The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands

by The Turtles

Overview

Though the Turtles were rightfully known as an excellent pop/rock singles band, on this recording they let loose their humor, which was part of their act from the beginning. On the outside cover the group is dressed in conservative suits and bow ties, yet on the inside the group is clad in, shall it be tastefully said, less traditional attire. The Turtles (who wrote nine of the 12 songs on the original LP, two songs being added to the CD) basically mock the entire spectrum of music on this album, though elements of their pop/rock sound are contained even in the most country, psychedelic, and R&B elements of the music presented here. Two Top Ten hits are contained in this collection, Roger McGuinn's "You Showed Me" and the Turtles own subtly mocking "Elenore." Light psychedelia meets Booker T. & the MG's in the instrumental "Buzzsaw." The Beach Boys sound shows up in "Surfer Dan," and the original album closer "Earth Anthem" is a hippie ecology, folk-pop anthem that is both very pretty and quite satirical -- a listener could easily lose himself in the fine melody and atmospheric production, while laughing at the same time. The only potential problem with this album is that it is caught in the middle between two extremes: On the one hand, non-mainstream listeners will criticize the album for sounding too commercial, and, on the other, typical Turtles fans will find the album too sophisticated, especially if they are looking for another album like Happy Together. Between these two points of view falls an excellent album that is both commercial and comical, as if both of these elements couldn't coincide in one album. [A 2017 reissue added nine bonus tracks.] ~ Michael Ofjord

Product Details

Release Date:	05/05/2017
Label:	Manifesto / Manifesto Records
UPC:	0767004804422
Rank:	5253

Tracks

1. The Opening: The Battle of the Bands
2. The Last Thing I Remember
3. Elenore
4. Too Much Heartsick Feeling
5. Oh Daddy!
6. Buzz Saw
7. Surfer Dan
8. I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're the Royal Macadamia Nuts)
9. You Showed Me
10. Food
11. Chicken Little Was Right
12. The Closing: Earth Anthem (All)
13. She's My Girl
14. Chicken Little Was Right [Single Version]
15. Sound Asleep
16. Umbassa the Dragon
17. The Story of Rock and Roll
18. Can't You Hear the Cows
19. The Last Thing I Remember (The First Thing I Knew)
20. The Owl
21. To See the Sun
22. Earth Anthem [Alternate Version]
23. Battle of the Bands Radio Spot

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Turtles   Primary Artist
John Barbata   Drums,Vocals,Percussion
Howard Kaylan   Vocals,Keyboards
Mark Volman   Guitar,Vocals,Special Effects
Jim Pons   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Al Nichol   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
John Seiter   Drums,Vocals,Keyboards

Technical Credits

Bill Inglot   Mastering
Chip Douglas   Engineer,Producer
Gene Clark   Composer
Joseph Wissert   Producer
John Barbata   Composer
Howard Kaylan   Composer,Producer
Jerry Douglas   Composer
Mark Volman   Composer,Producer
Jim Hilton   Engineer
Jim Pons   Composer
Harry Nilsson   Composer
The Turtles   Composer,Producer
Al Nichol   Composer
Harold Bronson   Liner Notes
Roger McGuinn   Composer
Jeff Smith   Layout Design,Package Design
Bill Martin   Composer
Bob Irwin   Producer
Ken Perry   Mastering
Jimmy Pon   Composer