Everybody who made a record before 1967 has at least one bad psychedelic moment. This week we unearth Gene Pitney’s last pop hit, the outasight, out of his mind “She’s a Heartbreaker.”
Back history:
Gene Pitney is a product of the Brill Building rock generation, having sang over a dozen crestfallen Top 20 hits between 1961 and 1966, as well as penning all-time bad ass classics like “Hello Mary Lou” and “He’s A Rebel”. You’d never know any of that after hearing his hideous 1968 transformation into Gino, psychedelic soul man.
Suspect Psychedelic Record:
"She’s A Heartbreaker " single released April, 1968
Release Date In Relation to Sgt. Pepper LP:
Ten months after Sgt. Pepper, but six months after “I Am the Walrus” liberated trippy cellos and violas.
Suspicious Psychedelic Instrumentation:
That gimmicky electric sitar guitar again and a swirling string section which sounding very much like a cross between “I Am the Walrus” and hot air being let out of a balloon.
Psychedelic Crutch Words:
Pitney grunts “uptight,” “dynamite,” “outtasite” and more “sock it to me’s” than a rerun of Laugh-In
.
Psychedelic Enabler:
Musicor Records staff producer Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams led Gene up the paisley path. Seriously, did anyone it was a good idea pairing pop’s champion weeping wimp with someone named “Swamp Dogg”? Musicor fired Swamp Dogg for turning Pitney’s customary tears to acid rain until this turned into a surprise Top 20 hit.
Worst Lyrical Moment
The continual complaint that the heartbreaking girl is sockin’ it to Gene pretty brutally and by his own admission “Girl, I can't stand up to you and be a normal man.” Sorta leaves the listener dangerously close to calling 911 or some battered men’s shelter on Gene’s behalf.
See and hear Gebe Pitney perform "She’s a Heartbreaker"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nuEAOufC6o
