Jim Seals of Seals & Crofts R.I.P
June 7, 2022 12:20 PM Subscribe
Seals & Crofts were a 70s soft rock duo in the 70s with some impressive singles and great albums (with some deeper tracks). Although best known for their bigger hits such as "Summer Breeze" and "Diamond Girl",their albums had some deep cuts including the gorgeous tune "Hummingbird", To my ears this was one one most beautiful songs of the era. Jimmy Seals was 80 when he passed away yesterday.
May I submit for your consideration Unborn Child, most likely the first anti-abortion work to be released by a major-label band after Roe was decided?
Which killed off the band's run of hits? This album, or just the growing irrelevancy of their brand of soft rock?
posted by morspin at 12:39 PM on June 7, 2022
Which killed off the band's run of hits? This album, or just the growing irrelevancy of their brand of soft rock?
posted by morspin at 12:39 PM on June 7, 2022
Today I learned that Seals & Crofts, and Jim Seals's little brother's duo, England Dan and John Ford Coley, were all adherents of the Baháʼí faith.
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posted by box at 12:52 PM on June 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
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posted by box at 12:52 PM on June 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
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Seals & Crofts was always one of my favorite guilty pleasure bands. I love the way they can make a song about chilling in the summertime or how great some girl is so melancholy somehow.
posted by Jess the Mess at 12:54 PM on June 7, 2022
Seals & Crofts was always one of my favorite guilty pleasure bands. I love the way they can make a song about chilling in the summertime or how great some girl is so melancholy somehow.
posted by Jess the Mess at 12:54 PM on June 7, 2022
🎶 ...blowin' through the jazz club in my miiiiind...
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posted by JoeZydeco at 1:07 PM on June 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by JoeZydeco at 1:07 PM on June 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
Which killed off the band's run of hits? This album, or just the growing irrelevancy of their brand of soft rock?
there were plenty of people to carry on - america comes to mind - christopher cross - it's a whole genre
always liked summer breeze and hummingbird - and then there's type o negative's cover of summer breeze
posted by pyramid termite at 2:13 PM on June 7, 2022 [6 favorites]
there were plenty of people to carry on - america comes to mind - christopher cross - it's a whole genre
always liked summer breeze and hummingbird - and then there's type o negative's cover of summer breeze
posted by pyramid termite at 2:13 PM on June 7, 2022 [6 favorites]
They were "yacht rock" before that boat even sailed.
posted by gimonca at 2:27 PM on June 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by gimonca at 2:27 PM on June 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
(actually "i'll play for you" and "get closer" were big hits for them after "unborn child", so, no, it didn't kill their career)
posted by pyramid termite at 2:29 PM on June 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by pyramid termite at 2:29 PM on June 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I am always grateful for the "Mike Douglas Show", the afternoon talk show that somehow had every possible person on it, from Eubie Blake to Brian Wilson to kid actors to Seals and Croft earnestly explaining what the Bahai faith was to average Americans.
My best childhood friend had one of their albums and we listened to it 10,000 times.
posted by acrasis at 2:39 PM on June 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
My best childhood friend had one of their albums and we listened to it 10,000 times.
posted by acrasis at 2:39 PM on June 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
Some good mellow music and very evocative - thank you, Mr. Seals.
As for covers - my go-to is The Isley Brothers version of Summer Breeze.
posted by davidmsc at 2:43 PM on June 7, 2022 [10 favorites]
As for covers - my go-to is The Isley Brothers version of Summer Breeze.
posted by davidmsc at 2:43 PM on June 7, 2022 [10 favorites]
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One thing I appreciate about these threads is the posting of favorites or alternate versions, or great takes / performances. It makes it a bit more celebratory and less sad, which I think most artists would like-- to have their art shared again.
That Isley Brothers version is wonderful.
posted by winesong at 2:58 PM on June 7, 2022 [7 favorites]
One thing I appreciate about these threads is the posting of favorites or alternate versions, or great takes / performances. It makes it a bit more celebratory and less sad, which I think most artists would like-- to have their art shared again.
That Isley Brothers version is wonderful.
posted by winesong at 2:58 PM on June 7, 2022 [7 favorites]
Summer Breeze, for me, always brings up a memory of my childhood. Riding home at night from the NJ boardwalk, lying in the back of my parents VW bus, feeling the engine hum. Listening to this song while looking at the night sky. It was a very favorite memory of a not so easy time.
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posted by annieb at 3:35 PM on June 7, 2022 [7 favorites]
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posted by annieb at 3:35 PM on June 7, 2022 [7 favorites]
When I was probably about 12, my parents got me a record player for Christmas. It was yellow, about the dimensions of a small suitcase. The turntable folded down and was flanked by speakers. And then they had to get me something to play on it. My parents had no idea what my musical taste was. Hell, I had no idea what my musical taste was. My exposure to music up til then had been a pocket transistor radio given to me by a family friend long ago. So I just liked whatever was on the radio.
My mom consulted with a guy at the record store, and I have no idea how they reached this conclusion, but the first album I ever owned was Seals and Crofts' Diamond Girl. They could have done a lot worse.
On a side note, the first record I bought for myself was The Ventures' Theme From Shaft which I bought because I wasn't sophisticated enough to realize it wasn't the actual Theme From Shaft. I'd heard that on the radio and knew it was damn cool. But this wasn't quite it. Still, I probably could have done worse.
And I love this review from allmusic. "If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? The question seems apt over this album, because it's not precisely clear just who was supposed to buy the Ventures' Theme From Shaft LP, or even know that it was out there waiting to be heard. "
Me! ME! That's who! Because I didn't really understand how records worked. It was in the bargain bin, and it said it was the Theme From Shaft! The target audience was confused 12 year old boys.
In case that wasn't obvious enough from the cover.
posted by Naberius at 3:43 PM on June 7, 2022 [11 favorites]
My mom consulted with a guy at the record store, and I have no idea how they reached this conclusion, but the first album I ever owned was Seals and Crofts' Diamond Girl. They could have done a lot worse.
On a side note, the first record I bought for myself was The Ventures' Theme From Shaft which I bought because I wasn't sophisticated enough to realize it wasn't the actual Theme From Shaft. I'd heard that on the radio and knew it was damn cool. But this wasn't quite it. Still, I probably could have done worse.
And I love this review from allmusic. "If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? The question seems apt over this album, because it's not precisely clear just who was supposed to buy the Ventures' Theme From Shaft LP, or even know that it was out there waiting to be heard. "
Me! ME! That's who! Because I didn't really understand how records worked. It was in the bargain bin, and it said it was the Theme From Shaft! The target audience was confused 12 year old boys.
In case that wasn't obvious enough from the cover.
posted by Naberius at 3:43 PM on June 7, 2022 [11 favorites]
davidsmc : Some good mellow music and very evocative - thank you, Mr. Seals.
As for covers - my go-to is The Isley Brothers version of Summer Breeze.
I was hoping someone would mention this. This is the ideal example of a cover that takes an already-good song and launches it into the stratosphere.
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posted by dr_dank at 3:49 PM on June 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
As for covers - my go-to is The Isley Brothers version of Summer Breeze.
I was hoping someone would mention this. This is the ideal example of a cover that takes an already-good song and launches it into the stratosphere.
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posted by dr_dank at 3:49 PM on June 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
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posted by the Real Dan at 4:32 PM on June 7, 2022
posted by the Real Dan at 4:32 PM on June 7, 2022
On Mike Douglas, I stumbled over Questlove's "Music is History" book at the local library, and it's a fun breezy read with plenty of perceptive insights. Like how when there were only a small number of TV channels the shows did their best to span generations -- like you'd have someone like Webb Pierce followed by Frank Zappa followed by the Michael Davis, so if you were paying a modicum of attention you got to sample from a few decades of pop culture in a 60-minute show. Same with AM radio. Now we've got dozens of TV channels, streaming services, podcasts galore, but speaking for myself, our exposure surface has narrowed.
It's great having all that choice, but I'm not sure we're that much better off.
As for Yacht Rock, according to http://www.yachtornyacht.com/ S&C's official YR songs are:
If And Any Day from 1980 (score: 79.25), then
Stars, also 1980 (52.75)
Summer Breeze (1972) gets a measly 21.75
I don't know those first two songs. I'm pretty sure CFNY (Toronto's Spirit of Radio station) didn't go anywhere near them.
posted by morspin at 5:35 PM on June 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
It's great having all that choice, but I'm not sure we're that much better off.
As for Yacht Rock, according to http://www.yachtornyacht.com/ S&C's official YR songs are:
If And Any Day from 1980 (score: 79.25), then
Stars, also 1980 (52.75)
Summer Breeze (1972) gets a measly 21.75
I don't know those first two songs. I'm pretty sure CFNY (Toronto's Spirit of Radio station) didn't go anywhere near them.
posted by morspin at 5:35 PM on June 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
Growing up in the late 60s early 70s, Seals and Crofts were pretty prolific in the AOR stations I listened to.
Have had a bit of fun with my kids mocking Christopher Cross, and have been calling S&C Seals and Cross for a while. Summer breeze came up on my streaming this morning…
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posted by Windopaene at 5:41 PM on June 7, 2022
Have had a bit of fun with my kids mocking Christopher Cross, and have been calling S&C Seals and Cross for a while. Summer breeze came up on my streaming this morning…
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posted by Windopaene at 5:41 PM on June 7, 2022
Good band. RIP
posted by Liquidwolf at 5:48 PM on June 7, 2022
posted by Liquidwolf at 5:48 PM on June 7, 2022
On a side note, the first record I bought for myself was The Ventures' Theme From Shaft which I bought because I wasn't sophisticated enough to realize it wasn't the actual Theme From Shaft. I'd heard that on the radio and knew it was damn cool. But this wasn't quite it. Still, I probably could have done worse.
You could do a lot worse than the Ventures. Before John Belushi died, he said he wanted his casket lowered into the ground to the tune of the Ventures, "The Two Thousand Pound Bee (Parts 1 and 2)." That's a testament to how cool they are.
posted by jonp72 at 5:53 PM on June 7, 2022
You could do a lot worse than the Ventures. Before John Belushi died, he said he wanted his casket lowered into the ground to the tune of the Ventures, "The Two Thousand Pound Bee (Parts 1 and 2)." That's a testament to how cool they are.
posted by jonp72 at 5:53 PM on June 7, 2022
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Anybody remember hearing "Summer Breeze" at the end of the movie Dazed & Confused after Mitch spent the night in a car with that girl with blue eye shadow?
posted by jonp72 at 5:55 PM on June 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
Anybody remember hearing "Summer Breeze" at the end of the movie Dazed & Confused after Mitch spent the night in a car with that girl with blue eye shadow?
posted by jonp72 at 5:55 PM on June 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
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posted by Silverstone at 5:55 PM on June 7, 2022
posted by Silverstone at 5:55 PM on June 7, 2022
So many late summer nights cruising with the guys and listening to Seals & Crofts and ED&JFC. Rest well, Jimmy.
posted by briank at 5:58 PM on June 7, 2022
posted by briank at 5:58 PM on June 7, 2022
Because I didn't really understand how records worked. It was in the bargain bin, and it said it was the Theme From Shaft! The target audience was confused 12 year old boys.
This is precisely how I ended up with the Sears version of the music from Hair.
posted by FencingGal at 6:38 PM on June 7, 2022 [8 favorites]
This is precisely how I ended up with the Sears version of the music from Hair.
posted by FencingGal at 6:38 PM on June 7, 2022 [8 favorites]
I saw them in concert at the Illinois State Fair in 1973, and they did spend a few minutes talking about their faith. I was part of the Jesus movement then, and I remember being castigated by one of my friends when I spoke positively about their mentioning Jesus in addition to other prophets. Nope. Had to be Jesus only or it wasn't good enough.
I still think Summer Breeze is one of the most beautiful songs in the world.
posted by FencingGal at 6:48 PM on June 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
I still think Summer Breeze is one of the most beautiful songs in the world.
posted by FencingGal at 6:48 PM on June 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
This is a bit off topic - forgive me - but people keep mentioning Christopher Cross. Rick Beato has a fascinating video that focuses on the end of Ride Like The Wind and the scorching guitar solo he plays.
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posted by wittgenstein at 6:49 PM on June 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by wittgenstein at 6:49 PM on June 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
Didn’t know they had an anti-abortion hit. Ugh.
But their music was so much of my childhood. Much like America
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posted by Windopaene at 7:05 PM on June 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
But their music was so much of my childhood. Much like America
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posted by Windopaene at 7:05 PM on June 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
I can't hear Summer Breeze without thinking how it's perfectly optimized for AM radio, and whether that was a conscious decision or not.
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posted by credulous at 8:57 PM on June 7, 2022
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posted by credulous at 8:57 PM on June 7, 2022
S & C were also post-"Tequila" members of The Champs, if I'm remembering correctly.
posted by frodisaur at 8:59 PM on June 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by frodisaur at 8:59 PM on June 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
Found a cool video of Seals & Crofts in the studio playing Summer Breeze, bluegrass, and Hummingbird, plus a cheesy producer giving a quick bio and chatting with them.
posted by touchstone033 at 6:50 AM on June 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by touchstone033 at 6:50 AM on June 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
I can't hear Summer Breeze without thinking how it's perfectly optimized for AM radio, and whether that was a conscious decision or not.
I think it was, for many producers and artists, a conscious decision (”Sister Golden Hair” is a couple of years later but I think it has very much the same feel). I have been a session musician and even occasionally produced tracks, and I have heard tales of producers from that era who would purposely have a pair of crappy car radio speakers from a Chevette or something in the mixing room so after creating the mix for people’s pricey home sound system, they could check how the song would sound on listeners’ car radios as well.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:43 AM on June 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
I think it was, for many producers and artists, a conscious decision (”Sister Golden Hair” is a couple of years later but I think it has very much the same feel). I have been a session musician and even occasionally produced tracks, and I have heard tales of producers from that era who would purposely have a pair of crappy car radio speakers from a Chevette or something in the mixing room so after creating the mix for people’s pricey home sound system, they could check how the song would sound on listeners’ car radios as well.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:43 AM on June 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have heard tales of producers from that era who would purposely have a pair of crappy car radio speakers from a Chevette or something in the mixing room so after creating the mix for people’s pricey home sound system, they could check how the song would sound on listeners’ car radios as well.
This is still very much a practice of mixing engineers, or at least the one(s) that I’ve worked with. Of course, an iPhone speaker sounds far worse than a Chevette, so the standards are even lower now. Anyway, RIP sir, thank you for the evocative vibes of a time I was mostly too young to remember.
posted by mykescipark at 9:47 AM on June 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
This is still very much a practice of mixing engineers, or at least the one(s) that I’ve worked with. Of course, an iPhone speaker sounds far worse than a Chevette, so the standards are even lower now. Anyway, RIP sir, thank you for the evocative vibes of a time I was mostly too young to remember.
posted by mykescipark at 9:47 AM on June 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by Gadgetenvy at 1:24 PM on June 9, 2022
posted by Gadgetenvy at 1:24 PM on June 9, 2022
I've heard that Beck never considers an album complete until he's listened to it playing from another room, down the hall a bit, with other household sounds getting in the way.
posted by philip-random at 6:14 PM on June 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by philip-random at 6:14 PM on June 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
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