The Jack Nitzsche Story: Hearing Is Believing: 1962-1979

by Jack Nitzsche

Overview

Jack Nitzsche was one of the true wildmen of American popular music. His reputation was made as arranger on Phil Spector's classic recordings and a pillar of his Wrecking Crew, but his reach is so much wider and deeper than that that's it's a wonder that Hearing Is Believing isn't a multi-disc box set instead of a 26-track, single-CD compilation. Indeed, his long association with figures like the Rolling Stones and Neil Young, his film scores (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest among them), his work as a conductor and producer with the likes of not only the legendary Judy Henske and Link Wray but also Mink Deville, as well as a recording artist in his own right -- his Lonely Surfer album from 1963 is widely regarded as a classic of the genre -- classify him as a true journeyman. And if all that weren't enough, he co-wrote Jackie DeShannon's monster smash "Needles and Pins" in 1963 with another Spector associate, Sonny Bono! Hearing Is Believing contains 26 cuts, nearly all of them prime. What is here is amazing: the aforementioned DeShannon single, Stevie Wonder's "Castles in the Sand," Lesley Gore's "No Matter What You Do," Link Wray's "Rumble," Graham Parker & the Rumour's "You Can't Be Too Strong," Henske's edgy "Road to Nowhere," Gene McDaniels' "Walk With a Winner," Bobby Darin's "Not for Me," the Righteous Brothers' "Hung on You," Lou Christie's "Wild Life's in Season," Tim Buckley's "It Happens Every Time," and Doris Day's "Move Over Darling!" How's that for diversity? The thread that runs trough it all: Nitzsche's genius as an arranger -- his ability to color a song just the shade it should be and give it exactly what it needed -- made him an artist in the studio, someone who could create masterpieces from chord changes and simple melodies. While the producer looked for a sound, Nitzsche made that sound live. It's true that licensing caused some problems in the contents table (perhaps that there's no box set?) but it's a small complaint overall. The Rolling Stones are not here in name, but Marianne Faithfull and "Sister Morphine" are, with the band playing behind her. Young isn't here in name, but Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Helpless" is a stellar addition anyway because Young's band, Crazy Horse, is backing her. The set is bookended and riddled with Nitzsche's own work -- the title track "The Lonely Surfer," his own version of "Rumble," and the theme song "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."." The CD package comes with a booklet chock-full of notes by Mick Patrick, and reminiscences by many of the artists and producers who worked with him. There are also some fine rare photographs. The music found here inspires, awes, and delights. Nitzsche deserves more than this of course, but it's a welcome first step thanks to Ace. Highly recommended. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	05/10/2005
Label:	Ace
UPC:	0029667008327
Rank:	65690

Tracks

1. The Lonely Surfer  - Martin Cooper  - Jack Nitzsche
2. Don't Make My Baby Blue  - Frankie Laine  - Barry Mann  - Cynthia Weil
3. Needles and Pins  - Sonny Bono  - Jackie DeShannon  - Jack Nitzsche
4. Seein' Is Believin'  - Bodie Chandler  - Eddie Hodges  - Edward McKendry
5. Not for Me  - Bobby Darin
6. Move Over Darling  - Doris Day  - Hal Kanter  - Joe Lubin  - Terry Melcher
7. Castles in the Sand  - Hal Davis  - Mack Gordon  - Frank [Motown] Wilson  - Stevie Wonder
8. Rumble  - Mark Grant  - Jack Nitzsche  - Link Wray
9. Kick That Little Foot Sally Ann  - Steve Barri  -  Round Robin  - Phil Sloan
10. Always Waitin'  - Mike Curb  -  Paris Sisters
11. Walk With a Winner  - Keith Colley  - Jill Jones  - Gene McDaniels
12. No Matter What You Do  - Lesley Gore  - Mike Post  - Dick Saint John
13. Hung on You  - Gerry Goffin  - Carole King  -  Righteous Brothers  - Phil Spector
14. Cheryl's Goin' Home  - Bob Lind
15. I Could Be So Good to You  - Greg Dempsey  -  Don & the Goodtimes  - Jack Nitzsche
16. Road to Nowhere  - Gerry Goffin  - Judy Henske  - Carole King
17. The Heart of Juliet Jones  - Garry Bonner  - Alan Gordon
18. Wild Life's in Season  - Lou Christie  - Twyla Herbert
19. You Make Me Feel Like Someone  - Irwin Levine  - P.J. Proby  - Philip Springer
20. It Happens Every Time  - Tim Buckley
21. Sister Morphine  - Marianne Faithfull  - Mick Jagger  - Keith Richards
22. Ashes, The Rain & I  -  James Gang  - Dale Peters  - Joe Walsh
23. Helpless  - Buffy Sainte-Marie  - Neil Young
24. Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl  - Willy DeVille  -  Mink DeVille
25. You Can't Be Too Strong  - Graham Parker  -  Parker
26. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Closing Theme)  - Jack Nitzsche

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jack Nitzsche   Primary Artist,Conductor
James Gang   Primary Artist
Jackie DeShannon   Primary Artist
Frankie Laine   Primary Artist
Bobby Darin   Primary Artist
Eddie Hodges   Primary Artist
Graham Parker & the Rumour   Primary Artist
Don & the Goodtimes   Primary Artist
Doris Day   Primary Artist
Gene McDaniels   Primary Artist
Garry Bonner   Primary Artist
Lesley Gore   Primary Artist
Judy Henske   Primary Artist
Bob Lind   Primary Artist
P.J. Proby   Primary Artist
Round Robin   Primary Artist
Lou Christie   Primary Artist
The Paris Sisters   Primary Artist
The Righteous Brothers   Primary Artist
Mink DeVille   Primary Artist
Marianne Faithfull   Primary Artist
Tim Buckley   Primary Artist
Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist
Buffy Sainte-Marie   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Buffy Sainte-Marie   Audio Production,Producer
Bill Szymczyk   Audio Production,Producer
Mick Jagger   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Jac Holzman   Audio Production,Producer
Paul Rothchild   Audio Production,Producer
Phil Spector   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Quincy Jones   Audio Production,Producer
Joe Saraceno   Audio Production,Producer
Mike Curb   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Marc Gordon   Audio Production,Producer
Hal Davis   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Dick Glasser   Audio Production,Producer
Terry Melcher   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Jimmy Bowen   Audio Production,Producer
Jack Nitzsche   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Cover Photo,String Arrangements
Irwin Levine   Composer
Cynthia Weil   Composer
Tony Rounce   Research
Carole King   Composer
Graham Parker   Composer
Garry Bonner   Composer
Link Wray   Composer
Jill Jones   Composer
Phil Sloan   Composer
Neil Young   Composer
Nick Robbins   Mastering
Mike Post   Composer
Tim Buckley   Arranger,Composer
Gerry Goffin   Composer
Marianne Faithfull   Composer
Willy DeVille   Composer
Philip Springer   Composer
Keith Richards   Composer
Joe Lubin   Composer
Barry Mann   Composer
Mack Gordon   Composer
Lou Christie   Composer
Joe Walsh   Composer
Alan Gordon   Composer
Dale Peters   Composer
Martin Cooper   Composer
Greg Dempsey   Composer
Twyla Herbert   Composer
Dick St. John   Composer
Frank Wilson   Composer
Edward McKendry   Composer
Hal Kanter   Composer
Mark Grant   Composer
Steve Barri   Composer
Sonny Bono   Composer
Keith Colley   Composer
Bodie Chandler   Composer
Bob Lind   Composer
Bobby Darin   Composer
Mick Patrick   Research,Liner Notes
James Gang   Arranger