Sinx Mitchell [pseud. of Earl Sinks,] "Love Is All I'm Asking For" c/w "This Weird Sensation," Hickory 45-1248 (rel. 3/1964)

 

Henry Earl Sinks was another kid from the deep talent pool of Texas rock 'n' roll. Born on New Years' Day 1940, his first public performances were as guest vocalist for Bob Wills, the king of Western swing. He got into the orbit of Clovis, New Mexico, where producer/songwriter Norman Petty proved an able conduit to the bigger world of mainstream music. 
      Sinks made two singles for Petty in 1958 as 'Earl Henry,' one of many aliases he used over the years. Late that year, Buddy Holly broke his Southwestern ties, moved to New York and left The Crickets, with whom he'd had several hit singles, Sinks stepped in as lead vocalist and their first single, a version of Holly's "Love's Made a Fool of You," fooled many over the years. A two-record compilation of Buddy Holly's music issued in the 1970s included this track, to the confusion of many listeners. Sinks aped Holly's vocal mannerisms, but put his own spin on the formula.
      Sinks' time with The Crickets wasn't long. He had words with founding members Jerry Allison and Joe B. Maudlin (seen at left in the photo above) and walked. They brought in David Box, who helped finish out their contract with Brunswick Records in 1960. (Box would repeat Holly's airplane fatality in 1964.)
   Earl headed to Nashville, where his Texas friend (and Buddy's buddy) Bob Montgomery had gone and found success as a songwriter and occasional performer. He joined up with Norro Wilson and Bill Fernez to create The Omegas, a vocal group inspired by Black hitmakers The Coasters. Recent Jukebox honoree Boudleaux Bryant penned most of The Omegas' material for their three singles for Decca Records. We've heard these here in the past. Sinks teamed with Bob Montgomery and the pair penned tons of songs that were recorded by big artists: Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Brenda Lee, Mel Tillis, Sue Thompson, etc. 
       He did uncredited session work as guitarist and harmony vocalist and made a slew of records under more pen names: Earl Richards, Earl "Snake" Richards and Sinx Mitchell. Under that last name he made today's single for Hickory Records, the label run by Acuff-Rose Publications to tout their songwriters' wares. Both songs were copyrighted with The Library of Congress on May 24, 1963. The superior B-side was penned by John D. Loudermilk, who's no stranger to this here blog.
    The two songs bear a remarkable similarity in their melodies. Since song publishers did batch copyrights on a regular basis, it's impossible to ascertain which song came first. The single's release was delayed for several months, it seems: the songs both sound very 1963 and were much less commercially appealing when issued during the first throes of Beatlemania in March 1964.
     "Love is All I'm Asking For," by Sinks and Montgomery, has the full Nashville Sound, with lots of reverb, a big drum sound, tremolo guitar and a femme vocal chorus. Sinks' voice sounds eerily like Buddy Holly's but with a higher range. It's a pleasant paint-by-numbers piece of pop music that would've been up-to-date when it was composed and recorded, but perhaps seemed a bit passe in the spring of '64.

Cash Box made this a Pick of The Week in their March 28, 1964 issue, alongside 

"Just Like Romeo and Juliet" by The Reflections.

"This Weird Sensation" is an obvious John D. Loudermilk song, with its unusual lyrical theme, phrasing and conversational tone. It details a relationship where something unspoken hangs over both parties; not identified or discussed, but a feeling that, the narrator confesses, has him thinking the jig is up. 
        "A sentimental with a soft touch," Cash Box said of the song. Not quite right: an anxiety attack in the making might be more accurate. It's among Loudermilk's most haunting songs and this seems to be its only recording. Sinks sounds something like the composer in his delivery; he was a chameleon, which was ideal for the Nashville approach.

After another single for Hickory, and a 1966 effort as "The Mar-Vels," Sinks drifted into acting. While with Warner Brothers Records, Earl appeared in some of that studio's TV Western series. In 1966, Sinks met notorious low-budget auteur Ron Ormond, who starred him in his grindhouse films The Girl from Tobacco Road and its follow-up, White Lightnin' Road. Sinks also starred in That Tennessee Beat for director Richard Brill. As aspiring Nashville songwriter Jim Birdsell, Sinks may have felt déjà vu in his role. 
        He ended his recording career with a series of country singles for United Artists and his own label, Ace of Hearts, as Earl Richards. He then focused on producing, songwriting and managing a music business. Married to Rita Faye, ex-child country artist, for over 50 years, Sinks passed on in 2017.

Tomorrow: popcorn vendor Lenny O' Henry with a rare, fascinating 1962 single for Smash Records written and produced by Bob Crewe. A larger-than-life experience awaits.