THE FLAMES, "CRAZY" C/W "I'LL NEVER LET YOU GO" (INTERNATIONAL 45-203, REL. 1957)

 The bright orange International label caught my eye as I flipped through the meager stock of a small record store that seldom refreshes its ware. This one was new, and I recognized the label as a pre-statehood Hawaiian imprint. It was run by Bob Bertram, whose legacy is teenage singer-songwriter Robin Luke’s “Susie Darlin’,” a major US pop hit in 1958.

The record store had labelled this 1957 single by The Flames as doo-wop. A quick preview in-store revealed it was a curious hybrid of sounds that owed as much to the 1930s sound of The Mills Brothers or The Ink Spots as it did to teenage music of its day. I knew there had to be a story here: it’s a peculiar record that doesn’t sound like anything else. “Perfect for a Saturday post,” I thought.

Here are The Flames, a four-member vocal group centered around Black Georgia native Willie Gaines, who served in the Navy while stationed at Honolulu. He had been singing with three white shipmates, whom he accompanied on a small acoustic guitar which he strummed at the start of each song to give the singers a musical anchor. Gaines wrote songs in the style of Depression-era pop and jazz, which could be souped up to accommodate the nascent rock ‘n’ roll sound.

Local musico Bertram heard them, liked their sound and signed them to his label for a six-month option. The Flames went over well at local live venues and on Honolulu TV. Could they conquer the world via a 45-rpm record? Bertman pinned a small hope on International 45-203, which I imagine sold well on the island but made zero inroad to the American musical consciousness. It wasn’t mentioned in Cash Box or Billboard nor reviewed. Bertram recorded several songs by them in his studio (a bedroom in his house) but only these two short tracks were issued.

“Crazy” bears some resemblance to the American vocal-group sound, but the song could have existed 20 years earlier without a single change. The up-tempo rhythm is of a piece with the hot early sides of The Mills Brothers, if they were fused with a ‘50s group like The Del Vikings. Gaines’ song is a fast-paced, humorous jiver with percussive lyrics and a charming vibe. One of the white singers in The Flames takes the lead, while the other three provide harmonies and vocal effects, including one voice that imitates the sound of a muted trumper—very Mills Brothers!

At 84 seconds, this recording doesn’t waste one iota of time. In a more conventional rock ‘n’ roll setting, ample time for guitar and sax solos might pad this out by another minute. But all The Flames had were their voices and Gaines’ guitar, and Bertram didn’t wish to change what they did. I appreciate his efforts to capture them in the all-together.

Hear it >>>>> HERE. <<<<<

“I’ll Never Let You Go” lasts an expansive two minutes and 16 seconds, and features Willie Gaines on lead vocal. His is a lovely voice; he has a good ear, a cultured but not spoiled voice, and he conveys a sense of personality when he sings.

This is, more or less, a 1957 pop song, made quaint by its old-school presentation. The other Flames’ vocal harmonies are impressive, and the finale is handled with heart and precision. Without the trappings of a rhythm section or the reverbed splendor of a big-city record studio, they stand on their own and deliver a pleasing, earthy sound.

Hear it >>>>> HERE. <<<<<

NEWS FLASH: The Flames’ unissued sides still exist and are posted on YouTube. Here’s one pairing of two songs: https://youtu.be/y3F538-8_mM

The same poster has three other two-fers. I’m glad these tapes were saved before tropical weather reduced them to a home for mold and mildew.

The Flames did record again—as backup for local singer Tom Moffett on another International single released in 1958. After that, it’s assumed that The Flames sputtered out, and that its members got on with their lives. I hope they were good ones.

Tomorrow: Miss Rhythm delivers on one of her many fine yellow-label Atlantic platters of the mid-1950s.