February 8, 1969: The Spellbinders, The Doors, Buddy Holly, Timi Yuro, Carl Perkins

QUITE a good week for serious students of Soul Music, with several ballads of the type that always wow ’em in the States but bomb badly here, plus the now customary batch of re-releases.

THE SPELLBINDERS: Help Me (Get Myself Back Together Again); Chain Reaction (CBS Direction 58-3970).
Soul group fans will flock to their record stores for this goodie, if they didn’t do so in 1966 when it was first out. Although slightly more subtle, it packs all the danceabillty of the other currently successful re-releases, and so, given the air time, it must stand some chance of being a seller. The group (three guys, one gal) have had several R & B hits in the States, this included. “Chain Reaction” is a good value flip, being an earlier hit, but it’s minus the zing of “Help Me”.
CHART POSSIBILITY.

THE DOORS: Touch Me; Wild Child (Elektra EKSN 45050).
Before their recent TV exposure this might have seemed a more appealing invitation. As it is, Jim Morrison lays it on the line, backed by a complex and heavily-orchestrated noise with some grow-on-you rhythm changes – quite nice. Too jumbled to be a smash here, but the catchy beat parts should see it into the charts. Actually the flip is a better follow-up to “Hello”, having the same direct approach to the subject matter – you know where you are with this.
CHART PROBABILITY.

BUDDY HOLLY: Love Is Strange; You’re The One (MCA MU 1059).
Released to commemorate his death exactly ten years ago, on 3rd February 1959, this is Buddy’s very last unissued single. Even tho’ the song (the Mickey & Sylvia standard) is so well known, Buddy’s version could easily be a sizeable hit on the strength of his performance and the electronically enhanced sound – which is gentle and pleasant, with heavy strings sawing away over some nifty guitar picking. Really, this is the best version ever of the song!! Good Rockin’ music on the flip-deck, great for dancing, and certainly good enough to have been another A-sIde.
CHART PROBABILITY.

TIMI YURO: As Long As There Is You; It’ll Never Be Over For Me (Liberty LBF 15182).
Having forsaken her pseudo-soul style. Timi now proves she can swing! Beautiful full sound on the Tom Springfield song while the B-side is Baby Washington-ish. Both very classy, both recommended!
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CARL PERKINS: Restless; 11-43 (CBS 3932).
Great country pickin’ ‘n’ singin’ from Carl on this up-beat C&W hit (No. 44 currently). All guitarists should hear this. Nice typical C&W ballad on flip.
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JOE SOUTH: Games People Play; Mirror Of Your Mind (Capitol CL 15579).
Songwriter Joe singing his first U.S. smash – hear him rhyme “Glory Hallelujah” with “sock-it-to-ya”! Both sides are similar, with wah-wah, herky-jerky noises, Ray Stevens -like lyrics. Worth a spin.
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SHADOWS OF KNIGHT: Shake; From Way Out To Way Under (Buddah 201024).
Not Sam Cooke’s song – this is a Super K Production, and that means Bubblegum Music! Very simple and direct, and of course very danceable. Some make it, some don’t – this will be popular.
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EVERYTHING IS EVERYTHING: Witchi Tai To; Oooh Baby (Vanguard/Apostolic VA 1).
Group name is hip, but beware! Song is not – just gentle instrumentation and chanting which get nowhere very pleasantly. It’s nice; it’s 83 in the U.S.; it has nowt to do with Glen Campbell.
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DUANE EDDY: Break My Mind; Lovingbird (CBS 3962). More singing than playing on the Loudermilk C&W song. Duane is wise to emphasize his country roots, now the twang is no longer the thang.
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SHADOW MANN: Come Live With Me; One By One (Roulette RO 504).
Rather dreary beat ballad, No. 129 in the U.S. Words have a message – but why make it sound so dull?
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GROUP THERAPY: Remember What You Said; River Deep, Mountain High (Philips BF 1744).
Fairly irrelevant collection of current noises, with beat applied. As Edward L. Bakewell III says: “Is that weak!” Do yourselves a favour – don’t listen to the B-side.
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OTIS REDDING: My Girl; Mr. Pitiful (Atlantic 584092).
So, what else is new? A re-servicing of a re-release of the original single. Did you dig it?
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REX GARVIN AND THE MIGHTY CRAVERS: Sock It To ‘Em J.B. (Parts 1 & 2) (Atlantic 584028).
Nostalgia time for all club-goers, class of ’66! (J.B. was James Bond, if you’re too young to remember). A re-servicing of the original “sock -it -to -me” single.
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TERRY LINDSEY: It’s Over; One Day Up, Next Day Down (President PT 232). Terry is a lady. A Jimmy Rodgers song, but this sounds like several other records put together (like Ray Stevens – again! – Miracles, Aretha). Hear it and spot some more. Flip’s O.K. tho’.
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DELLA HUMPHREY: Don’t Make The Good Girls Go Bad; Your Love Is All I Need (Action ACT 4575).
A recent R&B hit released here at last by Action (an enterprising label who, although not always reliable, usually produce the goods). This is a goodie – slow and solid, with Della emoting a bit like Barbara Mason. Too American to sell, tho’.
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THREE DOG NIGHT: Nobody; It’s For You (Stateside/Dunhill SS 8008).
Very noisy group effort on top, but it’s the B-side rendering of the old Beatles-penned Cilia Black song that deserves attention. With intricate harmonies weaving thru’ steady clapping, this is brilliantly worked out and merits A-side status. The Cream-like fade is all too soon. Do hear this.
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