Hot Platters: Mouth Music - Chris White

In 1976, a young musician named Chris White released an album on the UK label Charisma called Mouth Music.  It drew a lot of interest from many Brian Wilson fans as the album is chock full of White's song which are heavily influenced by the music of the Beach Boys. Oddly enough, many folks seem to think that this Chris White is the same Chris White who was a member of the Zombies...but he is not. Chris White passed away in 2014 his musical legacy lives on as Mouth Music lives on as a popular power pop classic.

 

 

TRACK LIST

01. Don't Look Down 
02. Books And Pages 
03. Driftin' 
04. Surfin' USA 
05. Swing Low Sweet Chariot 
06. Spanish Wine 
07. Dancing In The Street 
08. Natural Rhythm 
09. Listed (To Be A Soldier) 
10. Sister Caroline 
11. Zombie Jamboree 
12. Not For You 
13. Mouth Music

Mouth Music was produced by the great Shel Talmy, who I'm sure many of you out there remember his work with The Who and The Kinks.

Review from the Daily Rocks Blog

"This is the only album of 1976 by a British musician who devoted his life to the Beach Boys. I'm still working as a fanzine editor, so it's already hardcore. The only single hit in March 1976, with Spanish wine. First of all, I listened to it in advance and jumped. Complete BB chorus. Is it all cooperation as a guest? And the song. Too much heaven. As if time stopped. The truth is when you get the album. This chorus that I was doing all by myself. Aga. Play and sing to the finest melody that continues endlessly. I'm quite confused. Why is this a minor player who doesn't come? It seems that he is a very modest person, whether he is out of the scene due to unlucky things that overlapped little by little with abundant talent and passion, or if he is too serious, even when Japanese El Records negotiated for the CD of this album. My board is very, very ... " If I were you, please give me two replies. Like his respected Brian, I'm being asked if anyone always needs his music. It seems that all of Mr. Brian's suffering started from there, and he has inherited it to that point. It's a big difference from the music that it's fun to become Mick Jagger in my father's band. What is the comparison? I think that is the fun and suffering of wanting to convey music to real professionals and people. Moreover, the music I made is a whole body work. When it wasn't accepted by the world that I couldn't do anything more than myself with all my heart. Still, the music is incredibly wonderful. There are always people who support it. With tremendous passion without money. It's completely unknown why the single following Spanish Wine and this album didn't sell at all. When I listen to an unnamed person's board, I usually have something to convince, and I'm good at playing The song or the other way around. But in this case, there is no such thing in music. There are no flowers. Does that mean? Including that the personality is not pushed. Maybe it's the best key. Because it's the entertainment world. I just can't understand the world of music with music alone. I can't help it, so I can't divide it into adults. If anyone isn't convinced in the same way, this album will be a tremendous treasure. Time doesn't really matter 30 years ago. But that's it. I don't think it's a shame that I, who has such a great talent, isn't very talented in this world. Probably because of small lot production, the Japanese edition is also reasonably priced. I was fortunate enough to buy a used one at a low price, but I think that if I put it out, I would like the person himself to listen to it at a low price. Depending on the location, it's completely unknown, so it's ridiculously cheap, and in other places it's ridiculously expensive as a coveted board for maniacs. I'm in agony here as well. Is that all right? While listening to this wonderful music that is completely irrelevant and flowing. I'm trembling with Laps Carillon, who is just astonished whether this is the last one that hasn't been announced yet. I envy the talent that can express that I was impressed by music for my favorite musicians. I can't express the wonderfulness of your music that can be expressed in sentences. I just have to thank you. Thank you so much for betting your life and leaving this music. I will listen to it forever. But in this world, I'm not very talented, and I don't think I was so bad. Probably because of small lot production, the Japanese edition is also reasonably priced. I was fortunate enough to buy a used one at a low price, but I think that if I put it out, I would like the person himself to listen to it at a low price. Depending on the location, it's completely unknown, so it's ridiculously cheap, and in other places it's ridiculously expensive as a coveted board for maniacs. I'm in agony here as well. Is that all right? While listening to this wonderful music that is completely irrelevant and flowing. I'm trembling with Laps Carillon, who is just astonished whether this is the last one that hasn't been announced yet. I envy the talent that can express that I was impressed by music for my favorite musicians. I can't express the wonderfulness of your music that can be expressed in sentences. I just have to thank you. Thank you so much for betting your life and leaving this music. I will listen to it forever. But in this world, I'm not very talented, and I don't think I was so bad. Probably because of small lot production, the Japanese edition is also reasonably priced. I was fortunate enough to buy a used one at a low price, but I think that if I put it out, I would like the person himself to listen to it at a low price. Depending on the location, it's completely unknown, so it's ridiculously cheap, and in other places it's ridiculously expensive as a coveted board for maniacs. I'm in agony here as well. Is that all right? While listening to this wonderful music that is completely irrelevant and flowing. I'm trembling with Laps Carillon, who is just astonished whether this is the last one that hasn't been announced yet. I envy the talent that can express that I was impressed by music for my favorite musicians. I can't express the wonderfulness of your music that can be expressed in sentences. I just have to thank you. Thank you so much for betting your life and leaving this music. I will listen to it forever.

"White was responsible for writing the majority of the 13 tracks on Mouth Music, with a couple of  American pop classics and a strange traditional hymn (Swing Low, Sweet Chariot) rounding out the track listing.  What made the album so different was White's Brian Wilson obsession.  Tracks like Don't Look Down, Books An Pages and Spanish Wine (the latter a UK top-40 hit) weren't just influenced by Wilson, but in many cases could have easily fit on a Beach Boys album.  Taken individually, songs like Drifitin' were actually quite impressive with White clearly having taken considerable time and effort in understanding the way Wilson put together his winning formula, as well as having figured out how to replicate those melodies, song structures and instantly recognizable harmonies...The decision to cover Surfin' USA reflects a nice thematic tie-in to the rest of the album...From a marketing perspective White's timing certainly could have been better - had this come out two decades later it would have undoubtedly been praised by scores of critics who'd rediscovered Wilson himself (think along the lines of the praise The Wondermints received in the wake of their work with Wilson).   As it was the album never even saw an American release, though it attracted some attention in the UK and Japan.  In fact, unless you live in Japan (where the album seems to have a fanatical following), good luck finding an original copy of Mouth Music!" (Bad Cat)

 

 

"Mouth Music is what some may call a guilty pleasure, but not me, I just call it great lost pop that deserves more ears, although I won't be playing it in the car with the windows down! Fans of 10CC and Alan Parsons Project will definitely dig this record." (Bite It Deep Blog: Forgotten Pop Gems From the 60s & 70s)


The Ghost of Pontchartrain Expanded Edition, is an imaginary movie soundtrack for a ghost story that takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. Follow the dark trail of Sammy Thibadeaux, the Ghost of Ponchartrain, as he returns home to his former life of underworld voodoo and murder. Salvation is at hand!

APPLE MUSIC

MIND SMOKE RECORDS

 


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