91. Jeff Melnick Discusses Terry Melcher, self-titled

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American Studies professor Jeff Melnick normally teaches at University of Massachusetts Boston, but on this episode, he gives Al an education on Terry Melcher and his 1974 self-titled debut album. Jeff talks about Melcher's connections with Charles Manson (which Jeff also details in his book, Creepy Crawling: Charles Manson and the Many Lives of America’s Most Infamous Family), how they inform the themes of this album and Melcher's role in the '60s L.A. music scene. Jeff also discusses the book he is currently working on, which deals with the Boston music scene in the '70s, '80s and '90s.

Follow Jeff on Twitter! @melnickjeffrey1

Al (for the time being) is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.

1:07 Jeff joins the show

2:06 How Al and Jeff met on Twitter

4:11 Jeff explains how his interest in Charles Manson developed

7:19 Jeff suggests that learning about the Manson Family can tell us a lot about L.A. culture in the late ‘60s

8:56 Jeff’s interest in Terry Melcher preceded his work on Creepy Crawling

10:30 Al’s wife, Mary Beth, had an interest in studying the Manson Family when she was in high school

11:36 Jeff explains how Melcher was connected to Manson

20:14 Jeff ponders why Melcher waited until 1974 to release a solo album

22:15 Jeff conceives of Melcher’s solo debut as a loose concept album

27:31 Al and Jeff find some of Melcher’s vocals hard to listen to

31:10 Jeff appreciates how Melcher captures the miserable side of LA. In the ‘70s

36:33 Self-pity is another major theme of the album

41:08 “Dr. Horowitz” doesn’t necessarily convey the message Melcher intended

42:55 Jeff sees the “Halls of Justice” medley as serving two purposes

57:35 Jeff thinks “covers” is not always the right word to describe the previously-recorded songs Melcher performed on this album

1:02:20 Does Jeff actually love this album?

1:06:50 Jeff talks about the book on the Boston music scene he’s been working on

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