Harold Bronson Says Legendary Martin Scorsese Almost Directed the Monkees
Harold Bronson is one of the co-founders of Rhino Records, which grew from very small beginnings into a highly-respected reissue record company.
His new book Time Has Come Today: Rock and Roll Diaries 1967-2007 contains concert accounts, historical events and meetings with many noted hitmakers with fascinating details that have never before been made public.
For example, did you know that the legendary Martin Scorsese was considered as the director of the Monkees 1968 film Head? Can you even begin to imagine what that might have looked like? That’s right along the somewhat incongruous lines of the Jimi Hendrix Experience opening for the Monkees (briefly) on their 1967 summer tour.
The earliest releases from Rhino were novelty and comedy records, with a number of compilations curated by Dr. Demento. Gradually, the label turned to reissues of classic 1960’s rock and roll such as the much-lauded Nuggets series (originally released by Elektra Records).
The classic Rhino Records touch meant getting as close to either the original multi-track tapes or first generation masters as possible, and combining an improved sound with previously unreleased photographs and expanded liner notes. Probably the most successful off those efforts was the reissue of the Monkees catalogue in the 1980’s and 1990’s that coincided with a 20th anniversary reunion tour and subsequent endeavors by various configurations of the original quartet.
Eventually, the label evolved into releasing new music as well.
Harold Bronson moved from the Rhino Records store in Los Angeles and eventually moved to the record label turning it into one of the most highly-regarded reissue labels in the world.
Bronson’s new book is a collection of amazing stories, told in diary form beginning with his senior year in high school, continuing through college and his first attempts at rock journalism, the growth of the label, right up to when he decided to leave.
Harold joined Jim Monaghan on All Mixed Up to talk about the book, some of the many artists he came to know and work with, and egg creams.
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