THE BLOSSOMS, "BIG TALKING JIM" C/W "THE SEARCH IS OVER" (CHALLENGE 9138, REL. 3/1962)

The Blossoms are heard on hundreds of records--hits and flops--produced in the greater Los Angeles area. They were a vocal counterpart to the LA session musicians now celebrated as The Wrecking Crew--talented players who leant a homogeny to California music. When every drum part is by Hal Blaine and every bass line by Carol Kaye, it gets rather samey. That they overrode a chance for young musicians to play their own instruments on their own records now seems rather cruel. Efficiency, not artistry, was the byword of the day, and much was lost due to this business model. (Kind of like what's happening to essential government agencies as I write these words--cruel.)

The presence of The Blossoms is an asset to many a ho-hum pop single of the mid-1960s. They brought energy, beauty and class to whatever project they touched. Lead vocalist Darlene Love became a pop star as one of notorious producer Phil Spector's favored vocalists. She stepped in to sing the lead on the song "He's a Rebel," which Spector recorded with a group of young women who were not The Crystals; their name went on the single (a major hit) and their lead singer had to approximate Ms. Love's sassy, defiant performance--no mean feat.

While Love was with Spector, she also made record with her high-school friends Fanita James and Jean King as The Blossoms. This group was a sextet, and they made a 1957 single with songwriter-producer-performer Richard Berry as The Dreamers. That's the first record profiled in my newly-updated book One-Record Wonders: One Shot was All They Got, which I will continue to plug in this blog because you need to read it!

After this release, half of the group left, and they made three singles for Capitol Records as The Blossoms. They then recorded for RCA-Victor as The Sugar Beets. Darlene's voice is heard on these early sides--though not always as the lead performer.

A move to Challenge Records was inspired by the success of New Orleans' Ernie K-Doe. "Son-in-Law" was the answer song to "Mother-in-Law." It's a meh take-off, but the flip-side, "I'll Wait," is solid.

Onto today's single. It also pairs a novelty item with a ballad; the latter is one of Darlene Love's great performances. If you're wearing socks, please remove them; they'll fly off your feet.

"Big Talking Jim," penned by Dave Burgess, is a clever song loaded with attitude. Darlene doesn't sing lead on this appealing put-down, which delivers the girl-group sass necessary to have a reasonable day. Here's your recommended daily dose:

Cash Box didn't listen to the B-side, which was really the A-side.

"The Search is Over" is a gospel-steeped ballad with a moving lead by Ms. Love, who's in top form on this song, which seems to have been tailor-made for her abilities. The writer is one Elroy Peace, who made several singles without getting discovered or heard by the public. 

I will say no more. Just enjoy this stellar performance.

Tomorrow: another long-sought Minit Records rarity: the lone release of Nolan Pitts, via the label's second release from 1959. A rockacha romp coupled with a pensive ballad. Crazy-rare and crazy-good!