The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands
Released on November 1, 1968, The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands stands as the fourth studio album by the American rock band The Turtles. Produced by Chip Douglas—who had previously worked with The Monkees on Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones LTD.—the album represents a daring departure from the band's standard pop formula.
Rather than a traditional collection of songs, the record is a concept album. The Turtles imagined themselves as hosts of a musical competition, pretending to be a series of different groups. To bring this vision to life, they adopted 12 different band names and recorded 12 songs, each exploring a distinct musical genre or style.
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Key Facts
- Release Date: November 1, 1968
- Producer: Chip Douglas
- Label: White Whale Records
- Concept: A mock "Battle of the Bands" featuring 12 different fictional groups.
- Chart Success: Singles "Elenore" and "You Showed Me" both reached number 6 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.
- Recording Studio: Gold Star Studios in Hollywood, California.
Musical Diversity and Creative Satire
The album is a eclectic blend of pop and rock, weaving together elements of country, psychedelic, and R&B. The creative ambition extended to the packaging; the outer cover depicts the band in formal evening dress as the show's hosts, while the inner gatefold showcases the members in various costumes corresponding to the different fictional bands.
Much of the album is laced with puns and hidden jokes, partly as a response to the pressure from White Whale Records. The label, which relied heavily on The Turtles for its success, consistently pushed the band to replicate the massive hit "Happy Together." This pressure resulted in the creation of "Elenore," a humorous take on the classic "happy pop" single.
Notable Tracks and Trivia
- "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea": Featuring a pun name for a fictional Hawaiian idol, this track has been sampled by artists such as the Beastie Boys, De La Soul, and Steady B.
- "Food": A track that includes a recipe for brownies with cannabis as a special ingredient.
- "Surfer Dan": Performed under the name The Cross Fires, referencing the band's original incarnation as a surf-music group.
- "You Showed Me": Written by Gene Clark and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, this became the band's final major hit.
- "Earth Anthem": To achieve a specific mood, the band recorded this final track at 3:00 A.M. by candlelight.
Interestingly, a song titled "Can't You Hear the Cows" was intended for the album but was rejected by the record label due to a photograph of the band wearing cow heads.
Album Specifications
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Genres | Pop, Rock, Country, Psychedelic, R&B |
| Total Length | 37:07 |
| Key Personnel | Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman, Al Nichol, Jim Pons, Johnny Barbata |
| Billboard Album Peak | #128 |
| Canadian Chart Peak | #40 |
Personnel and Production
The core lineup consisted of Howard Kaylan (lead vocals), Mark Volman (vocals, special effects), Al Nichol (guitars, organ, piano, Moog synthesizer, vocals), Jim Pons (bass, vocals), and Johnny Barbata (drums, percussion, vocals). This album marked Barbata's final recorded performances with the group before he joined Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Additional contributions included organ work by Lee Michaels on "Buzzsaw" and various anonymous musicians providing strings, woodwinds, and banjo for "Chicken Little Was Right." The technical side was handled by engineer Jim Hilton at Gold Star Recording Studios.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the concept behind the album?
The album is a mock "Battle of the Bands" where The Turtles pretend to be 12 different musical groups, each playing a song in a different genre, such as R&B, country, or psychedelic rock.
Which songs from the album became hits?
The singles "Elenore" and "You Showed Me" were the most successful, both reaching number 6 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.
Who produced the album?
The album was produced by Chip Douglas, who was also known for his work with The Monkees.
Why was "Can't You Hear the Cows" excluded from the original release?
The record label rejected the track because of the accompanying photograph which showed the band members wearing cow heads.
Has the music from this album been used in other media?
Yes, "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea" has been sampled by the Beastie Boys, De La Soul, and Steady B, and was featured in the U.S. version of the TV show Life on Mars. "Buzzsaw" was sampled by D-Nice for the song "Call Me D-Nice."