The Establishment

The first 45rpm single in Frank's Vinyl Museum is brought to us by Starday-King Records in Nashville (a city that seems to have been quite adept at producing this kind of thrift-store quality record). I was drawn to this disc by its title -- The Establishment. What a name for a band! What were these guys thinking? That they'd be the "alternative" rock band for sensible folks who didn't identify with the counterculture? Or did they once hear some hippies talking about "the establishment" and mistake it for a cool buzzword?

I didn't care much for the "A" side of this single (In My Heart I Am A Free Man), but the "B" side is a classic -- Stop Fightin' Start Lovin'. The 60's and 70's produced a lot of antiwar songs, of course, but you'd have to look far and wide to find one as powerful and eloquent as this one:

Now everyone I know is joinin' in the show
They're shoutin' out what must be done
Some say to fight for peace, while others holler "cease"
Oh, nothing's won
Too much talk and not enough doin'
Can only lead to wreck and to ruin
Come on people -- stop fightin' start lovin!

John Lennon might be best remembered for telling the world to "Give Peace A Chance", but I wouldn't be suprised if it was The Establishment that finally drove Nixon to close the door on Vietnam. Power to the People!

Phyllis Lovit (phyllis11343@msn.com) says:
Hey Phil Luttrell I was a member of the wonderful group "The Establishment" with your cousin Larry who was a fantastic singer. I'm the girl at the top of the picture with long dark hair. This album did not do justice to the talented members of this group. We were a performing group of singers and dancers and played to very appreciative audiences in Las Vegas as well as "The Greek" and many other notable theaters on LA. We also appeared on the Merv Griffen Show,TV specials with Perry Como,Shirley Bassey, Paul Anka, Ann-Margaret and many other stars of that era. Standing ovations...yes we had many. Tell Larry hello from Phyllis Mitchell Lovit. (08-15-2009)

Phil Luttrell (pluttrell@bak.rr.com) says:
I'm pretty much an expert on the "Establishment", as their lead singer, Larry Merideth, is my first cousin. I had a box of these singles (not LP's) when they came out in 69. They were a singing and dancing group who had considerable success in the 60's, most notably as the background group for "The Jonathan Winters show" on TV. You can look it up on IDMB. They also played on TV's"Hollywood Palace". They backed up many stars in Vegas. They broke up in 1970, many have passed away. Larry made an album with his new group "Pakalameradith" on electra asylum where he worked as an A&R man for years after. His vocals backed Rare Earth, Billy Thorpe, and Eddy Rabbit recordings. He now lives just outside Memphis with his wife. (01-19-2009)

kayo (wpos2 attt roadrunnerdot com) says:
Up with People couldn't have put it better. (08-01-2008)

jim ferraro (recordman68@yahoo.com) says:
I found THE ESTABLISHMENT l.p. in the dollar bins at a local used record store here in SAN DIEGO. THE cover of the l.p. just blew me away i had to pick it up. Man what a total surprise when this platter hit the turntable. for collectors of lounge with a touch of soul, funk, and rock this record is for you................ (04-13-2007)

DICK TATER says:
Sounds too close as a ripoff of the early 70's pop hit "United We Stand". Well, maybe more like Motown meets Paul Williams. Maybe it was the same group. Anyway, the dog said, BARF! BARF! (09-29-2005)

hannibal (hanniballecturer@gmail.com) says:
everyone here send me 40 dollars, or I will tell all the dogs of the world that people are made up of bones. (04-01-2005)

Tom says:
You must try their album, they do a great version of Hendrix's "Are you experienced"! (02-21-2005)

Lizette says:
C'mon, these kids couldn't have been an actual band, could they? They look like someone advertised in the Nashville Picayune for a random group of wholesome-looking hipsters (hard enough to find anything resembling hipsters in Nashville, no matter what year.) The same sort that posed for albums covers all during that era! Sure, that's how they created the Monkees, but THEY soon proved they could play and sing together, and pretty well at that. Did these people ever do a concert, I wonder? Was this like "Up With People", random kids recruited to tour? Or were they the 1960's version of Milli Vanilli, hired to sex up (in a G-rated way) the album cover whilst grubby session musicians cranked out the tunes? (02-06-2005)

amanda hugandkiss says:
satanic messages are weird who wants to come to my house to listen to hanson there mmmmbop (01-30-2005)

Martha Pogue (marthajpogue@yahoo.com) says:
Still sucks after six years. (01-05-2005)

Mad Dr. Matt (magob@aol.com) says:
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Nashville is, and always had been, the center of Satanic activity on earth. This song neatly proves my point. Covens of witches are currently penning totally inane country tunes and using them to control the minds of people in Red America. Ohio goes for Bush - coincidence? I think not! (11-16-2004)

Dale says:
I pray for the gaurds who beat my daughter 47 bruises.I still cry,God bring her home to me.
Prayers,D.Dale (11-15-2004)

KERRY & EDWARDS IN '04! says:
KERRY & EDWARDS IN '04! (10-28-2004)

Joli (purplevioletsquishies@comcast.net) says:
This song reminds me of the toon, United We Stand, Divided We Fall. I absolutely love it. Hey... to say it's mere thriftstore quality... this album deserves a little higher place in the hearts & souls of all men... wouldn't you say? I ask this in all earnestness & seriousness for I am well versed in " the Importance Of Being Earnest." Sesame Street should do a feature without Burt entitled "the Importance Of Being Ernie." (10-14-2004)

Freak Brothers says:
Right on!!.....*hooooot* (05-10-2004)

moxiebean says:
I remember we used to have a copy of this 45 - my mom got it as a local Baltimore radio station giveaway sometime in the late 60's-early 70's. I think we played it once & then chucked it into the back of an endtable drawer, where it probably still sits today. (02-18-2004)

Daredevil6 (daredevil6@excite.com) says:
Sounds like the Ray Conif Singers after a bender. A really good one. In Vegas. With really good drugs. (03-24-2003)

Thunderfudge says:
Is it just me, or does it sound like Dacid Clayton Thomas from Blood, Sweat, and Tears is singing lead? Please tell me it's just me. (01-28-2003)

John Michaelson says:
Hate to say it folks, but this a direct rip-off of "United We Stand" by The Brotherhood of Man. And I'm not even old enough to have been there, but rock history is my life. (12-29-2002)

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