The Sparkles

Last updated
The Sparkles
Origin Levelland, Texas, United States
Genres Garage rock
Years active1957–1972
LabelsCaron, Hickory, Sundazed
Past membersGuy Balew
Jesse Balew
Gary Blakey
Bob Donnell
Don Settle
Carl Huckaby
Stanley Smith
Johnny Waller
Charlie Hatchett
Harold "Lucky" Floyd
Donnie Roberts
Bobby Smith
Louie Holt
Jimmy Marriot
Gary P. Nunn
Steve Weisberg

The Sparkles were an American garage rock band from Levelland, Texas, that were active between 1957 and 1972. [1] However, the most popular version of the band was the line-up that existed from 1965 to 1967, and which recorded the songs "No Friend of Mine" and "Hipsville 29 B. C." [1] [2]

Contents

History

The first line-up of the Sparkles consisted of Stanley Smith and Carl Huckeby on guitars, Bob Donnell on bass, Johnny Waller on piano, brothers Jesse and Guy Balew on saxophone and vocals, and Gary Blakey on drums. [1] [3] The band made their first recording in 1958 for legendary record producer Norman Petty (who also worked with Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison), but the recording went unreleased. [3] This line-up broke up shortly thereafter and reformed with Gary Blakey on drums, Charlie Hatchett and Stanley Smith on guitars, and Don Settle on bass and backing vocals. [4]

The band line-up changed again when drummer Harold "Lucky" Floyd, bassist Bobby Smith, and guitarist Donnie Roberts joined the group, with Hatchett leaving to form his own group, The Raiders, along with Blakey. [1] This line-up, the third, became quite popular locally and started playing in clubs in west Texas. [3] Due to disagreements among the band members, this line-up also broke up. Harold "Lucky" Floyd and Bobby Smith then recruited Louie Holt, Gary P. Nunn, and the drummer Jimmy Marriott, resulting in the fourth line-up having two drummers, although Floyd would sometimes sing. [1] [4]

Nashville record producers Larry Parks and Jay Turnbow offered to sign the band to Hickory Records. The band agreed and released the 1966 single "The Hip" (written by Parks, Turnbow and Joe Melson), which became a major hit in Austin. [3] Soon thereafter, the songs "Something That You Said" and "Jack and the Beanstalk" were recorded. All of these recordings were done in Odessa, Texas, at Tommy Allsup's Westex Studio. [1] The following year, the band recorded "No Friend of Mine" and "Hipsville 29 B. C." in Nashville, Tennessee. [1] [5] When Nunn and Holt decided to quit the band, around 1968, Floyd, Smith, and Marriott relocated to California and changed the band's name to the Pearly Gate, making a handful of appearances in a television series called Judd, for the Defense . [1] [3] [4] They later returned to Austin and reformed the Sparkles and it was during this period that Steve Weisberg, future guitarist of The John Denver Band, joined the band. [1] [3]

The Sparkles finally disbanded in 1972, with Floyd returning to California to play with Red Wilder Blue. [3] [4] A number of commentators, including author Jeff Jarema, have noted that during the band's almost fifteen years of existence and various different line-ups, the version of the group that made the name the Sparkles best known was the fourth line-up, which recorded the "Hipsville 29 B. C." and "No Friend of Mine" singles. [1] [2]

Over the years, songs by the band have appeared on several various artists compilations: "The U.T." appeared on Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 17 , [4] "I Want to Be Free" was included on Turds On A Bum Ride, Vol. 1, [6] and "Hipsville 29 B. C." has appeared on Mayhem & Psychosis, Vol. 2 and Garage Beat '66, Vol. 1 . [7] In addition, "No Friend of Mine" has appeared on the 1998 Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968 box set, the CD version of Pebbles, Volume 1 , Songs We Taught The Fuzztones , Garage Beat '66, Vol. 1, Uptight Tonight: Ultimate 60's Garage Collection, Acid Dreams: Testament, Trash Box , Best of Pebbles, Vol. 1, and Ear-Piercing Punk . [4] [8]

Band members

Discography

Singles

EPs

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Shadows of Knight</span> American rock band

The Shadows of Knight were an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois, that played a version of British blues influenced by their native city. When they began recording in 1965, the band's self-description was "the Stones, Animals and the Yardbirds took the Chicago blues and gave it an English interpretation. We've taken the English version of the Blues and re-added a Chicago touch," to which rock critic Richie Unterberger commented: "The Shadows of Knight's self-description was fairly accurate."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Lewis & the Playboys</span> American pop and rock band

Gary Lewis & the Playboys were a 1960s era pop and rock group, fronted by musician Gary Lewis, the son of comedian Jerry Lewis. They are best known for their 1965 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "This Diamond Ring", which was the first of a string of hit singles they had in 1965 and 1966. The band had an earnest, boy-next-door image similar to British invasion contemporaries such as Herman's Hermits and Gerry and the Pacemakers. The group folded in 1970, but a version of the band later resumed touring and continues to tour, often playing for veterans' benefits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Hopes (Pink Floyd song)</span> 1994 single by Pink Floyd

"High Hopes" is a song by English rock band Pink Floyd, composed by guitarist David Gilmour with lyrics by Gilmour and Polly Samson. It is the closing track on their fourteenth studio album, The Division Bell (1994); it was released as the second single from the album on 17 October 1994. An accompanying music video was made for the song and was directed by Storm Thorgerson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Outsiders (American band)</span> American rock and roll band (1965–70)

The Outsiders were an American rock and roll band from Cleveland, Ohio, that was founded and led by guitarist Tom King. The band released the hit single "Time Won't Let Me" in early 1966, which peaked at No. 5 in the US in April. The band had three other Hot 100 top 40 hit singles in 1966, but none on the Hot 100 afterwards, and released a total of four albums in the mid-1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H. P. Lovecraft (band)</span> American psychedelic rock band

H. P. Lovecraft was an American psychedelic rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1967 and named after the horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Much of the band's music was possessed of a haunting, eerie ambience, and consisted of material that was inspired by the macabre writings of the author whose name they had adopted. Combining elements of psychedelia and folk rock, the band's sound was marked by the striking vocal harmonies of ex-folk singer George Edwards and the classically trained Dave Michaels. In addition, Michaels' multi-instrumentalist abilities on organ, piano, harpsichord, clarinet and recorder provided the band with a richer sonic palette than many of their contemporaries.

<i>Kill from the Heart</i> 1983 studio album by The Dicks

Kill from the Heart is an album by the hardcore punk band The Dicks. Widely considered a classic of the genre, it was the band's first full-length album and the last to feature the group's original Texas-based line-up. The album finds the band mixing its hardcore punk style with blues aesthetics.

<i>Back Door Men</i> 1966 studio album by Shadows of Knight

Back Door Men is the second album by The Shadows of Knight.

<i>The Autumn Stone</i> 1969 compilation album by Small Faces

The Autumn Stone is a posthumous retrospective double album, and the second compilation album released in the UK by Small Faces in 1969 on the Immediate label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Black Dog</span> 1970 single by Humble Pie

"Big Black Dog" is a single released in 1970 by English rock band Humble Pie, one of the first British supergroups which formed in 1969. It was the band's first single for A&M Records and the follow-up single to "Natural Born Bugie" (1969). It was written by the band's guitarist, Peter Frampton.

<i>Blue Sky – Night Thunder</i> 1975 studio album by Michael Murphey

Blue Sky – Night Thunder is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Michael Murphey and is considered one of the seminal albums of his career. Released in 1975, it produced two major hit singles—the platinum-certified "Wildfire" and "Carolina in the Pines"—and established him as a major force in popular music. Members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band provided backing on some of the tracks.

<i>Stampede</i> (Chris LeDoux album) 1996 studio album by Chris LeDoux

Stampede is the twenty-fourth studio album by American country music artist Chris LeDoux. It was his first studio album released for Capitol Nashville after the Liberty Records name was retired. "Gravitational Pull", "When I Say Forever" and "Five Dollar Fine" were released as singles but didn't make the top 40. "Stampede" would later be released as a single from his 20 Greatest hits Collection in 1999. The album peaked at #33 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

<i>The Seeds</i> (album) 1966 studio album by the Seeds

The Seeds is the debut album by American garage rock band the Seeds. It was released in April 1966 through GNP Crescendo Records and produced by Sky Saxon. After the release of two singles in 1965, "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" and "Pushin' Too Hard", the album was released and charted in the United States where it peaked at No. 132 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart. Modern reception of the album is positive, with Malcolm Russel noting the band's influence on CBGB musicians a decade later.

We the People was an American garage rock band from Orlando, Florida, that was formed in late 1965 and professionally active between 1966 and 1970. Although none of their singles charted nationally in the U.S., a number of them did reach the Top 10 of the local Orlando charts. The band are perhaps best remembered for their song "Mirror of Your Mind", which reached the Top 10 in a number of regional singles charts across the U.S. during 1966. The song has subsequently been included on several compilation albums over the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diddy Wah Diddy</span>

"Diddy Wah Diddy" is a song written by Willie Dixon and Ellas McDaniel, known as Bo Diddley, and recorded by the latter in 1956. The song shares only its title with Blind Blake's song "Diddie Wah Diddie" recorded in 1929. Over the years, the Bo Diddley song has been covered by many bands and artists, including the Astronauts, Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, the Remains, the Twilights, Taj Mahal, the Sonics, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ty Segall Band, and the Blues Band among others.

Kahvas Jute were an Australian rock band formed in July 1970. Mainstay of the line-up was Dennis Wilson on guitar and vocals. Other founder members include Bob Daisley on bass guitar and Tim Gaze on lead guitar and vocals. Their debut album, Wide Open was released in January 1971. The group supported Bo Diddley on his second tour of Australia in October 1973. Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, described their style as 'expansive and free flowing, strong on rhythm and melody and bristling with exceptional guitar work' . Kahvas Jute did a reunion gig in 1991 and in 1993, their album Wide Open was re-released on CD again. In 2005, they played a reunion show at The Basement in Sydney which was recorded and filmed. A DVD and album pack entitled Then Again: Live at the Basement was issued in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Banshees (band)</span> American garage rock band

The Banshees were an American garage rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1966. The group is best remembered for its sole single, featuring the dissonant proto-punk anthem, "Project Blue". The song has become a classic of the musical genre of garage rock and is featured prominently on several compilation albums.

<i>Garage Beat 66 Volume 1: Like What, Me Worry?!</i> 2004 compilation album

Garage Beat '66 Volume 1: Like What, Me Worry?! is the first installment in the Garage Beat '66 series of garage rock compilations issued by Sundazed Records, which is available exclusively on compact disc. It features well-researched liner notes, written by recognized garage rock authorities, which supply background information about each song and act, often including photographs of the bands. Like all of the entries in the series it is noted for good sound quality, as all of the tracks are mastered from the original studio master sources.

<i>Raw n Alive at the Cellar, Chicago 1966!</i> 1992 live album by The Shadows of Knight

Raw 'n' Alive at the Cellar, Chicago 1966! is a live album by the American garage rock band the Shadows of Knight, and was released on Sundazed Records in 1992. The album consists of recordings from the band's appearance at the Cellar in Arlington Heights, Illinois in December 1966. Although the tapes were never anticipated to be released publicly, Raw 'n' Alive at the Cellar is commended for its good sound quality, and represents one of the better live concert recordings to emerge from the garage rock era.

Christopher and the Souls were an American garage rock band formed in McAllen, Texas, in 1964. Recording a song inspired by the poetic writing of Christopher Voss called "Diamonds, Rats, and Gum", Christopher and the Souls became one of the highlights of the Texas garage scene. Although the group disbanded in 1967, their composition has been rediscovered and highly valued among collectors. Noted for its rarity on the already isolated Pharaoh record label, only a few copies of "Diamonds, Rats, and Gum" are known to exist; however, it is accessible on compilation albums.

The Daybreakers were an American garage rock and psychedelic band from Muscatine, Iowa, who were active in the 1960s. They became one of the most popular bands in their region which included the Quad Cities. Jack Barlow, a popular DJ and country music recording artist had them record songs for a planned single at Columbia Recording Studios arranged a contract with Atlantic Records, who released the group's single on their Dial label featuring "Psychedelic Siren" which included siren sound effects generated by a primitive electronic device. Though the song became a big regional hit in Iowa, Atlantic lost interest in the band and they made no further recordings. In the intervening years, their work has come to the attention of garage rock enthusiasts and has been included of several compilations.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "The Sparkles". Lone Starr Music. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  2. 1 2 Jarema, Jeff (2005). The Sparkles, No Friend of Mine EP liner notes.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The Sparkles Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Joynson, Vernon (1998). Fuzz, Acid and Flowers. Borderline Productions.
  5. "Rockin' Robin Recalls". 60s Garage Bands. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  6. "I Want to Be Free". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  7. "Hipsville 29 B. C. (I Need Help)". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  8. "No Friend of Mine". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-12-12.