Captain Nemo (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Captain Nemo
Type = Album
Artist = The Sundowners


Released = 1968
Recorded = 1967-1968
Genre = Sunshine pop, Soft Pop, Pop, Mersey Beat, Psychedelic
Label = Decca Records
Reviews =
* Allmusic rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wvfoxqe5ldje link] |

"Captain Nemo" is a music album by the American group The Sundowners, originally released in 1968 on Decca Records. The album was out of print for decades, but it is nowadays available on remastered CD.

History

The Sundowners were a music group from Lake George, New York. The original line-up included Bobby Dick (bass & vocals), Dominick DeMieri (guitar & vocals), Eddie Placidi (guitar & vocals), Eddie Brick (lead vocals), and Kerim "Kim" Capli (drums). Prior to their only album, 1968's "Captain Nemo", the group released two singles, the first in 1965:

* "Leave Me Never" / "Around And Around" (Coed 603) - 1965

The B-side is a cover of the Chuck Berry song. A year later, The Sundowners moved to Los Angeles and released another single, this time with two originals:

* "Ring Out Wild Bells" / "When The Sun Goes Down" (Filmways 110) - 1966

Neither single charted nationally. However, fortune came when the group was asked to support The Monkees on their tour, which Jimi Hendrix later joined as well. After signing to Decca Records, The Sundowners released three singles in late 1967 and early 1968 which previewed their upcoming debut album:

* "Always You" / "Dear Undecided" (Decca 32171) - 1967
* "Sunny Day People" / "Easy Does It Baby" (Decca 32296) - 1968
* "Let It Be Me" / "Blue-Green Eyes" (Decca 32497) - 1968

"Captain Nemo", The Sundowners's first (and, as it turned out, only) full-length record was released on Decca Records (as Decca 75036) in late 1968. However, it gathered little attention and was not commercially successful.

Track listing

* 01. Sunny Day People (2:42) - Kerim Capli / Dominick Demieri (see note below)
* 02. Edge Of Love (3:19) - Don Adrissi / Dick Adrissi
* 03. Let It Be Me (4:41) - Gilbert Bécaud / Mann Curtis / Pierre Delancé
* 04. Dear Undecided (2:28) - Dominick DeMieri
* 05. Ring Out Wild Bells (2:31) - Dominick DeMieri
* 06. Plaster Casters (2:47) - Dominick DeMieri / Eddie Placidi / Bobby Dick
* 07. Captain Nemo (3:52) - Dominick DeMieri
* 08. Always You (2:58) - Roger Nichols / Tony Ascher
* 09. Easy Does It (2:52) - Dominick DeMieri
* 10. Blue-Green Eyes (3:07) - Dominick DeMieri
* 11. So Sad (4:04) - Dominick DeMieri

Note: the 2007 Revola re-issue (see below) credits this songs to Dominick DeMieri and Eddie Placidi. However, the original 1968 single lists DeMieri and Kerim Capli as songwriters.

Credits

Drums: Kerim Capli, Benny Grammatico (see note below) Bass: Bobby Dick, Dominick DeMieri Organ, Piano, Lead, Rhythm and Steel Guitars: Dominick DeMieri, Eddie Placidi Percussion: Eddie Brick, George Bianchi Vocals: Eddie Brick, Eddie Placidi, Benny Grammatico, Bobby Dick, George Bianchi

Producer: Dominick DeMieri Executive Producer: Charles Bud Dant Engineers: George Chandler, Phil Yeend Sleeve Photos: Bobby Dick, Mike Dick

Bones Howe: producer ("Always You" / "Dear Undecided" single) Bill Holman: arranger ("Always You" / "Dear Undecided" single)

Note: Kerim Capli did virtually all of the drumming on "Captain Nemo", but he left the band near the end of the recording sessions. Capli was replaced by Benny Grammatico and George Bianchi, both of whom did not sing or play on "Captain Nemo".

Track by Track

"Captain Nemo" is an album of many different flavours. It often combines contemporary pop with more psychedelic, experimental elements. The songs written by The Sundowners themselves are characterized by unusual chord changes and surprising melodies. For this reason, "Captain Nemo" may well take repeated listenings to sink in.

Sunny Day People

* A bold way to start off the album, with a peculiar, dissonant chord progression beneath the verse melody. The chorus, slightly reminiscent of The Beatles's "Good Day Sunshine", is more conventional pop and highlighted by horns. Released as a single in a punchier mix.

Edge Of Love

* An amiable mid-tempo acoustic song. Features some interesting guitar work, particularly on the intro. The laid-back, somewhat restrained execution - particularly in the nice vocal harmonies - offers a welcome alternative for the otherwise mostly very energetic (occasionally loud!) performances on the rest of the album.

* Appears on volume 2 of the "Morning Glory Daze: Universal Soft Rock" (1997) compilation along with "Always You".

Let It Be Me

* The Sundowners's take on this country (!) classic, previously recorded by The Everly Brothers in 1959, and a hit for Glen Campbell and Bobby Gentry in 1969.

* The most quiet and sedated song on the album, it feels a bit out of place. Of course, the group can't help but add a little psychedelia to their otherwise surprisingly conventional rendition: they mess with the tempo a bit during the instrumental bridge, and the guitar player, who adds guitar fills throughout, throws in the occasional dissonant note.

* Released as a single together with "Blue-Green Eyes".

Dear Undecided

* According to some, 'the best song the Beatles never wrote'. Indeed, the tune has a very Beatlesque, Mersey Beat quality to it, with a catchy chorus and steady beat. This standout, also released as a single, segues directly into "Ring Out Wild Bells".

Ring Out Wild Bells

* Interesting up-tempo pop tune, with acoustic rhythm guitars and a jangly electric on top. Also features a horn part and excellent group singing throughout. Listen to the acapella false ending and the chant-like coda.

* An older song, previously released as a single (see above). The album version is a re-recording. "Ring Out Wild Bells" can also be found on volume 3 of the "Soft Sounds For Gentle People" compilation (2004).

Plasters Casters

* This instrumental, with a stuttering rhythm, heavy bass, organ, and fuzz guitar, closes side one of the original LP. Quite funky and energetic, but not on par with the rest of the material.

Captain Nemo

* The title tune is the most experimental song on the record. Sound effects lead into a heavy, thick arrangement of multi-tracked fuzz guitars and organ. An ominously sounding chorus is alternated with more friendly, quieter sections. Influences of The Beatles's more psychedelic work are evident throughout.

Always You

* This is generally considered the highlight of the album. Written by Roger Nichols (music) and Tony Asher (lyrics - of Pet Sounds fame), it is unlike any other song on "Captain Nemo". A beautiful, fragile string & horn arrangement by Bill Holman leads into a wonderful up-tempo pop song, with bass, drums, guitars, piano, and The Sundowners's vocal harmonies creating a sophisticated whole. Asher's heart-felt lyrics add to the timeless quality of the tune.

* "Always You" was released as a single together with "Dear Undecided". The single version omits the not particularly radio-friendly string & horn intro, and features a noticeably different mix.

* The song was also recorded by The American Breed, in a stripped down, vastly inferior (almost amateurish) version; and by Linda Ball, whose recording features a horn part as in the original, but no string arrangement.

* One of the few Sundowners songs that were officially released on CD before the whole album was re-issued in 2007 (see below). It first appeared on the Japanese "The Melody Goes On" set in the early 1990s, and was subsequently included on several other compilations of Sunshine- and Soft Pop, notably the "Get Easy! Sunshine Pop" set. Many collectors and enthusiasts of the genre hold it in high regard.

Easy Does It

* The contrast with the previous song couldn't be greater: whereas "Always You" is a meticulously crafted, polished pop song, this is a raw, high-energy rocker sung by drummer Kim Capli. It is not unlike The Beach Boys's "How She Boogalooed It" or "Got To Know The Woman". Listen to the funny, deliberately hesitative ending.

* Released as a single, in a slightly different mix: the guitars are more prominent on the intro; the bass is more pronounced; and the original ending is substituted for a fade-out.

Blue Green Eyes

* The Sundowners turn in one of their best performances on this incredibly dynamic song that's constantly uplifting and surprising. Listen to the playful bass part, soaring electric leads, high harmonies, and most of all the energetic drums, and prepare for an instant energy-boost.

* Released as a single together with "Let It Be Me" - a rather odd pairing!

So Sad

* The group slows things down for this fitting majestic closer. Organ, strings, and a crying lead guitar provide a slightly haunting atmosphere.

ingles

As mentioned above, three singles were released:

* "Always You" / "Dear Undecided" (Decca 32171) - 1967

This version of "Always You" differs substantially from its album counterpart: it omits the 40-second string & horns intro, and also features a noticeably different mix. Both cuts produced by Bones Howe and arranged by Bill Holman.

* "Sunny Day People" / "Easy Does It Baby" (Decca 32296) - 1968
* "Let It Be Me" / "Blue-Green Eyes" (Decca 32497) - 1968

The former may be considered a double A-side as both songs are presented with mixes that differ from their album counterparts. The latter features a shortened version of "Let It Be Me" (3:20 minutes). Both singles produced by Dominick DeMiere with executive producer Charles Bud Dant.

Re-issue

Revola Records released "Captain Nemo" on CD in late March, 2007. The CD version does not contain bonus tracks, but all songs were digitally remastered. Also included were comprehensive liner notes by Andy Morten.

ources

* Liner notes of the 2007 re-issue by Andy Morten
* [http://www.60sgaragebands.com 60sgaragebands.com]
* [http://www.allmusic.com allmusic.com]