In Appreciation of Howard Kaylan

Singer-songwriter Howard Kaylan has etched out a remarkable career spanning several decades in popular music. He first came to prominence fronting The Turtles in the late 1960s before embarking upon a post-’60s career that’s been equal parts fascinating and varied.

A great many of the successes and failures encountered by Kaylan over the years have been alongside longtime musical partner and collaborator, Mark Volman. Together, they performed as part of The Turtles as well as Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention before striking out on their own as the duo, Flo & Eddie. Given the history between the two performers, it can be difficult to separate them with regard to the projects featuring both singers. Some listeners even struggle at times to distinguish one vocal from the other when taking in their close-knit harmonies.

As Flo & Eddie, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman assumed a fluid dynamic, trading off lead vocals depending upon which writer was the primary creative force behind a specific tune. In the traditional sense, however, one could argue that Howard Kaylan brought to the table many, if not all, of the ideal attributes of an effective lead vocalist.

This considerable skill set was apparent dating back to when the Turtles hit it big with 1967’s “Happy Together” which, like much of the band’s early material, featured Kaylan front and center. The same can be said for the hit single, “Elenore,” released the following year. Despite having been credited to each member of the band, the song was assembled solely by Kaylan.

 

Upon the initial dissolution of The Turtles, Kaylan and Volman resolved to strike out as a duo. The newly dubbed Flo & Eddie spent time fronting Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention during the early 1970s. This format saw the pair engaging audiences with vaudevillian stage antics. Musically, Kaylan would generally take the lead while Volman supported with close harmonies and percussion. The unique chemistry between the singers is evident in the material from this period. But a thorough relisten of 1970s material featuring Kaylan also provides a strong case for his consideration as one of the most overlooked rock vocalists of his time.

The final album from this active version of the Mothers of Invention – 1972’s live album, Just Another Band from L.A. – features many moments which support this notion. Reworked versions of Zappa classics such as “Call Any Vegetable” and “Dog Breath” find Kaylan in top form, demonstrating immaculate technical chops in conjunction with an emotional engagement with the material.

Following their time with Zappa, Kaylan and Volman – now officially “Flo & Eddie” – began to record their music under the new moniker. In his 2013 autobiography, Kaylan admits to wondering if the pair kneecapped their own success by fully committing to the zany moniker. In any case, the pair’s 1972 debut album, The Phlorescent Leech & Eddie, featured many promising moments. Among them were the Kaylan compositions, “Marmandy Mill” and the sinister, minor-key meditation, “Feel Older Now.”

Though they would continue to produce music as a duo, Kaylan and Volman would find increasing success as studio “guns for hire.” The pair would contribute their soaring harmonies to acts ranging from Bruce Springsteen and Stephen Stills to Duran Duran, the Ramones, and many others. The two would also become recognized as journalistic personalities, interviewing the likes of David Bowie and Tom Waits in their characteristically off-the-wall manner.

Though perhaps not reflected in the path his career would ultimately take, it doesn’t take a leap to imagine Kaylan constructing an immense legacy strictly as a powerhouse vocalist and interesting songwriter.

The fact is, the industry seldom knows how to properly market duo acts. Oftentimes, strong pairs operate within the context of a larger group – see Jagger/Richards, Lennon/McCartney, Tyler/Perry, etc. As such, one can’t help but wonder if Kaylan – along with Volman – would have generated a stronger listener response if they’d been presented throughout the 1970s as the nucleus of a reworked Turtles as opposed to being “Flo & Eddie.” This would also have addressed a disparity in the listening public’s recognition of The Turtles as one of the most influential groups of their time.

In any case, classic albums such as The Turtles’ Battle of the Bands, Frank Zappa’s Chunga’s Revenge, and Flo and Eddie’s The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie, highlight Howard Kaylan’s capacity as one of the most formidable rock vocalists of his time.

-Cameron Gunnoe

Photo: Howard Kaylan, 2012 (Louise Palanker via Wikimedia Commons)