Difference between revisions of "John Beck"

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Joe Beck is name-checked on the cover of "[[Freak Out!]]" (1966) under the heading "These People Have Contributed Materially In Many Ways To Make Our Music What It Is. Please Do Not Hold It Against Them".
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[[File:John Beck.jpg|300px|thumb|right|John Beck.]]
  
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First I thought of Joe Beck "the actor" who featured in or contributed (his voice) to "[[Bonanza]]", "[[Hawaii Five-O]]", "[[The Twilight Zone]]", "[[Spider-Man]]",... but that was beyond 1966, when the "freak list" was published. Then I thought of Joe Beck "the producer", known for the English version of "[[Kingu Kongu Tai Gojira]]" (1962), a.k.a. "[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]", originally made by producer [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]], with director [[Ishiro Honda]]. Beck worked with [[Thomas Montgomery]] (director) and [[Paul Mason]] (screenplay) on this one. In 1966 he produced a movie called "[[Cyborg 2087]]"... Beck also produced "[[Journey to the Center of the Earth]]" (1959) with [[James Mason]], [[Pat Boone]], [[Arlene Dahl]], and [[Diane Baker]] (also name-checked on the cover of "[[Freak Out!]]") - based on a novel by [[Jules Verne]] (directed by [[Henry Levin]]).
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'''John Beck''' was an American rock singer and guitarist. In late 1964, he joined The Rockwells, where [[Jim Pons]] and [[Robert Lee Reiner]] were members. They audtioned to replace The Byrds at Ciro's on the [[Wikipedia:Sunset Strip|Sunset Strip]]. Having got the job, they changed their name to [[The Leaves]]. They were signed to Mira Records in 1965 and, eventually after re-recording it twice, had a hit with their second release ''"Hey Joe"'' in 1966. [[Jimi Hendrix]]' cover would later turn into a huge hit.  
  
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But then again, since also [[Bob Reiner]] is name-checked on the cover of "[[Freak Out!]]", it had t be one of the members of [[The Leaves]]. The Leaves - [[Bobby Arlin]], John Beck, [[Jim Pons]] (!), [[Tom Ray]], [[Robert Lee Reiner]], and [[Bill Rinehart]] - were one of the first LA folk-rock groups to spring up in the wake of the [[Byrds]] in the mid-'60s. The Leaves are most remembered for recording the first - and one of the most successful - rock versions of "[[Hey Joe]]", which reached the Top 40 (and was a huge Californian hit) in 1966. None of their other releases approached this success (although "[[Too Many People]]" was a local hit), but the group recorded a fair number of strong covers and original songs during their brief existence. More explicitly [[Rolling Stones]] and [[Beatles]]-influenced than the [[Byrds]], they didn't project as strong an identity as competitors like the Byrds or [[Love]], despite displaying considerable talent for harmony rockers in both the folk-rock and [[British Invasion]] styles. After cutting some singles and a decent album for the tiny [[Mira]] label, they moved to [[Capitol]], and disbanded after a disappointing follow-up ("All the Good That's Happening", 1967) that offered less distinguished material and a more diluted sound. Leaves bassist [[Jim Pons]] went on to join the [[Turtles]] for a while in the late '60s.
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John Beck and Jim Pons joined [[Bob Harris I|Bob Harris]] to produce [[The Turtles]]' last single ''"Lady O."'' (written by Judee Sill - Harris' wife) with [[Flo & Eddie|Howard Kaylan]] singing lead and [[Flo & Eddie|Mark Volman]] providing backing vocals.
  
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[[Category:Supporting Cast]]
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Frank Zappa included John Beck in his list of influences in the sleeve of ''[[Freak Out!]]'' (1966), alongside other Leaves member [[Robert Lee Reiner]], under the header: ''"These People Have Contributed Materially In Many Ways To Make Our Music What It Is. Please Do Not Hold It Against Them"''.
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[[Category:Musicians]]
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[[Category:Freak Out! (The List)]]
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==See also==
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* [[The Leaves]]
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* [[Jim Pons]]
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* [[Robert Lee Reiner]]
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[[Category:Rock Artists|Beck, John]]
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[[Category:Guitarists|Beck, John]]
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[[Category:Singers|Beck, John]]
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[[Category:Harmonica players|Beck, John]]
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[[Category:Freak Out! (The List)|Beck, John]]

Latest revision as of 12:23, 25 May 2026

John Beck.

John Beck was an American rock singer and guitarist. In late 1964, he joined The Rockwells, where Jim Pons and Robert Lee Reiner were members. They audtioned to replace The Byrds at Ciro's on the Sunset Strip. Having got the job, they changed their name to The Leaves. They were signed to Mira Records in 1965 and, eventually after re-recording it twice, had a hit with their second release "Hey Joe" in 1966. Jimi Hendrix' cover would later turn into a huge hit.

John Beck and Jim Pons joined Bob Harris to produce The Turtles' last single "Lady O." (written by Judee Sill - Harris' wife) with Howard Kaylan singing lead and Mark Volman providing backing vocals.

Frank Zappa included John Beck in his list of influences in the sleeve of Freak Out! (1966), alongside other Leaves member Robert Lee Reiner, under the header: "These People Have Contributed Materially In Many Ways To Make Our Music What It Is. Please Do Not Hold It Against Them".

See also

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