(c) Elliot Kendall
Used With Permission
What do Brian Wilson, Wayne Newton, Annette and cigar chomping Sam Arkoff (Producer of the AIP "Beach Party" films) have in common? Gary Usher, multi- talented musical dynamo of the California Sound. From Surf to Hot Rod, from Psychedelia to countless film soundtracks, Gary left his indelible signature on all of them. Wave that checkered flag and marvel at the legend and the legacy.
Gary Lee Usher was born in California December 14, 1938, but grew up in New England before moving back to the Golden State upon graduation. There he roomed with his Uncle Benny who lived in the city of Inglewood, close to the Murry and Audree Wilson family home in Hawthorne. This was to have a profound effect on the young Usher and his musical destiny. At the insistence of his Uncle Benny, Gary walked over to the Wilson house and introduced himself. He struck up an immediate friendship with Brian Wilson, and they began a musical collaboration which resulted in the songs "409", "The Lonely Sea", "County Fair", "We'll Run Away", "Pom Pom Playgirl", "In My Room" and many others.
Many listeners begin their knowledge of Usher through his association with Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. The recording of Gary's 348 Chevy car engine begins this collection with a roar on "409". Usher said of "409": "it was prominent in the sense that it brought me the most notoriety because of the early success of the Beach Boys". The irony of this is that after the song was recorded, Gary purchased a Plymouth 426 Hemi Superstock, not a 409!
The Frankie Avalon version of "Muscle Beach Party" in this collection has an aggressive swing to it, and therefore it rocks a bit more than its Annette counterpart. Frankie also takes inventive liberties with the melody, making this selection a welcome choice for inclusion. A rousing pitch for a workout in the sand.
Donna Loren*s version of "Cycle Set" is interesting because although Usher authored this number, Guy Hemric produced the session. "Cycle Set" was also performed in the film Beach Blanket Bingo by the Hondells. The Hondells' version (unreleased) was arranged & produced by Gary Usher. A bouncy toe- tapper in any event, this is good inspiration to visit your local two-wheeler dealership.
Chuck Girard is the talented session singer that Usher utilized on many of his best recordings, including those of the Castells, Hondells, Revells, Super Stocks (School Is A Drag LP), Knights, Ghouls, Chuck and Joe, Toads, Devons, Weird-Ohs, Silly Surfers, and the Timers ("No-Go Showboat" by the Timers is one of Chuck's personal favorites and can be found on M & M's Still I Dream Of You - Rare Works Of Brian Wilson collection). Chuck's considerable contributions to Gary*s recordings can not be underestimated.
Chuck Girard recalls that before the name "Hondells" was decided upon, Gary had considered using "The Rising Sons". However, Usher eventually decided to combine "Honda" and "The Castells" to form "The Hondells".
The excellent Hondells' track "Ridin' Trails" is included here featuring a commanding lead vocal from Chuck Girard. The lyric states: "...you can have your rods n' rails, I'll take Ridin' Trails", meaning that the singer prefers motorcycling to hot rodding. A 'rail' is short for 'rail job', a term referring to a car that is built from scratch using metal rails for the frame. Considering Chuck's performance in this song, he builds a strong case for two- wheel off-roading activities.
The Go Go's of the mid 60's were a studio group, not the female hitmakers of the 1980's. "Wild One" by the Go Go's was a one-off single done by Gary for RCA (the B-side "Saturday's Hero" appears on Vol. 2 of this series). This recording features a different backing track than the Hondells' version, and a crisp rhythm section topped off by a wailing falsetto. The off-beat unison bass & drum arrangement on the second part of the chorus is one of the greatest hooks in hot rod music. The title is inspired by the Marlon Brando film of the same name, and the story is an eerie tale of a lonely rebel who took one too many chances. Classic stuff and an essential inclusion for this collection.
Copies of the Wayne Newton single "Comin' On Too Strong" can be found with both "Comin'" and "Coming" spellings. Gary Usher wrote the song with Raul Abeyta and a demo was recorded by Chuck Girard. In a bet with Usher, Terry Melcher took the song and produced a version with Wayne Newton to prove to Usher that he could make the song a hit! Backing vocals were provided by Melcher and recording partner Bruce Johnston. This marks the first appearance of Melcher's original mono mix on CD. "Comin' On Too Strong" is a thrilling performance, with its "Don't Worry Baby" drum parts and guitar licks, especially illuminated during the bridge section.
Gary himself takes a lead vocal turn on the Knights' "Lonely Little Stocker", a ballad about owning a car that is too ordinary to join any hot rod clubs: "They say my car is really square...and they don't want me hangin' around". The twist on the plot is that Gary's car turns out to be a red Ferrari, and on Sunday he polishes his car at home while the clubs go on a drag safari! I guess those car clubs must have really high standards; I would've let him join just on the merit of this song alone. Great moody reverb & drum sound on this one.
The Ghouls "Dracula's Deuce" is an interesting cross between the monster craze started by Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash" and the then-current hot rodding craze. Imagine Lon Chaney Jr. & Boris Karloff at Drag City, and you pretty much get the picture. In a nod to "Little Honda", Chuck Girard shouts "first gear!" during one section while Richie "Drac" Burns delivers a haunting narration...this could only happen on a Gary Usher recording session.
"Honda Bike" by the Devons is a magical collaboration penned by Gary Usher and Buzz Cason (songwriter for Ronny & The Daytonas, among others). This number has it all: great melodies, soaring background vocals, a tight and aggressive rhythm section, an imaginative bridge with unique chord changes, and a killer lead vocal by Chuck Girard. He sings to his girl about what a terrific time they're going to have motorcycling; however, the listener can't be sure if the narrator prefers the girl or the bike! The lyrics are so visual, you really believe him when he sings "the gang'll be there, what a gas it'll be, I'll be leadin' the pack and you'll be ridin' with me". Personally, I get chills every time I hear this tune...they sure don't write 'em like "Honda Bike" anymore.
The Weird-Ohs' "Leaky Boat Louie" (Gary Usher-Roger Christian) was the great flip-side to "Digger" on the Mercury single 72410. The Weird-Ohs/Silly Surfers Hawk LP originally sold for as low as 50˘ in toy stores, and now goes for over $200 on the collectors' market. The album release coincided with Hawk models that depicted the characters in the songs ("Gremmie Out Of Control", "Huey's Hut Rod", "Hot Dogger", etc.). A 1964 flash of marketing genius.
"The Surf Is In" by the Buddies is an interesting inclusion because although it was credited as a Mike Curb production, Curb used the Usher-produced instrumental track of the Hondells' "Ridin' Trails" for its basis.
The producers' credit "Ben-Ven Productions" shows up on several Usher-related projects, most notably on the Hondells' releases. This production team consisted of former Capitol A & R man Nick Venet and his business partner Fred Benson.
You'll be delighted to know that further digital Usher collections are waiting in the wings from M & M Enterprises...these releases are all generously packed with rarities for your listening pleasure. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines!
The ultimate definitive biography on Gary Usher has been completed by Stephen J. McParland and will be published in the United States by Pop Culture Ink. It is titled The California Sound - An Insider's Story: The Authorized Musical Biography Of Gary Lee Usher. For a complete catalog of this and other fine Rock and Roll reference books, write to:
Pop Culture Ink
P.O. Box 1839
Ann Arbor, MI 48106 USA
When Gary passed away on May 25, 1990 after a long battle with lung cancer, he left behind a thrilling legacy of musical works for us to enjoy. The astounding number of recordings and the joy exuberated from them are a testament to his tireless work ethics and dedication to his craft. Thank you Gary Usher, for the music, the excitement, and your unique vision of the California Sound.
-Elliot Kendall
Special Thanks & Invaluable Project Assistance: Chu Takahashi, Katsuya Wada, Belinda Casas, Stephen J. McParland, Lee Dempsey, David Leaf, Art Fein, Michael Grant, John Blair, Rick Colville, Domenic Priore, Bob & Mary Irwin, Al Quaglieri, Dan Rutherford, Gary & Terrie Schneider, Chuck Harter, Göran Tannfelt, Dani Bossard, Kyle Vincent, Sean Macreavy & Kathryn Beatt.