Playback (Appletree Theatre album)
Encyclopedia
Playback was an album recorded by The Appletree Theatre in 1967.
The project was set up by brothers Terry
and John Boylan. It was written, directed and performed by the Boylan brothers, supported by leading jazz session musicians including Larry Coryell
and Eric Gale
.
Playback was essentially a loosely-woven concept album, divided into three acts, an overture, and an epilogue, with full-length pop songs such as "Hightower Square" and "I Wonder If Louise Is Home" linked by vocal narratives and snatches of music, including elements of jazz, acid rock, and classical music, sometimes given distorted sonic treatment. It was released on the Verve Forecast label, in different album sleeves in the US and UK. John Lennon
, in a 1968 interview with Penny Nichols in London, called Playback one of his favourite new albums, and Philip Proctor
acknowledged its influence on his own group, The Firesign Theatre
. Time
magazine stated that "this cycle of rock songs is an explosion of surprises, blending fey whimsy with just plain loony-bin clowning."
In the wake of the album's commercial failure Terry went solo, releasing three albums as a singer/songwriter, while John reappeared as a member of the short-lived Hamilton Streetcar before turning his attention to production with the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt
, and others. Three of the songs on the album - "I Wonder If Louise Is Home", "Don't Blame It on Your Wife", and "Barefoot Boy" - were later recorded by Rick Nelson on his 1969 album Another Side of Rick, in which both the Boylan brothers were involved.
Playback was reissued on CD in 2007.
All compositions by John and Terry Boylan
The project was set up by brothers Terry
Terence Boylan
Terence Boylan is an American singer/songwriter.Brought up in Buffalo, New York, Terry Boylan first appeared on local radio in the late 1950s performing a song he had written at the age of 11...
and John Boylan. It was written, directed and performed by the Boylan brothers, supported by leading jazz session musicians including Larry Coryell
Larry Coryell
Larry Coryell is an American jazz fusion guitarist.-Biography:Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Richland High School, in Richland, Washington, where he played in local bands The Jailers, The Rumblers, The Royals, and The Flames. He also played with The Checkers from nearby...
and Eric Gale
Eric Gale
Eric J. Gale was a leading American jazz and session guitarist.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gale began playing guitar at the age of 12. Although he majored in chemistry at Niagara University, Gale was determined to pursue a musical career, and began contributing to accompaniments for such stars as...
.
Playback was essentially a loosely-woven concept album, divided into three acts, an overture, and an epilogue, with full-length pop songs such as "Hightower Square" and "I Wonder If Louise Is Home" linked by vocal narratives and snatches of music, including elements of jazz, acid rock, and classical music, sometimes given distorted sonic treatment. It was released on the Verve Forecast label, in different album sleeves in the US and UK. John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, in a 1968 interview with Penny Nichols in London, called Playback one of his favourite new albums, and Philip Proctor
Philip Proctor
Philip Proctor is an American actor, voice actor and a member of The Firesign Theatre. He plays Rocky Rococo and Nancy in the Nick Danger series. He is from Goshen, Indiana...
acknowledged its influence on his own group, The Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre is an American comedy troupe consisting of Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Philip Proctor. Their brand of surrealistic humor is best known through their record albums, which acquired a cult following in the late 1960s and early '70s.The troupe began as live radio...
. Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine stated that "this cycle of rock songs is an explosion of surprises, blending fey whimsy with just plain loony-bin clowning."
In the wake of the album's commercial failure Terry went solo, releasing three albums as a singer/songwriter, while John reappeared as a member of the short-lived Hamilton Streetcar before turning his attention to production with the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
, and others. Three of the songs on the album - "I Wonder If Louise Is Home", "Don't Blame It on Your Wife", and "Barefoot Boy" - were later recorded by Rick Nelson on his 1969 album Another Side of Rick, in which both the Boylan brothers were involved.
Playback was reissued on CD in 2007.
Track listing
- The Altogether Overture
- ...In the Beginning...
- Hightower Square (3.16)
- Act I
- Lullaby (0.25)
- Saturday Morning (1.53)
- Nevertheless It Was Italy (2.15)
- Act II
- I Wonder If Louise Is Home (2.10)
- Chez Louise (1.02)
- "E" Train (1:00)
- Meanwhile (0.15)
- Brother Speed (3.15)
- You're the Biggest Thing in My Life (3.35)
- Act III
- Don't Blame It on Your Wife (2.50)
- The Sorry State of Staying Awake (3.54)
- Epilogue
- Barefoot Boy (2.43)
- Lotus Flower (2.16)
- What a Way to Go (2.50)
All compositions by John and Terry Boylan
Musicians
- John Boylan
- Terry Boylan
- Larry CoryellLarry CoryellLarry Coryell is an American jazz fusion guitarist.-Biography:Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Richland High School, in Richland, Washington, where he played in local bands The Jailers, The Rumblers, The Royals, and The Flames. He also played with The Checkers from nearby...
- Chuck RaineyChuck RaineyChuck Rainey, is an American bass guitar session musician, known for playing with many well-known American musicians and acts, including Donald Byrd, Steely Dan, Quincy Jones, and Aretha Franklin.-Biography:Rainey's youthful pursuits included violin, piano and trumpet...
- Herb Lovelle
- Chuck IsraelsChuck IsraelsCharles H. "Chuck" Israels is a composer, arranger, and bassist who is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio. He has also worked with Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, J. J. Johnson, John Coltrane and many others.-Biography:Chuck Israels was...
- Paul GriffinPaul Griffin (musician)Paul Griffin was an American session musician and pianist, who recorded with hundreds of artists from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
- Eric GaleEric GaleEric J. Gale was a leading American jazz and session guitarist.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gale began playing guitar at the age of 12. Although he majored in chemistry at Niagara University, Gale was determined to pursue a musical career, and began contributing to accompaniments for such stars as...
- Buddy Saltzman
- Michael Equine
- Zal YanovskyZal YanovskyZalman "Zal" Yanovsky was a Canadian rock musician. Born in Toronto, he was the son of political cartoonist Avrom Yanovsky. He played lead guitar and sang for the Lovin' Spoonful, a rock band which he founded with John Sebastian in 1964...