VARIOUS

Op Keep a hold on him, het vervolg op het al eerder uitgebrachte Boy Trouble, treffen we het werk aan van producer Gary S. Paxton aan. Focuste het eerste deel nog op de mid-jaren 60, op deze verzamelaar is het de beurt aan de jaren 1960 tot en met 1964. Voor liefhebbers van jaren ’60 werk van girl groups een waardevolle aanvulling in de collectie en voorzien van uitgebreide achtergrondinformatie.

More fabulous 60s femmes from the stable of producer Gary S Paxton.

“Boy Trouble: Garpax Girls”, issued in 2004, celebrated the productions Gary Paxton concocted for female artists during the mid-1960s. This second instalment mainly focuses on the 1960-1964 era, with a decidedly bluesier slant.

The liner notes feature fresh interviews with many of the artists that paint a fascinating picture of Paxton, who was idolised from afar by many of these young women as he coached them. For most it was their first time in the recording studio, and they all appreciated his guidance.

Several artists featured on “Boy Trouble” return for this sequel. There’s teenaged thrushes Doris Webb and Beverly Williams, hip Latina trio the Rev-Lons (a rare demo recording is included), the Fashionettes with the ebullient ‘Only Love’ and three tracks by Beatrice Lee, a pint-sized powerhouse with an attitude that jumps right out of the speakers. Also present with several items apiece are Bakersfield’s smoky-voiced Linda Mackey and cover starlet Dorothy Berry, “the fine little girl [who] waits for me” referred to in her husband Richard’s rock standard ‘Louie Louie’. Young Canadian Mary Saxton tears down the house with her ‘Losing Control’ and there’s a rare two-sider from the enigmatic Josephine Sunday.

Modern fans of popcorn and new breed R&B will no doubt find several entries to their taste, but for any girl group aficionado there’s much to enjoy, with a large proportion of the tracks being previously unissued.

(tekst: Ace Records)

1. JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE - The Idols
2. LOSING CONTROL - Mary Saxton
3. KEEP A HOLD ON HIM - Beatrice Lee
4. IT FEELS SO GOOD - Grant & April
5. I WAS THE LONELY ONE - Doris Webb
6. DAYDREAMIN OF YOU - The Fashionettes
7. LITTLE GIRL WITH A BIG HURT - Beverly Williams
8. IT JUST AIN’T RIGHT - Linda Mackey
9. HE'S NOT MINE ANYMORE - Josephine Sunday
10. YOU KNOW YOU LIED - Dorothy Berry & The Swans
11. IT KINDA PICKS ME UP - Tanya Marie
12. ONLY LOVE - The Fashionettes
13. A TEAR - Mary Saxton
14. OPERATOR OPERATOR - Beatrice Lee
15. MERRY GO ROUND - Linda Mackey
16. YOSEMITE SAM - Judy & The Jades
17. SHOES AND RICE AND PARADISE (DEMO) - The Rev-Lons
18. I WON’T BE HURT ANYMORE - Josephine Sunday
19. IT’S A LONELY WORLD - Mary Saxton
20. HELP ME - Beatrice Lee
21. REAP WHAT YOU SOW - Linda Mackey
22. PLEASE WRITE ME A LETTER - Chris Darlin
23. WHY MUST I CRY - The Idols
24. HE’S HURTIN’ ME (DEMO) - Beverly Williams