Tony Rivers - Move A Little Closer - The Complete Recordings 1963-1970

Although commercial success largely evaded him, throughout a large part of the Sixties, vocalist Tony Rivers definitely made his mark.  He released numerous singles as the frontman of Tony Rivers and The Castaways, initially as more of a Merseybeat and R&B band, before shifting to a West Coast surf direction.  He then released several more singles and an album of sunshine pop with Harmony Grass.  Move A Little Closer - The Complete Recordings 1963-1970 is an outstanding new three CD box set that gathers together that album and all the singles, along with fifteen Castaways tracks that were not originally released, including 2 that were slated for a single that ended up being cancelled, several demos and live in-studio recordings from Harmony Grass, plus an entire disc devoted to previously unreleased BBC Recordings from both bands.  

In October 1963, Tony Rivers and the Castaways released their debut single “Shake, Shake, Shake”, which had been a recent hit for Jackie Wilson, and was backed with “Row Row Row”.  Over the next year plus they released two more well-produced Merseybeat and R&B singles full of strong vocals from Rivers and great harmonies, but unfortunately success evaded them.  While their fourth single “She” followed suite, the flipside “Till We Get Home” was the first sign of a new direction for the band.  It was a catchy, West Coast surf tune written by the band and obviously influenced by their friendship with some of The Beach Boys.  Their next single “Come Back”, released in April 1965, found them returning to their Merseybeat sound and the flip, "What To Do" was a folky acoustic track that showed some hints of early psychedelia.   Even though they once again failed to have a hit on their hands, they managed to sign with The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein at the end of 1965. Before they signed with him, they had recorded a really good version of The Beatles' "Nowhere Man".  This was slated to be their next single, with “Girl From New York City”, a Brian Wilson song, as the B-side.  The single was even given a catalogue number (R 5400), but at the last minute the release was canceled because Epstein decided it was not a good idea to cover a Beatles track.  Their next single contained two more tracks written by Brian Wilson, and was released on Immediate Records, which was owned by former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Oldham, who also produced it.  “Girl Don’t Tell Me” is especially notable because while The Beach Boys version didn’t have any of their trademark harmonies, the Castaways version was quite the opposite (their original version of “Salt Lake City” does have the harmonies but they are more plentiful on the Castaways version).  On the suggestion of The Beach Boys’ Bruce Johnston, their next single was once again a Brian Wilson song, the legendary “God Only Knows”.  He had told them that the song was going to be on their next album, but they had no plans to release it as a single.  As fate would have it, the UK release of The Beach Boys version ended up being the released the same day they released theirs.  While it’s a respectable version, it definitely didn’t stand up to the original (the b-side was a nice version of the Henry Mancini /Johnny Mercer ballad “Charade featuring Tony Harding on vocals instead of Rivers).  At this point the band went through a pretty major lineup change with four new members.  Epstein also had a new partner now, so they were being co-managed by Robert Stigwood.  They recorded numerous songs at this point that never got released but are included here.  This was partly due to Epstein dealing with a smaller role with The Beatles after they decided to quit touring, and Stigwood being focused on The Bee Gees.  It’s a shame none of these were released as singles because there are several really strong tracks here including the edgier “Can’t Make It Without You Babe”, featuring Steve Marriott on backing vocals, “Einer Kleiner Miser Musik”, which is equal parts Beach Boys and early The Who, the gorgeous sunshine pop of “The Grass Will Sing For You” (this track was also recorded by co-writer Tony Bruno as well as Jay and the Americans, but neither can touch their version) and the Rivers penned “Summer Dreaming”, again sounding very much like the Beach Boys.  They also recorded a version of “Turn Of The Century”, a song that was written by Barry and Robin Gibb and had been provided to them by Stigwood.  The track would later show up in a more laid-back and psychedelic version on The Bee Gees first UK album.  Since things with the band didn't seem to be going anywhere, the majority of the band moved on with three of them joining the band Grapefruit.  Martin convinced several previous members to come back to the band and they released their last single as Tony Rivers and The Castaways.  Even though the single contained a couple more really strong songs it once again went nowhere.  

At this point the band decided that they needed to make some changes.  They had a new record label (MCA), a new manager and a new producer Chris Andrews.  They also started thinking that maybe their name was holding them back and their new manager suggested Harmony Grass.  Even though they didn’t know what that meant, they decided to go with it thinking that if the next record wasn’t a hit they would just go back to the old name.  With the exception of a new lead guitarist they were the same band, but with a new name.  “Move In A Little Closer, Baby”, that first single as Harmony Grass, was a hook-heavy pop tune with those everpresent harmonies they were known for and was backed by gorgeous orchestration arranged by Johnny Arthey.  It finally became the hit they had been looking for, hitting twenty-four on the UK charts (it could have possibly gone higher, but ironically the week it peaked they changed the way information was collected to determine record sales).  While this turned out to be their only hit, the band followed it up with several singles and then their sole full-length album This Is Us, all found here on disc two.  The album definitely had a few misfires, but overall it was a really good collection of tunes that mixed the sounds of their past with some fresh new directions.  In addition to “Move In A Little Closer, Baby” there are tracks like “What A Groovy Day” and “Good Thing”, both great upbeat sunshine pop, and “Summer Dreaming” (originally one of the unreleased Castaways songs}, “My Little Girl” with a great little Eddie Cochran like guitar part in the middle, and “I’ve Seen A Dream” that again show the influence of The Beach Boys (“I’ve Seen A Dream” even taps into a bit of the Pet Sounds experimentation and psychedelia).  Other highlights include “Mrs Richie”, which is largely acoustic guitar, bass and vocals with a little organ added towards the end and has a strong Simon and Garfunkel vibe, “Ballad Of Michael”, a really strong cut that at times sounds a little like The Hollies, and “I Think Of You”, a really cool, laid-back tune with a bit of a jazz feel that is a nice change of pace.  Several of the singles had strong songs on the flipside that didn’t make the album, including another Beach Boys sounding track “Happy Is Toy-Shaped” and “I Remember”, a laid-back track with great harmonies and orchestration.  Closing out the second disc are six bonus tracks including the beautiful, harmony soaked “It Takes A Lot Of Loving” from the Take A Girl Like You movie soundtrack, three demos/outtakes including the absolutely stunning “Let My Tears Flow” (do yourself a favor and look this one up), a live-in-studio recording of “Move In A Little Closer, Baby” and an Italian version of “I Remember.”

Containing thirty-three tracks and clocking in at just under eighty minutes, disc three is an absolute treasure trove of previously unissued BBC sessions with twenty-five from The Castaways and eight from Harmony Grass.  Not only do these tracks allow you to hear their amazing harmonies in a live setting, unlike most collections like this there are no duplicate songs from the different sessions.  While about a third of the songs had been released as singles like “Shake Shake Shake”, “’Till We Get Home” and “She” there are versions of everything from “Swingin’ On A Star”, the doo-wop of “Little Darlin’”,“Abilene” (written by Bob Gibson, sung by George Hamilton IV) and Frankie Laine’s “Jezebel” to The Every Brothers’ “The Ferris Wheel”, “Windy” from The Association and The Rascals’ “A Girl Like You.”  As would be expected The Beach Boys are also represented with versions of “I Get Around” and “When I Grow Up To Be A Man,” but so are the surf music of Jan and Dean with “Little Old Lady From Pasadena” and “Surf City” also included, although the latter was written by Jan (Berry) and Brian Wilson.  This is an outstanding glimpse into these bands away from the studio.  It's also interesting to hear the talent and confidence of Rivers and the bands get better and better as you make your way though.  Also included is a great CD booklet full of pictures and memorabilia and a very detailed essay covering his career during this era.  

(Grapefruit Records)