THE PIXIES, "CRY LIKE A BABY" C/W "JUST A LITTLE TEAR," DON-DEE 102 (REL. 6/1963; COLLECTION UPGRADE FROM POST #883)

 

The Pixies (not the ever-popular indie rock band, nor ‘60s white girl-group The Pixies 3) are part of a confusing mess of same-named groups from this period of American pop music. These Pixies are a Black group, and this appears to be their only record. It was released twice—this late 1962 single and a ’63 issue on the Don-Dee label. (That label issued another Pixies single, “Thrilled,” which was also released as by The Foxes; that single was played here back in the Facebook days.)

I first posted this single over 1,000 days ago via its first incarnation, a crappy styrene issue. A recent upgrade to its second version—on good vinyl—revealed the quality of the recording and brought out the full range of sound. It's like hearing the record anew; hence this new post.

A great record is a great record, regardless of the gnarled, hidden history behind it. The AMC label (no relation to the longtime cable channel or the movie theater chain) lasted for two singles, both composed by Barry Mason (not the UK pop songwriter who was big in the later 1960s) and arranged by Leroy Kirkland, who has no like-named counterpart to worry about. It got a positive review in Cash Box (seen above) but their release did the music no favors. Manufactured on el cheapo styrene, it fell short in the high-fidelity department, I'm thankful that the also-short-lived Don-Dee imprint reissued it several months later in a superior edition. The songs and performances are so good that they merited a better-made reprise. 

I’m playing the B side first. “Cry Like a Baby” (not the hit song by The Box Tops from later in the 1960s) is an up-tempo song about a girl who’s miserable. The lead Pixie’s wailing, strident voice, sung at the top of her range, invests the song with an intensity that, at 1:15 into the recording, gets pretty wild.

A crisp, tidy rhythm section supports these wailing weepers. The guitarist does a brief break that’s so good it’s disappointing when he ceases. Catchy yet morbid!

Cash Box gave this single a more positive review upon its re-release.

Most girl-groups would’ve made that song the topside. These Pixies presented with the sublime, eerie “Just a Little Tear” for their A. Its haunting, moody melody, which reminds of The Shirelles' "Blue Holiday," takes some eerie harmonic twists and turns. A string section bolsters the group as the lead singer (perhaps another Pixie, as her voice is fuller and lower) does her best Shirley Alston (of The Shirelles)-inspired performance. Those strings have a gravity and add to the spooky feel of this side.

The song might stay with you after you’ve heard it. Its emotional intensity and force are memorable. They did get a second chance, which resulted in another unusual girl-group episode, but who they were and what happened to them is lost to time.

Tomorrow: Jeanette "Baby" Washington returns with a great 1960 platter on the Jersey-based Neptune label. Solid gospel-tinged mover coupled with plea against adult intolerance for teenagers.