Gary Lewis "The Loser (With A Broken Heart)" 1966 Leon Russell Don Nix David Teegarden

Details

Description

Gary Lewis' first single in 1967 was a song written by Leon Russell and Don Nix of the Memphis-based group The Mar-Keys, who later was Russell's first-signed artist on his and Denny Cordell's Shelter Records. "The Loser" was released after Gary had sung the title song from his father, Jerry Lewis' film Way Way Out, which had been put on a special promo for radio stations but never on a buyable commercial single.
Leon Russell had been the genius behind Gary's recordings from the beginning with his pop arrangement of Al Kooper's song "This Diamond Ring" in November 1964. That was the start of Gary's hit-making years with seven Top Ten hits. In 1966 his songs weren't climbing so high. Producer Snuff Garrett had moved on to take the helm at his own new label, Viva Records, and had Russell as a "partner" and one of his main arrangers. It was Russell who led the November 26, 1966 session for "The Loser," and also did the arrangements. Among his usual musicians he had Carl Radle on bass, John West on keyboards, Tommy Tripplehorn on guitar and Gary on drums. Hal Blaine was not involved as a drummer this outing, nor was Jimmy Karstein. Instead, Russell brought in fellow Tulsan David Teegarden, and also added John Gallie for keyboards. Backing vocalists were The Blossoms, and this recording was the first by Gary that featured him solo with double-tracked enhancement or the addition of The Eligibles. It failed to climb into the Top Forty and Russell and Garrett were out, replaced by Turtles producers Koppleman and Rubin. Their efforts with Gary's albums New Directons and Listen! did not fare any better. It also didn't help that Gary had been drafted in December 1966 and was unable to tour.
Look for more of Gary's recordings, done with Leon, on this YouTube channel.