Gary Lewis & The Playboys - Count Me In

It would be difficult to find a rock & roll star -- and that was what he was for two years in the mid-'60s -- less likely than Gary Lewis, or a less probable chart-topping act than Gary Lewis & the Playboys. Lewis himself was possessed of a limited singing range and didn't have what could be considered good looks, yet with a lot of help he managed to make some exceptionally good (and good-selling) records out of Los Angeles, in the midst of the British Invasion, and teenagers loved him. He was the son of actor/comedian/director/producer Jerry Lewis, who was then one of the most popular entertainers in the country. Gary Lewis was born in 1946, before his father's ascent to the top of the entertainment world, but by the time he reached his teens -- and had begun playing drums and leading a combo of his own, which included Dave Walker on rhythm guitar and Dave Costell on lead, Al Ramsey on bass, and John West on the cordovox (a kind of electric accordion) -- Jerry Lewis was a major star and one of the hottest box office and television attractions in the world. He could get a television series on the air, and networks and sponsors opening their checkbooks to back it, just by indicating he wanted to do one, and get a movie made by writing -- or just okaying -- a script. If he had any peer in the business in those days, it was Frank Sinatra.

The younger Lewis and his band got a gig during the summer of 1964 playing at Disneyland, and that engagement, coupled with some urging by the elder Lewis, helped get the band a hearing from Snuff Garrett, a top producer based at Liberty Records. Garrett saw some possibilities for the group and encouraged them to work in the studio at developing a sound. Gary Lewis even got some pointers in his approach to his instrument by no less a figure than Buddy Rich. It finally happened for them late in 1964 with a song called "This Diamond Ring," co-authored (with the Drifters in mind) by a young Al Kooper. The resulting record, on which Lewis sang (with lots of doubling of his voice) and he and the Playboys played on some of the basic tracks, but which mostly featured Hal Blaine on timpani and arranger Leon Russell dubbing much of what was left, was a career-making smash.

That song hit number one on the charts in early 1965, right in the middle of the British invasion, and introduced Lewis to the public. It also gave him a singing persona that was especially appealing to preteens and younger teenagers, as a kind of likable nerd, a sort of '60s pop culture Ur-nebbish, not too far from the pose adopted by Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits on songs like "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter." Every boy under age 16 whose voice ever tightened up or even squeaked slightly while pondering asking out a girl they liked -- or who simply feared being unlucky in love -- could identify with the persona that Lewis presented, while girls adored him as someone "safe." In a sense, Lewis was a successor to such teen pop idols as Fabian and Frankie Avalon, with a touch of Beaver Cleaver-ish or Wally Cleaver-ish nerdiness that fit the early to mid-'60s. It was all a long way from what the Rolling Stones or even the Beatles (apart from Ringo) were doing at the time, but it found an audience that also included parents and other post-teen listeners, who appreciated the smoothness and attractiveness of Garrett and Russell's work as producer and arranger, respectively. Some of the music was a little sappy -- "Save Your Heart for Me" wasn't even soft rock, but what one might call "wimp rock" -- but a lot of it was beautiful AM pop.

The original Playboys, later augmented by Jim Keltner on drums, held together for the first seven singles, and Lewis' career remained on track throughout 1966 with an enviable string of hits, including the beautiful "She's Just My Style," which was sort of his graduation from the nerd persona, as well as the point when he gave up playing drums to front the group as a full-time singer. Garrett and Russell kept the records coming and the airplay coming back, and the group even wangled a movie appearance in A Swingin' Summer, a teen comedy notable for a pre-nose job Raquel Welch in a key role. Lewis might have sustained his career well into the decade, had not the draft intervened. Called into the armed forces in December of 1966, he was forced to record when on leave, and an attempt at extending his career with recordings completed before going overseas failed. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• rock

[malachaisaac]

Saturday 10/9/11 was one of the best days in my life when i went to the Gary Lewis & Billy J. Kramer tribute for John Lennon!!! I got to meet both of them after the show, take pictures with them, and i got their autographs!!! i actually cried when i was leaving from getting to meet Gary Lewis!!!

[John1948Five]

@malachaisaac Good for you! I wish I had been with you.

[archie977]

why cant they make music like this now days?

[John1948Five]

@archie977 We could do it easily. There just is no market for it or else the movers and shakers in the music industry don't see the market.

[jtswhip]

WIN!!! This song is SO GREAT! This is,hands down,my favorite oldie ever. I love it so much and I wasn't even born when it came out. I don't believe in magic,but if I did,this song would be what magic is to me. It is a flawless piece of music and thank you for sharing it.

[therealjoebloggs]

@96wordpass How's about Joe Jackson, "Stepping Out"? Think about it.

[Querencias7]

Great sound quality here! Nice job with the images too. Thanks J1948. What a terrific classic tune, clean and wholesome. I understand Leon Russell was at the piano, ha.

[silvernail6]

What I recall was when son Gary came back from war he was "changed" leading Jerry Lewis to declare, "You'll never get another of my kids." Something to that affect. Not something people repeated much.

[96wordpass]

@archie977 When I listen to the Beta Band I seriously wonder if Gary Lewis and the Playboys were a big influence. I love Gary Lewis And would love any band on the market influenced by them!

[rmtmiller]

Great sound download.

[archie977]

i wish we would make more music like this

[michaelzstuff]

@archie977 There is no market for this kind of music anymore? Even 16 year kids know this music. Gary Lewis recorded four of my songs -- none of which were hits -- but they were on his albums and I still get royalties for sales and performances so how can there not be a market for this kind of music when people are still buying it??? Doesn't make sense, does it?

[MrGary917]

my favorite gary lewis and the playboy s song.. and that was a very sweet story john 1948 5......

[MaceMn]

@malachaisaac Awesome