The Sparkles - Singles (62-67)

Λίγο πριν απομακρυνθούμε από το blog και από τις περισσότερες δραστηριότητες τις καθημερινότητας για να πάρουμε μερικές ανάσες, πάμε στο Τέξας και πιο συγκεκριμένα στο Λίβλαντ προς τιμήν αυτή της μπάντας.  Οι Sprakles μπορεί α είχαν μικρή δισκογραφία αλλά είχαν μακρά διάρκεια ζωής η οποία ξεκίνησε το 1957 και ολοκληρώθηκε κάπου το 1972. Τα 15 αυτά χρόνια ιστορίας εκτός από τις αρκετές αλλαγές στην σύνθεσή τους είχαν επίσης να παρουσιάσουν ατέλειωτο πλήθος live εμφανίσεων, που τους ανέδειξε ως μία πολύ σπουδαία μπάντα...μάλλον σε όλα τα "επίπεδα".

Η δισκογραφία τους επειδή υλοποιήθηκε μέσα σε χρόνια καθοριστικών μουσικών αλλαγών,  περιλαμβάνει φυσικά ροκ εν ρολ (The U.T.) στο ξεκίνημα και καταλήγει σε ένα καταιγιστικό 45αρι, από αυτά που αποκαλούμαι ως massive killers.

Έκανα μία προσπάθεια (ευτυχώς πέτυχε) να μαζέψω όλα τους τα κομμάτια στην καλύτερη δυνατή ποιότητα (μαζί και φωτό από τα 45αρια τους) σε ένα αρχείο για την συλλογή σας. Η κυκλοφορία της Sundazed SEP 176 ως Ep το 2005 περιλαμβάνει μόλις τρία κομμάτια.

The Sparkles - I Want To Be Free (1967)

The Sparkles

Personnel:

GUY BALEW                                 sax                         A

JESSE BALEW                              sax                         A

GARY BLAKEY                              drms                       A B

BOB DONNELL                             bs                           A

CARL HUCKABY                           gtr                          A

STANLEY SMITH                           gtr                          A B C

JOHNNY WALLER                         piano                      A   

CHARLIE HATCHETT                     gtr                             B

LUCKY FLOYD                              drms                             C D E

DONNIE ROBERTS                        gtr                                C   

BOBBY SMITH                              bs                                 C D E

LOUIE HOLT                                 gtr                                   D

JIMMY MARRIOT                          drms                                D E

GARY P. NUNN                             gtr                                   D

STEVE WEISSBERG                      ld gtr                                   E

45s: 

1. The U.T./He Can't Love You       (Caron 94)                           1962

2. The Hip/Oh Girls, Girls              (Hickory 1364)                      1966

3. Something That You Said/Daddy Gonna Put The Hun On You               (Hickory 1390)   1966

4. Jack And The Beanstalk/Oh Girls, Girls  (Hickory 1406)          1966

5. No Friend Of Mine/First Forget (What Has Made You Blue)                   (Hickory 1443)   1967

6. Hipsville 29 B.C./I Want To Be Free        (Hickory 1474)                1967

This was a very popular combo in West Texas between 1957 and 1972. Forming in Levelland in 1957, line-up 'A' did some recording at Norman Petty's studios in 1958 but nothing made it onto vinyl. They broke up for a while but later reformed with line-up 'B' and an unknown bassist. They underwent several further personnel changes. When Charlie Hatchet relocated to Lubbock to start a new outfit The Raiders he took Gary Blakey with him and a new line-up (C) resulted. For a while in 1965 (line-up D) they used two drummers, although Lucky Floyd was also used as a vocalist too. 

Their first 45 really predates this book. U.T. stood for 'untitled' and was recorded in a garage in Clovis, New Mexico. Later in 1962 they signed for Hickory and Larry Parks, a drummer for Roy Orbison became their producer. They enjoyed some success with the resulting singles, particularly The Hip.

When Louie Holt and Gary P. Nunn left the band, Bobby Smith and Lucky Floyd headed to California changing the band's name to The Pearly Gate. This was around 1968. In fact they were scheduled to play a benefit for Robert F. Kennedy at the Americana Hotel the night he was shot. The band were involved with Al Perkins at this time and did a TV show called 'Judge For The Defense'. They later returned to Austin reverting back to The Sparkles and around 1970/71 Steve Weissberg, who had played lead guitar for John Denver, was in the band.

In 1972 Lucky Floyd was invited back to California to join Red Wilder Blue. The Sparkles disintegrated soon afterwards. An early sixties line-up played some reunion gigs in West Texas early in 1985.

Tracks:

The Sparkles - The U.T.

The Sparkles - He Can't Love You      

The Sparkles - The Hip

The Sparkles - Oh Girls, Girls  

The Sparkles - Something That You Said

The Sparkles - Daddy Gonna Put The Hun On You       

The Sparkles - Jack And The Beanstalk

The Sparkles - No Friend Of Mine

The Sparkles - First Forget (What Has Made You Blue)

The Sparkles - Hipsville 29 B.C.

The Sparkles - I Want To Be Free

Download Link:
http://uploadmirrors.com/download/VSKYSTCN/The_Sprakles_-_Singles__62-67_.rar