Gary Usher
Barefoot Adventure: The 4 Star Sessions 2-LP Set

One of the most stubborn myths of revisionist musical history is this: the early ’60s were the Dark Ages of American pop, a sad and embarrassing era of prefab teen idols and silly dance crazes that was put out of its misery by the British Invasion.

In reality, strange and wonderful things were happening with American music in the months before The Beatles met Ed Sullivan, creative big bangs that continued to evolve for decades to come.

In Detroit, Berry Gordy was defining the Motown Sound, while Stax and James Brown were inventing soul music. At 1650 Broadway, the Aldon table of songwriters was bringing sophistication to teen pop, while The Four Seasons reinvented group harmony. And in California, where America’s youth culture was being born, a trio of songwriters—Brian Wilson, Roger Christian and Gary Usher—were drawing up the blueprints for the West Coast sound.

This collection explores Gary Usher’s tenure as co-architect of the happiest pop music ever written, a guileless celebration of sun, surf and cars that’s become an enduring symbol of the American dream.

Barefoot Adventure does more than simply collect a bunch of songs that sound great on the car radio and mean exactly what they say (take that, psychedelic music!). It’s also a remarkable glimpse of the process, of a struggling songwriter angling for a break, sometimes tapdancing in tangents, oblivious to the bullseye he was hitting on the way
to forging an important new sound.

So here’s the whole story, 36 terrific tracks, including exclusive Sundazed interviews with Usher himself, with an illuminating essay and track commentary by author and Usher-biographer Stephen McParland. It’s musical scholarship that’s perfect for parties!
We’re not sure if this is history masquerading as fun, or vice-versa, but we’re definitely sure that it’s fun. Which, in the end, is all that matters.

SIDE ONE - 1. R.P.M. (The Four Speeds) / 2. My Little Surfin' Woodie (The Sunsets)* / 3. Barefoot Adventure (The Four Speeds)* / 4. Four On the Floor (The Four Speeds) / 5. Cheater Slicks (The Four Speeds) / 6. C.C. Cinder (The Sunsets)  / 7. The Chug-A-Lug (The Sunsets) / 8. Gary Usher Interview Part 1* / 9. My Little Beach Bunny (The Sunsets)

SIDE TWO - 1. Playmate of the Year (The Sunsets) / 2. Lonely Surfer Boy (The Sunsets) / 3. Soul Stompin’* / 4. Nifty ‘50* / 5. Power Shift / 6. Mag Wheels / 7. Gary Usher Iinterview Part 2* / 8. My Sting Ray (The Four Speeds) / 9. 426 Super Stock (The Competitors)

SIDE THREE - 1. Wax, Board, and Woodie* / 2. Draggin' Deuce* / 3. '54 Corvette* / 4. My Little Surfin' Woodie (The Sunsets) / 5. Gary Usher Interview Part 3* / 6. R.P.M.* / 7. Barefoot Adventure (The Four Speeds) / 8. Cactus Juice* / 9. Coney Island Wild Child*

SIDE FOUR - 1. Sugar & Spice* / 2. Twins* / 3. Milky Way / 4. Quicksand* / 5. Gary Usher interview Part 4* / 6. You Made A Believer Out Of Me
(with The Honeys)* / 7. Waiting For The Day (with The Honeys)* / 8. Tied Down* / 9. Harder & Harder *
* previously unissued

 

ITEM IS BRAND NEW, NEVER PLAYED & STILL SEALED.

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