THE REV-LONS, "BOY TROUBLE" C/W "GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE" (GARPAX G.44168, REL. 9/1962)

The Rev-lons’ records are sought-after by admirers of the girl-group sound. This Latina trio of three siblings, Rachel, Lupe and Frances Hernandez, wear million-dollar smiles and skyscraper beehive hairdos in their official publicity photo. They got together in Bakersfield, California in the late 1950s, while all members were still in the school system. (Another sister, Dolores, was part of the group for a spell; she left semi-stardom to get married.) They loved to sing, and their assured vocal harmonies made them standouts in the yet-undiscovered talent pool of Southern California.

It wasn’t long before Loyd Johnson, songwriter and talent scout, caught their act and knew they had the goods. He became their manager and cleffer and he introduced them to LA producer Gary Paxton, an associate of the notorious Kim Fowley and one of the kooky personalities on the fringes of Hollywood’s music scene. He agreed that these teens had potential and their debut single, which we’ll hear today, came out on the producer’s Garpax imprint in 1962. It wasn’t a hit, but it’s become a grail record of girl-group fanatics.

A theme this week (and at other times) here is how often the intended B-side of a single is better than the designated A. That’s the case in spades with “Boy Trouble,” which has become an anthem of girl-group fans and was the title of a classic Ace Records (UK) CD comp. This 2004 collection features five of The Rev-Lons’ nine known recordings and is great fun for those hep to this kinda jive.

This sassy look at what it means to be a teenage girl is delivered with intensity by Raquel Hernandez-de la Rosa to a tough backup that includes studio sax man Steve Douglas. The song, penned by producer Gary Paxton and Johnny McRae, comes close to the wit and wordplay of The Miracles’ frontman William “Smokey” Robinson and goes for the gospel flavor in its melody and chord progressions. Ms. H owns this song with her defiant, what-can-a-girl-do? Rendition on an enduring classic that was ignored 63 years ago. The single got a Canadian release, which is the one I own, and is pressed on vinyl rather than the crap styrene that disgraces all the group’s US releases. The record has some problems, but still plays through well enough.

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

Our Cash Box buddies discuss this disc as if they were doing an autopsy on it.

“Give Me One More Chance” suggests a weepy ballad, but its earthy treatment avoids that pitfall. The same tough sound pervades this side. One gets the feeling that this entreaty is more threat than plea; its recipient would be wise to toe Ms. H’s line.

Douglas takes a longer solo to fine effect. This is almost as good as “Boy Trouble” by a fractional degree. The latter song’s anthemic quality gives it the edge, but both sides are winners in my book. I hope Canadians liked this release. I can’t imagine there are many copies; it’s a scarce record in any edition.

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

We played their second release, “Love Can’t Be a One-Way Deal,” back in the Facebook days; the next time I do a week of memory-lane posts, I'll have to remember that one. The Rev-lons’ final single, “After Last Night,” is now hailed as a high point of the 1960s girl-group sound and its price reflects that pinnacle position. It, too, flopped like a dying salmon on a wooden deck and the Hernandez girls called it a day and went on with their lives. It’s possible these women are still with us. I hope they’ve had happy and productive lives and that they’ve gotten out their three singles now and then and played them for family and friends.

Tomorrow: The Blonde Bomber! Black rock ‘n’ roll at its finest, coupled with an intense minor-key bluesy ballad from a one-of-a-kind performer. Hull Records madness from 1960.