Maybe I'm being overly critical, but on tracks like 'Rosarito ' there was a "hipster" vibe in these grooves that I found irritating.  Morover, Melcher's voice remained an acquired taste. On tracks like 'High Rollers' and 'Rosarito' his performances reminded me of a cat with its tail caught in a door.  Think  Neil Young at his least tuneful and you'll get a feel for what Melcher sounded like on 'Freeway Close' and 'Card Game.'  The fact his voice was so limited may also explain why the album had an odd, muffled sound.  While Melcher was clearly interested in scoring a commercial hit, material such as 'Fire In a Rainstorm', 'Take It To Mexico' and 'Rebecca' sounded listless and unenthusiastic. It's one of those rare albums in my collection where not a single song really jumps out at me.  Like its predecessor, the collection proved a commercial nonentity.   By the way, I couldn't read the liner note font style that was used so I have no idea who supported Melcher on the album.

"Royal Flush" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Fire in a Rainstorm (Mike Hazelwood) - 3:58 rating: ** stars

Strike one - starting a song with pedal steel guitar.  Strike two - recording a Mike Hazelwood song.  Strike three - trying to give a country-flavored song Beach Boys-styled vocals.  To my ears this was a heavily orchestrated mess of a tune.  There was a melody buried in the mix somewhere, but Melcher's fragile vocals were a challenge.  Why RCA would have tapped it as a single is a complete mystery to me.

- 1975's 'Fire In a Rainstorm' b/w 'So Right Tonight' (RCA catalog number NB-10587)

2.) L.A to Mexico (Coy Stanford House - Terry Melcher) - 2:50 rating: *** stars

Complete with Mexican-styled horns, the breezy ballad 'L.A to Mexico' found Melcher and friends seemingly taking a stab at "desperado" country-rock.  Another one that didn't do much for me.  Okay, the horns were pretty cool.
3.) High Rollers (Terry Melcher) - 2:55 rating: ** stars

Steel pedal powered country tune with Melcher talking his way through a set of Southern California-broken-heart lyrics.  The CSN&Y nod was cute, but the rest of the song sucked.
4.) Down in Mexico (Jerry Lieber - Mike Stoller) - 4:43  rating: *** stars

I think The Coasters originally recorded this one ...  The remake sounded nothing like the original.  I certainly liked the dark, ominous, percussion heavy arrangement - the song never strayed from the opening groove.  Melcher trotted out his "rock" voice, but his high, fragile delivery just wasn't the right instrument to pull it off.  The jazzy sax solo was kind of cool.
5.) Take It to Mexico (Tulsa County Blue) (Pamela Polland) - 2:06 

The first of two Pamela Polland covers, 'Take It to Mexico' offered up another country-influenced tune. At least this one had a decent chorus and once again the Mexican-flavored horn arrangement was a nice touch.  I'll call it the album's best performance.  Curiously the single was credited as a duet with longtime buddy Bruce Johnston though I didn't hear anything of the man.

- 1975's 'Take It to Mexico (Tulsa County Blue' b/w 'Rebecca' (RCA catalog number NB 10238)

(side 2)

1.) Freeway Close (Coy Stanford House - Terry Melcher) - 2:03 rating: ** stars

The little catch in Melcher's voice has always reminded me of Neil Young.  This was another tune that unsuccessfully attempted to blend "desperado" country and Beach Boys harmonies.  Lots of pedal steel this time out.
2.) Rebecca (Albert Hammond - Mike Hazelwood) - 3:55  rating: ** stars

'Rebecca' was a dark, tuneless ballad.  Melcher's vocals sounded like he was drowning in a throat full of phlegm.  
3.) Rosarito (Coy Stanford House - Terry Melcher) - 3:18   rating:* star

Hum, I guess this was actually Melcher's mariachi album.  Not sure if he was trying to paint a picture of a bunch of stoned, self-indulgent inheritance babies escaping Southern California for the hedonistic lifestyle in Mexico, but that's what I got out of this one.  Yeah, I feel a great deal of sympathy for these folk.s
4.) So Right Tonight (Terry Melcher) - 2:14  rating:* star

'So Right Tonight' ...  not so right listening to it this afternoon.  Fourth-rate Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen.  Gosh, this reminded me why I hate squealing fiddles.
5.) Card Game (Pamela Polland) - 3:38   rating:* star

The second Polland song, 'Card Game' was rather tuneless, but at least mercifully brought the album to a conclusion.  Wonder if Chris was happy to learn the song was dedicated to him.

Throughout the late-1970s, '80s and '90s Melcher became less and less involved in production work.  Sadly, after a protracted battle against melanoma, he died in November 2004.