VA: Don’t Let Him Hurt You! Girl Group Sounds USA 1962-1968 LP

Description

From Ace Records’ early days, there’s always been a place in our hearts for music’s feminine side. A year having flown by since the release of our last compilation spotlighting the US girl group sound of the 60s – think castanets, anguished teen sirens, Svengali-esque producers and mini-sonatas about dreaming, dancing and moody boyfriends (sometimes deceased) – means the time has come for a new vinyl-only volume.

As 1968 drew to a close, the golden age of girl groups had seemingly been and gone: the Shangri-Las, Ronettes and Chiffons, for example, hadn’t had a hit record of note since 1966. Then along came ‘Condition Red’, a cleverly produced psychodrama performed by the Goodees, who grace the front cover and open the top side of this new comp in dramatic style. Over on the generally more soulful second side, Les Chansonettes are first up with ‘Don’t Let Him Hurt You’, a big production stomper written with Martha & the Vandellas in mind.

Elsewhere, Beverly Williams performs the very Lesley Gore-like ‘One Way Street’; ‘Go Away’ by the Murmaids (of ’66) is a lavishly produced number with a chamber pop vibe; ‘What Did You Do Last Night’ by the Drake Sisters was recorded in Phase-O-Phonic Sound; the lyrics of Denita James’ ‘Wild Side’ call to mind genre classics such as ‘He’s A Rebel’, ‘Out In The Streets’ and ‘Chico’s Girl’; and the Sweathearts close the show with a gorgeous harmony-filled update of the mid-50s oldie ‘Eddie My Love’. As usual in this series, the inner sleeve features a picture-packed 4,000-word track commentary by long-serving compiler Mick Patrick.
Mick Patrick

Tracklist

A1 The Goodees – Condition Red
A2 The Murmaids – Go Away
A3 The Charmaines – Where Is The Boy Tonight
A4 Beverly Williams  – One Way Street
A5 The Drake Sisters – What Did You Do Last Night
A6 The Half-Sisters – Forget Where I Live
A7 Miss Cathy Brasher – He Told Me He Loved Me

B1 Les Chansonettes – Don’t Let Him Hurt You
B2 Tutti Hill – He’s A Lover
B3 Joan Moody – Anything Worth Having (Is Well Worth Waitin’ For)
B4 2 Of Clubs – I’ll Come Running Over
B5 The D.C. Blossoms – Hey Boy
B6 Denita James – Wild Side
B7 The Sweethearts – Eddie My Love