The Rip Chords
The Rip Chords were an early-1960s American vocal group, originally known as the Opposites, composed of Ernie Bringas and Phil Stewart.
[1] The group eventually expanded into four primary voices, adding Columbia producer Terry Melcher and co-producer Bruce Johnston (best known as a member of the Beach Boys).
[2] Actress-singer Doris Day and her husband, film producer Marty Melcher, owned Arwin Records and Daywin Music.
These musicians, including guitarist Glen Campbell, drummer Hal Blaine, and bassist Ray Pohlman, and other prominent instrumentalists, were known as the Wrecking Crew.
Bruce Johnston (a friend of Melcher) added an interjecting falsetto, and Blossoms member Gracia Nitzche performed the spoken word intro.
[10] Although the song penetrated the Billboard Hot 100, it did not fare as well as the previous hit, "Here I Stand",[11] but did well in certain markets such as San Antonio, Texas, where it climbed to number two on KTSA's top 55 survey.
Melcher and Johnston would prove to be a significant addition as the Rip Chords prepared to record and release their third single.
[14] The Rip Chords' third single was the hit "Hey Little Cobra", vocally layered by Melcher and Johnston, recorded on October 15, 1963.
Following the “Cobra” single and album, both Melcher and Johnston were credited as the two producers on all Rip Chords’ music thereafter, but their vocal contributions remained uncredited.
However, based on the success of the ″Cobra″ single, the original Rip Chords (Bringas and Stewart) would now expand into four primary voices, adding Melcher and Johnston.
Therefore, as a practicality, two young men (Rich Rotkin and Arnie Marcus) were brought on board to tour with Stewart as the Rip Chords until the group disbanded in 1965.
Its cover listed Bringas and Stewart as vocalists, omitting Melcher and Johnston, and incorrectly including Rotkin and Marcus.
[30] Like Hey Little Cobra and other Hot Rod Hits, its liner notes erroneously listed Rotkin and Marcus as vocalists and Melcher and Johnston's vocal involvement was not mentioned.
[31] According to the re-released 2006 CD cover: "No group epitomized the sun-soaked California Sound better than the fabulous Rip Chords...
Led by legendary producer Terry Melcher along with future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston and ace-vocalists Ernie Bringas and Phil Stewart, these long-board big-guns left an indelible mark on the surf'n strip sounds of the '60s..." There is a picture of that foursome — Terry Melcher, Bruce Johnston, Ernie Bringas, Phil Stewart — on the inside cover of the 2006 CD booklet, along with photos of the touring Rip Chords.
[32] The Rip Chords' last significant release was the single "One Piece Topless Bathing Suit" in June 1964, with Bringas and Melcher singing lead.
[34] Shortly after the release of "Don't Be Scared", the group disbanded after five singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and two albums reflecting the surf music of the day.
Stephen J. McParland summarized, "But something as trendy and timely as the Rip Chords' sound and image also had a built-in clock, something like those little pop-up thermometers they used to implant in roasting chickens.
Using the Rip Chords name, Bruce Johnston and Terry Melcher contributed a single track, "Sealed With A Kiss," to an album by Mike Love and Dean Torrence called Rock'n'Roll Again produced for the Radio Shack US chain store in 1983.
The fourth song was "Red Hot Roadster", originally scheduled for release as a single but instead appearing on the soundtrack of 1965's A Swingin' Summer.
