Listen: Merry-Go-Round / The Youngbloods
Merry-Go-Round
As with my post from a few years back, ‘Merry-Go-Round’, the followup to the equally poppy ‘Grizzly Bear’ single, was a first listen record. Despite Gail Collins and Felix Pappalardi’s psychedelic revolutionary lyrics, I’d go as far as to say this is the band’s most pointed attempt at a throwaway Top 40 hit. Throwaway, only because I’ll bet you anything the band hated it.
Let’s be fair, The Youngbloods were very musical. They mastered a perfect electric piano/clean guitar sound off the bat. Anyone who got a chance to see them live will instantly verify their greatness.
‘Merry-Go-Round’ was a hit upstate. All their singles got played, and in hindsight, that’s quite unusual. Most weren’t getting national attention from radio. ‘Get Together’ flopped on release. Not until a few years later, when reissued, did proper airplay result.
‘Merry-Go-Round’ worked perfectly coming out of the car dashboard, trust me. It sounded just fine next between The Ohio Express and The 1910 Fruitgum Company to be honest.
Sorry guys.