B

Leaves, The

Band members Related acts

- Bobby Arlin - guitar (replaced Bill Rinehart) (1966-67)
- John Beck - vocals, sax, harmonica (1965-66)
- Jim Kern - drums (1964-65)
- Jim Pons - bass (1964-66)
- Tom Ambrose Ray - drums (replaced Jim Kern (1965-66)
- Robert Lee Reiner - guitar (1964-66)
- Bill Rinehart - guitar (1964-66)

- Bob Arlin (solo efforts)
- The Catalinas (Bobby Arlin)
- The Hook (Bob Arlin)
- Merry-Go-Round (Bill Rinehart)
- The Mothers of Invention (Jim Pons)
- The Turtles (Jim Pons)

Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Hey Joe Company: Mira Catalog: LPS 3005 Year: 1966 Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: name on back cover; stereo Available: 1 Price: $35.00	While attending San Fernando State College, inspired by The Beatles Jim Pons decided to put together a party band - The Rockwells. Having won $1,000 in a car accident settlement, Pons recruiting singer John Beck, guitarist Bill Rinehart and drummer Jim Kern (quickly replaced by Tom Ray) as The Rockwells they began playing surf tunes and top-40 covers at frat parties. By early 1965 the band had achieved more than passing competence, becoming regulars on the L.A. club circuit. Auditioning as replacements for The Byrds at L.A.'s Ciros club, they won the job, leading to a collective decision to change their name to the hipper The Leaves. In one of the year's odder collaborations, having seen the band, Pat Boone signed the group to a management deal with his Penthouse Productions, leading to a recording contract with the small Mira label. Released that Fall, the group's debut single "Too Many People" b/w "Love Minus Zero" did little commercially. Similarly, their follow-up "Hey Joe, Where You Gonna Go" b/w "Be with Me" quickly vanished, leading Rinehart to strike out for other projects (see separate entries). He was quickly replaced by former Catalinas guitarist Bobby Arlin (see separate entry). Having rerecorded "Hey Joe" b/w "Girl from the East" the band reissued it as a single. Inexplicably this time around the track promptly went top-40. As was standard marketing procedure, Mira rushed the band back into the studio to record a supporting album. Released as the cleverly titled "Hey Joe" teamed the band with producer Norm Ratner. Though occasionally somewhat ragged around the edges (checkout the blown harmonies on "Goodbye My Lover"), the band proved surprisingly accomplished In addition to the classic title track the group showed an appealing knack for Stones-styled rockers ("Back On the Alley") and Byrds-styled rockers ("Dr. Stone"). (Is it just us, or did The Beatles ripoff the rhythm pattern of "Get Out of My Life Woman" for "Hey Bulldog"?) Propelled by the hit and the resulting television exposure, the parent album hit #127. Naturally, success was not without a price. On the heals of their commercial breakthrough, having reportedly become an earlier acid casualty, guitarist Reiner quit. "Hey Joe" track listing: 1.) Dr. Stone (John Beck - Jim Pons) - 2.) Just a Memory (Bob Arlin) - 3.) Get Out of My Life Woman (Allen Toussaint) - 4.) Girl from the East (R.P. Jameson) - 5.) He was a Friend of Mine (public domain) - 6.) Hey Joe (John Beck) - 7.) Words (Tommy Boyce - Boby Hart) - 8.) Back On the Avenue (Jim Pons- John Beck - Tom Ray) - 9.) War of Distortion (Bob Arlin) - 10.) Tobacco Road (J.D. Loudermilk) - 11.) Goodbye My Lover (R. Mosley - L. Swearinger - L. Simington) - 12.) Too Many People (Jim Pons - Bill Rinehart) -

Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: All the Good That's Happeneing Company: Capitol Catalog: ST-2638 Year: 1967 Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: -- Available: 1 Price: $40.00	Continuing as a quartet, the band's reputation continued to grow, leading to a recording deal with Capitol. Ironically, primed for major success, 1967's "All the Good That's Happening" found the band struggling for musical direction. Produced by Nick Venet, the band was heard taking stabs at a variety of genres, including R&B ("Flashback (The Rhythm King)"), country-rock ("Twilight Sanctuary"), psych ("Lemmon Princess") and plain weird ("The Quieting of Oliver Tweak (The Stone Freak) "). To the band's credit, material such as the autobiographical "One In the Middle", the folk-rockish "On the Plane" and their freaky cover of Buffy St. Marie's "Codine" was as good as anything on the debut. On the other hand, while Reiner hadn't been a major source of material, his absence left numerous tracks sounding thin. Adding to the their problems (as apparent on the back cover photo), group cohesiveness was rapidly vanishing. Amidst the recording sessions Beck simply tendering his resignation. Pons subsequently followed suit, heading off to join The Turtles (see separate entry). Ray was apparently fired outright. Left to soldier on, the ever-professional Arlin managed to complete the album. Much to Capitol's displeasure, the set vanished without a trace. "All the Good That's Happening" track listing: 1.) Twilight Sanctuary (Jim Pons - Bobby Arlin) - 2:50 2.) One In the Middle (P. Jones) - 2:30 3.) On the Plane (Jim Pons - Bobby Arlin) - 2:33 4.) Officer Shayne (John Beck - Bobby Arlin) - 2:50 5.) Let's Get Together (Jimmy Reed) - 3:20 6.) Introduction To a Cartoon Show (John Beck - Bobby Arlin) - :35 7.) With None Shoes (John Beck - Bobby Arlin) - 2:17 8.) To Try for the Sun (Donovan) - 2:53 9.) Codine (Buffy St. Marie) - 3:54 10.) Flashback (The Rhythm King) (Bobby Arlin) - 4:30 11.) The Quieting of Oliver Tweak (The Stone Freak) (Mchael Whalen) - 2:20 12.) Lemmon Princess (Jim Pons) - 2:13

Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: The Leaves 1966 Company: Panda Catalog: 006 Year: 1982 Grade (cover/record): -- Comments: -- Available: -- Price: --	Later in the year Arlin and Beck reunited, recruiting drummer Craig Boyd and bassist Buddy Sklar. Initially interested in continuing as The New Leaves, the project collapsed when Beck quit for a second time. Arlin, Boyd and Sklar briefly continued their collaboration as The Hook (see separate entry). Originally released by The Leaves fan club, then the small Panda label (which pressed it on green vinyl), 1985's "The Leaves 1966" served as a wonderful retrospective. Pulling together the essential tracks from the debut, including the original "Too Many People" the compilation was rounded out by "B" sides (the Beatles-styled "Funny Little World" and "Be with You") and several previously unreleased live tracks. Pons provided entertaining liner notes. "The Leaves 1966" track listing: unknown

Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: The Leaves ... Are Happening Company: Sundazed Catalog: SC 11058 Year: 1997 Grade (cover/record): -- Comments: -- Available: -- Price: --	It only took three decades, but 2000 saw the release of the release of a decent, legitimate, if incomplete retrospective. A 20 track retrospective, Sundazed's "The Leaves ... Are Happening" compiled the debut album, with a series of singles and non-album tracks (including three versions of "Hey Joe"). Curiously, the set neglected to include anything from their sophomore release "All the Good That's Happening". The set included an informative 16 page band history. "The Leaves ... Are Happening" track listing: 1.) Dr. Stone 2.) Just a Memory 3.) Get out of My Life Woman 4.) Girl from the East 5.) He Was a Friend of Mine 6.) Hey Joe 7.) Words 8.) Back on the Avenue 9.) War of Distortion 10.) Tobacco Road 11.) Goodbye My Love 12.) Too Many People 13.) Hey Joe 14.) Funny Little World 15.) You Better Move On 16.) That's a Different Story 17.) Love Minus Zero 18.) Be with You 19.) Too Many People 20.) Hey Joe

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