Rediscovering 'The Phynx'
Rediscovering 'The Phynx': A Tribute to Uncle Lonny and the Quest to Unleash Hollywood's Lost Soundtrack
Since June of 2015, I’ve been locked to the side of a monumental figure in pop culture history. He’s a giant at all times but when it’s just us, he’s just Pops. I had met Pops, better known as William Mickey Stevenson,’ The A&R Man’ for one of the most legendary record labels of all time, Motown Records, where he signed such musical icons, Stevie Wonder, Martha & The Vandellas among others while producing and writing some of the greatest pop songs in Rock & Roll history, such as ‘Dancing In The Street’, ‘It Takes Two’, ‘Devil With The Blue Dress’, and ‘What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted’, inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame by his best friend and golfing partner Smokey Robinson, in 2022.
(From L to R: William "Mickey" Stevenson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and seated, Smokey Robinson)
Mickey and I had met years before, however I’ll save that tale for another blog.
In the short time we’d come to know one another, he had become a surrogate Dad to me and it wasn’t lost on either of us the genuine nature of our friendship. Especially, when his oldest daughter, who had helped him pen his autobiography, suddenly passed away. Deepening our connection and inspiring us to continue the work that she and he had initiated. However, my ubiquitous presence left my role questionable to those who love Mickey most, such as his brother Lonny..
I was eager to meet Lonny when I heard that he would be joining us in Detroit, where Mickey was receiving yet another prestigious honor.
Lonny was nice to me but not overly so, and I could sense his slight skepticism. He was protective of his brother, who wasn’t just a brother but an icon. In Hollywood, there are always unscrupulous types with ulterior motives.
I came to be the same way as Mickey and I grew closer, especially when we traveled both here and abroad. I too became a watchful eye and protector. But Mickey is no shrinking violet; by sharp contrast, he’s just the opposite. However, over the course of our several days’ stay in Detroit, Lonny and I had a chance to get to know each other better. Before long, upon our return to LA, I became a regular visitor to Lonny’s actors' studio, where he held regular classes. And it wasn’t long before he became Uncle Lonny.
Once Uncle Lonny learned of my interest and background in acting, he repeatedly offered free sessions of which I never took him up on. However, I did get a chance to sit in a few times and found Uncle Lonny had a true passion and gift for acting and was a fantastic instructor.
One day, I decided to look him up on IMDb and discovered that he had accumulated quite a few credits during his time as an actor in Hollywood. Fortunately, he had the opportunity to appear on what are now considered some iconic shows of the era. His credits include classic American favorites like "Hill Street Blues," "Matlock," "That's My Mama," "Starsky & Hutch," and "Baretta." However, one project particularly caught my attention—a uniquely spelled film called "The Phynx." I had never heard of it before, but I loved the spelling, and the photos I saw related to it piqued my interest.
As I dug a little deeper I found that this was some underground cult curiosity. Which is the stuff I love most. And this film, from the clips I saw…was the very definition of ‘offbeat’, if there ever were one.
My curiosity reached its peak when I realized the number of odd cameos in just one film. From chicken maverick, Colonel Sanders to the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, to The Lone Ranger & Tonto, Dorothy Lamour, Xavier Cugat, Guy Lombardo, Ed Sullivan, Maureen O’Sullivan, Dick Clark, The Bowery Boys, Richard Pryor, 1930’s star Rudy Vallee, boxing champ Joe Louis, and many other film and tv stars from the golden age of television. Odd layered upon odd…And Uncle Lonny is in this?, I thought to myself. Wow!
The next time I dropped by the studio, I was eager to ask Uncle Lonny about this strange unreleased oddity that was apparently his first feature, credited to Lonny Stevens (dropping the ‘son’).
‘A piece of shit’, he exclaimed. Always direct and honest, not the type to play Hollywood nice, Uncle Lonny told you how it was and if his mouth didn’t, his face did. Lol
Despite his irreverence for the film that gave him his first credited role, I still eagerly purchased 2 dvd’s, one for him and one for me.
Officially released May 6, 1970…according to Wikipedia, (yeah, I know…trustworthy issues) The Phynx received an extremely limited release, and has since become an obscure, rarely seen cult film; bootleg copies for many years turned up on auction websites before Warner Archive officially released the film on DVD in October 2012.
Again, all of this information, courtesy of “Wikipedia”.
At any rate, Uncle Lonny was genuinely thrilled when I surprised him one day with a copy I’d found online. I got one for him and one for myself. He promised he would watch it but still reminded me, “It wasn’t anything’… a piece o’ shit,” he reiterated.
Well, I loved it! And I told him as much, I thought it was the definition of ‘ret. He didn’t understand that, And that was OK. Lol.
In recent months, Uncle Lonny has been on my mind a lot. I’d found some photos of us from our Detroit trip, and from Christmas of 2016 when he invited me over for dinner. I’ve also revisited The Phynx again. And in doing so I discovered the lost soundtrack.
The music, which I had somehow completely ignored despite being one of the most charming aspects of the film, features almost-dated '60s sunny pop stylings that add to its appeal. All of the featured songs were apparently written by the classic duo, Leiber & Stoller. I had the chance to meet them once, but I hadn't discovered The Phynx yet; otherwise, we might have had a much longer conversation.
Surprisingly, this music has gone largely unnoticed, and there is little available online about its existence, especially considering that this is the only soundtrack ever associated with Leiber & Stoller.
I did discover this blog which gave much more insight into the lost Leiber & Stoller soundtrack, offering names of songs which led me to Nancy Wilson’s ‘Trip With Me’- a catchy easy listening psychedelic jazz tune.
Upon listening, I thought…no way, how could this go unreleased. Turns out, this one was released. Written by Leiber & Stoller, but produced by David Cavanaugh.
The song ends the flip side of Nancy’s then current album, Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You and was the B-side to the album’s single release ‘This Girl Is A Woman Now’.
Another discovery was a song performed by The Boys In The Band, with their offering of (How About A Little Hand For) The Boys In The Band, a single released on Spring records.
I’m the type, once I find one thing…especially if I like it…I want more. Thus began my search for all songs ‘Phynx’ related.
The Nancy Wilson Trip song did the trick. Its so short that you have to play it 3 times to get your fill. But when I discovered “You Know The Feeling”, it was game on for real. An absolute gem of a tune. Paisley and sweet with a cool laid back urgency. Capturing the times with a timeless essence that worked then and would work now. And to think, this has gone unreleased, with just one discoverable mention on the internet. Just wow!
The Phynx! Ever the mystery.
Why was this film shelved? The budget was obviously nothing to sneeze at. That’s apparent just with cameo appearances alone.
I wonder if there is more to this than meets the eye. I’m sure there is. One day, maybe we'll get to the bottom of this.
Uncle Lonny has since passed on now, as have most of those involved. But discovering this wonderful music has reinvigorated my interest in the film, which remains shrouded in mystery. Now, I’ve added the soundtrack to the enigma.
Last week I ran across this blog from years ago…August 2011, https://theundergroundmultiplex.wordpress.com/2011/08/23/the-lost-and-only-film-score-of-jerry-leiber-and-mike-stoller/
and after reading this passage…
”It would be a good idea to reissue the soundtrack of The Phynx without the encumbrance of the movie. This happened a few years ago with a reissue of the soundtrack for Skidoo, the 1968 Otto Preminger disaster, allowing the listener to hear the great score by George Tipton and Harry Nilsson. Who knows? Perhaps there’ll be a newfound understanding, a strange sort of subversive element to The Phynx I’m missing”.
I got the wild idea that perhaps we—more accurately, I—could initiate a petition to get the music released.
I’ve been wanting to honor Uncle Lonny ever since he passed away. Occasionally, he shared with me backstories and highlights of his career, such as working opposite Mickey Rooney, which he truly treasured. I was fortunate to gain his trust and respect, and for that, I am honored. That said, Uncle Lonny could be a hard nut to crack, that’s for sure. Deep down, I always got the feeling that Lonny never fully realized his true mission as an artist. His passion for the art was clear, but his attitude toward the business of the art was likely different. Lonny was a class act, but he was no Hollywood phony and didn’t indulge in pretense. I imagine navigating Hollywood was no easy feat for someone like him with his no-nonsense type personality.
Guest stars, often with recognizable faces but largely unknown names, are the glue that holds the industry together and make up a significant portion of the acting workforce. There are very few movie stars, but many working actors.
We may not always know their names, but we recognize their work, and they make us feel something. Uncle Lonny made you feel something in life and on screen. He was what you’d call ‘the truth.’ He cared deeply when he liked you, and that’s a quality necessary for a truly solid actor. Heart.
One night, I woke up around 3 a.m.—pretty much on the nose. At the time, I had a streaming service subscription called Frndly TV. I opted for Frndly when I discovered its abundance of subchannels, where I could watch classic shows and movies. With options like MeTV, getTV, and Antenna TV, there was always a mix of retro content, some more familiar than others.
Now, I’m sitting on the bed, catching this opening sequence. I can immediately recognize that I don’t know this show at all. Oh, it’s called The Outcasts. I see it’s a western, in color, and looks to be from circa 1968 or 1969. I’ve never heard of it—probably have, but it’s vague. Not being a big western fan per se, it might have faded from memory. Oh yeah! The Outcasts! I’ve heard of it. Don’t know much about it, though.
The first scene takes place in a saloon—cliché much? Well, almost, except that this is an all-Black cast. Now I'm all in and wondering aloud, 'How do I not know this show?' And why am I up right now? It's 3 a.m. But I keep watching. I'm also interested because I see a familiar face, a popular guest star from many shows in the 1970s. What's his name again? Something Elliott. I think he used to be married to singer Dionne Warwick.
We’re under 2 minutes into the scene, and this dude, looking real suspicious and hiding his face, walks up with this attractive lady on his arm. She looks familiar, too. The mysterious guy delivers his dialogue while hiding his face. He swings around to the bar, still keeping his face away from the camera, delivering more lines with his back turned. I’m not sure what’s going on, but this setup says there’s going to be a big reveal, and I’m dying to know who or what it is. Maybe it’s some big-shot star making a cameo, as you know by now I’ve got a thing for a good cameo.
Finally, it happens. (Mind you, we’re still only at the 3-minute mark of this episode of The Outcasts.) The guy with the mysterious demeanor turns around and starts delivering more lines while facing the camera, and I thought I’d lost my mind! Could not believe my eyes!
Lo and behold, there was Uncle Lonny! Wow! Lonny Stevens, a young working actor on this random, short-lived show, The Outcasts. And just by chance, I’m catching it, only a few weeks after Lonny transitioned. Just wow! I thought. This is NOT by chance!
Wow! That’s Uncle Lonny!
I wasn’t aware of this credit because he never received one. This isn’t on his IMDb page because, back in those days, you could be hired on a show, deliver all those lines, and still be ‘Uncredited.’
Yeah, I’m beginning to understand Uncle Lonny a little more now. Imagine the frustration. I also understand now that, in some way, it’s true—I did have an appointment. A divine appointment that I’m glad I showed up on time for. If you knew me, that would make you laugh.
I was literally ordered to wake up at 3 a.m. and catch Uncle Lonny on The Outcasts. Nothing else explains it. That moment was specifically for me!
When he transitioned, I missed my chance to say ‘goodbye’ to him by just a few hours; he had already passed by the time I arrived at Cedars Hospital—once again, prioritizing work over sentiment. I felt a little guilty about that, but this divine appointment with Uncle Lonny gave me some release.
Which brings me back to why I started this blog to begin with, the release!
The Phynx soundtrack! Remember!... and I need your help. But don’t just take my word for it.
Listen to the music!:
How could you not love this rare slice of psychedelic ret’: (insert music link)
And get on this trip with Nancy Wilson: (insert music link)
And give a hand for the boys in the band: (insert music link)
Known Song Titles from The Phynx Soundtrack:
- (Let’s Have a Hand for) The Boys in the Band
- Hello
- They Say That You’re Mad
- Trip with Me
- You Know the Feeling
- What is Your Sign?
- M.O.T.H.A.’s Theme (Mike Stoller only)
- Phantasy for Phynx (Mike Stoller only)
What do you think? Should I start a petition? Would you sign and share?
What do you think? Should I start a petition? Would you sign and share?
In conclusion, this journey of discovering and preserving the lost gems of Hollywood is more than just an exploration of obscure films and soundtracks. It's a tribute to the unsung heroes, the guest stars like Uncle Lonny, who bring depth and authenticity to the industry. Their contributions may not always be credited, but they resonate deeply with those who appreciate true artistry. So let's honor them, celebrate their work, and ensure their legacies live on. Join me in this mission to release 'The Phynx' soundtrack and give these hidden treasures the recognition they deserve.
And while you’re here check out some of Uncle Lonny’s fantastic film and TV work!
Looking forward to your thoughts…Phynx Fans Unite!
Links to film and TV featuring guest star Lonny Stevens:
The Outcasts - “My Name Is Jemal” - [LINK]
That’s My Mama - [LINK]
Baretta - [LINK]
Hill Street Blues - [LINK]
My Kidnapper, My Love - [LINK]
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Links to additional blog posts covering the mystery of The Phynx:
