Album Notes

This album was written and recorded in 1968-70, and released in 1971.
It was the first album by Alan Merrill to feature entirely his own compositions, singing all and playing (almost all) the parts himself.
Released on Denon-Columbia Records in Japan exclusively (and produced by Miki Curtis), the album did very well, even though all the songs were in the English language. A very unusual thing in Japan at the time.
Alan Merrill was the first successful foreigner in Japan's domestic rock market in the country's history, having hit records in the Japanese language, touring, modeling, and hosting TV shows in the late 1960s and early 70s. He was a pioneer, performing and touring with the top Japanese bands of the day, The Tigers, Tempters, The Spiders, and Golden Cups, the only foreigner in the "Group Sounds" scene.
In fact, some of the players on this album making cameo appearances were top stars of the Group Sounds era. Even though at the time a teenager, Merrill paved the way for a legion of foreign performers who would follow in his footsteps in Japan for years to come.
Alan lived in Japan from 1968 until 1974, changing and reinventing himself in that territory. He finally left Tokyo for London, to form the successful British pop group Arrows in 1974, after a heated dispute with his Tokyo based management over money.

The album "Merrill 1", produced by Miki Curtis, is stylistically very 60s pop, with teenager Merrill obviously influenced by stars of that decade like The Beatles, Nilsson, The Iveys, Emitt Rhodes, and Crosby Stills & Nash.
Of the bonus tracks, the two cover songs ("Daydream Believer" and "Hey Jude") were from his band The Lead's "Sound Of Silence" album, recorded in Japan in November of 1968 for RCA Victor and featuring Alan on vocals, guitar, and keyboard. The Lead's record was produced by music veteran Robby Wada.
"Jacqueline" was recorded on a brief exploratory visit to London in 1969, and produced by Alan's friend, "Ready Steady Go" TV compere Michael Aldred, at Decca Studios.
"The Drifter" and "Long Hard Road" were demos for the start of a "Merrill 2" album, but Alan Merrill took a left turn and abandoned the project, forming the legendary Japan scene glam rock band Vodka Collins instead.

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1 - Everyday All Night Stand (3:02)
2 - Starstruck (2:11)
3 - Knot Tier (3:13)
4 - First Love (2:25)
5 - Movies (3:10)
6 - Crazy Lady (2:51)
7 - Policy (2:47)
8 - Please Let Me Love You (3:14)
9 - Know Yourself (2:23)
10 - Ferris Wheel (2:15)
11 - Tranquility (3:14)
Bonus tracks-
12 - Jacqueline (2:17)
13 - Daydream Believer (2:35)
14 - Hey Jude (5:03)
15 - The Drifter (3:11)
16 - Long Hard Road (2:37)