The Turtles

[JakeK]

I discovered this band last night, and looked up their biggest song...it features a Rickenbacker!

[jimk]

There is a Byrds connection with the Turtles, Jake. It was none other than Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark who penned another hit for the Turtles, "You Showed Me."


JimK

[Scastles]

On occasion there were two Ricks in use. In this video, you can barely see both guitarists with Ricks at the far right. (Actually you get better shots of the dancers than you do of the band )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h0-raymymU

[kiramdear]

The two singers, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, later became known as Flo and Eddie of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention fame.

[iamthebassman]

We opened for The Turtles a few years ago, when F&L did their medley of songs they'd guest-sang on, it was amazing.

[collin]

Floand Eddie are some weird dudes, that's for sure. I have met them a couple times in the past. I'm guessing Zappa made them weird! They are from westchester, CA not too far from here.

[eric_b]

Al Nichol almost always played a Rick during, and before the Turtles when they were an instrumental surf band called the Crossfires, in which Kaylan and Volman were sax players. The song "Out of Control" features Nichol really giving the Rick a workout.

[fatcat]

Saw them @ Lagoon in '67, a great show, Mark was truly Mr.Tambourine man--rolling it across his shoulders from hand to hand, tossing it up way high and catching it-all without missing a beat.Too bad he didn't do it in the vids.

[Janglyman]

Nice to see these Tortoises still rockin'. I highly recommend the Turtles' Greatest Hits CD. Lots of good 12 string (It Ain't Me Babe, Let Me Be) and my personal favorite Halloween song, Grim Reaper of Love.
Did a couple of gigs recently and played You Baby and Happy Together. Everybody in the audience sings. It truly was "a little bit of sunshine and a little bit of soul."
Go T-Men.

[lennon211]

My favorite Turtles' track is "Outside Chance." One of the best 12 string riffs and a keyboard break.

[firstbassman]

I discovered this band last night, and looked up their biggest song...it features a Rickenbacker!

Yes, rhythm guitar player Jim Tucker played a 360/12. *

Here is another clip:



I highly recommend the Turtles bio-flick My Dinner With Jimi. It's not a great film but there is a lot of great background historical stuff, especially if you listen to the Howard Kaylan and Harold Bronson commentary track.

* Bit of trivia - Tucker reportedly was so distraught after meeting John Lennon that he quit the band and never played guitar again.

[kennyhowes]

I. LOVE. The Turtles.

How can you not, really?

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

Floand Eddie are some weird dudes, that's for sure. I have met them a couple times in the past. I'm guessing Zappa made them weird! They are from westchester, CA not too far from here.

frank zappa wasn't weird...he was normal...the entire world was weird !

[billydlight]

I love the Turtles they are great vocalists and they had great tunes. What really gets me is no matter how much I love them and how great they are, they could never make it today because of their unorthodox look.... I hate that its all about image and not about substance!

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

look at "tiny tim" there's an unorthodox look for the '60's and '70's...a whole career on one song...come now...sing along with the bouncing ball..."tip toe, thru the tulips..."