JOHN PHILLIPS
Wolfking of L.A (Dunhill)
Ask any reader for their top ten albums of
all time and I bet money they look nothing like the typical Q, Mojo, and
NME polls. Everybody reading this has those obscure personal favourites
they would never be without. My desert island disc numero uno would be
John Phillips - The Wolfking of L.A.
Phillips as most of you must surely know
was the inspiration and man songwriter of the Mamas and Papas who were
responsible for a string of classic pop hits in the middle to late sixties.
His career started back in 1960 gradually perfecting his songwriting skills
via the folk circuit with the Journeymen before worldwide fame with the
Mamas and Papas. Other notable highlights were as composer of the hippie
anthem 'San Francisco' and his part in arranging the pioneering Monterey
Pop Festival.
The career of the Mamas and Papas waned around
1968 and the songwriting of Phillips with all its idyllic lifestyle references
changed. His lyrics became more cynical - this was after all the end of
the 60's dream, shattered by events like Altamont and the Manson murders.
Indeed Phillips had been linked with the Manson cult but always strenuously
denied the accusations. California was not the utopia it purported to
be in the 1960's and this reflected in his only solo album released in
1970 on Dunhill Records.
Mainly because the public was expecting a
solo Mamas and Papas record and reviews made it patently obvious that
wasn't the case the album sold pitifully. I myself bought the album due
to the constant raving of ZigZag magazine and in particular Pete Frame
(of Rock Family Trees fame).
So what of the album? Recorded in a studio
in his own Bel-Air mansion (sound-proofed due to local planning laws which
banned such bohemian activities) it featured the best L.A session men
of the time notably Hal Blaine, Larry Knetchel, Joe Osborn, James Burton
with subtle pedal steel of Buddy Emmons giving a particular country feeling.
The lyrics written by Phillips as an observer
of Californian lifestyle are witty, tongue in cheek and in parts scathing,
telling it how it was not how it appeared in magazines. Tales of
junkies (Drum), drug-dealing (Topanga), miscarriage (Let it bleed), sarcasm
(Malibu People) are all delivered in Phillips free and easy style. It's
a style that makes you feel his songs were written just before they were
recorded - first take. At the time I first bought the album the lazy,
beach bum delivery of the music was particularly attractive to anyone
contemplating a British winter.
Unfortunately after this a disillusioned
Phillips descended into a drug lifestyle - well documented a few years
ago by his autobiography: 'Papa John', a harrowing account of drug dependency
culminating in his conviction for trafficking in 1980, which threatened
to see him in jail for some years. His output during this period mainly
limited to an aborted second solo album. Trivia buffs may wish to know
that 'King of the hill' on Roger McGuinn's last solo album was directly
inspired by this period in Phillips life.
I've read Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens
list 'Wolfking' amongst his favourite records and Rik Menck of Velvet
Crush holds the album in high esteem. Otherwise like its sales, recognition
still seems next to zero. Fortunately ace nostalgia label Demon saw fit
to re-release it on vinyl in 1998 and on compact disc in 1992 and up to
the 1995 catalogue it was still available. I would urge you to grab a
copy while you can you won't regret it. I'm on my third copy, it's time
you caught me up.
(Mick Forder 1996)
If you would like to send
your comments, ratings on any the above albums please email
RSG!
Page last up dated: 15th March
1999
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